30 Black and White Photos of Kiev in the 1960s and ’70s

Kyiv or Kiev is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. It is the seventh-most populous city in Europe.

Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center in Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions, and historical landmarks. The city has an extensive system of public transport and infrastructure, including the Kyiv Metro.

In 1918, after the Ukrainian People’s Republic declared independence from Soviet Russia, Kiev became its capital. From 1921 onwards, Kiev was a city of Soviet Ukraine, which was proclaimed by the Red Army, and, from 1934, Kiev was its capital. The city was almost completely ruined during World War II but quickly recovered in the postwar years, remaining the Soviet Union’s third-largest city.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukrainian independence in 1991, Kiev remained Ukraine’s capital and experienced a steady influx of ethnic Ukrainian migrants from other regions of the country. During the country’s transformation to a market economy and electoral democracy, Kiev has continued to be Ukraine’s largest and wealthiest city. Its armament-dependent industrial output fell after the Soviet collapse, adversely affecting science and technology, but new sectors of the economy such as services and finance facilitated Kiev’s growth in salaries and investment, as well as providing continuous funding for the development of housing and urban infrastructure.

These fascinating black and white photos were taken by Emanuel Antsis that show street scenes of Kiev in the 1960s and 1970s.

Cold day in January, Kiev, 1962

Football in the winter, Kiev, 1962

The jump, Kiev, 1963

Theatre and a man of reality, Kiev, 1963

Aunt Valia, Kiev, 1965

Deserted stadium, 1965

First snowfall, Kiev, 1965

The March, Kiev, 1965

Young happiness, Kiev, 1965

In my city, Kiev, 1966

Morning traffic, Kiev, 1969

Moving crowd, Kiev, 1969

The rushing, Kiev, 1969

First show with wind, Kiev, 1970

Laces of balconies, Kiev, 1970

Raining, Shevchenko park, Kiev, 1971

Celebration of October Revolution, Kiev, 1972

Celebration of October Revolution, Kiev, 1972

Celebration of October Revolution, Kiev, 1972

Main street in Kiev, 1972

Andreev Slope, Kiev, 1977

Dove-cote in Kiev, 1977

In old Kiev, 1977

View on Georgeev monastery, Kiev, 1977

Andreev Slope, Kiev, 1978

In old monastery, Kiev, 1978

Old Kiev, 1978

Quiet street in Kiev, 1978

Spring, Kiev, 1978

"Golden gates". Remains of 11 century entrance to Kiev. 1978