Maidan Nezalezhnosti
Shevchenko Raion, Ukraine · built 1900
Maidan Nezalezhnosti ([mɐjˈdɑn nezɐˈlɛʒnos⁽ʲ⁾t⁽ʲ⁾i]) or Independence Square is the central town square of Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine. One of the city's main squares, it is located on Khreshchatyk Street in the Shevchenko Raion. The square contains the iconic Independence Monument. In the 19th century, the square contained buildings of the city council and noble assembly. Since the start of Ukraine's independence movement in 1990, the square has been the traditional place for political rallies, including four large-scale radical protest campaigns: the 1990 student Revolution on Granite, the 2001 Ukraine without Kuchma, the 2004 Orange Revolution and the 2013–14 Euromaidan. Maidan is also a regular site for non-political displays and events; however, since 2014, most of them were moved to Sofiyivska Square or elsewhere, because making entertainment on a place where people were killed during Euromaidan was considered inappropriate. Most notably, Christmas Fairs and New Year celebrations were moved to Sofiyivska Square. In addition, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the square also hosts a makeshift memorial commemorating those killed in the conflict.
Square data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).