On Saturday, 7 March 2026, staff of the Media Center Directorate organized an enlightening walking tour entitled Ancient Kyiv for representatives of the diplomatic corps, offering participants deeper insight into the historical origins and cultural heritage of their host country.

The promenade through the capital brought together staff of the Embassies of the Czechia and Sweden, as well as representatives of international organizations, namely the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the European Union Advisory Mission.

The route passed through some of the most iconic sites of ancient Kyiv, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a city with a thousand-year history.

During the tour, diplomats travelled thousands of years into the past, felt the spirit of ancient Kyiv, and got a taste of its glorious history. The experienced guide introduced one of the most outstanding monuments of 11th-century Kyivan Rus defensive architecture — the Golden Gate. The next stop was Saint Sophia of Kyiv — one of the principal Christian shrines of Eastern Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The greatest impression on participants was made by Saint Sophia Cathedral — a jewel of ancient Kyiv and an important part of the cultural code of the Ukrainian people. It is here, amid frescoes and mosaics, that a thousand years of history come to life. The diplomats ascended to the choir gallery, where they had a close view of the mosaic image of the Virgin Orans.

At the end of the tour, participants proceeded to Old Kyiv Hill, where they viewed the remains of the 10th-century Church of the Tithes and visited Saint Volodymyr Hill, home to the monument to Prince Volodymyr the Great, the baptizer of Kyivan Rus.

The insightful tour offered an opportunity not only to discover remarkable chapters in Kyiv’s history but also to gain a deeper appreciation of Ukraine’s cultural and spiritual heritage.