Uphill from the Maidan: centres of power in Kyiv's symbolic geography

This paper explores long-term trends in Kyiv's symbolic geography that ultimately led to the main battles of the Revolution of Dignity (2013-14), which occurred on two streets heading uphill from the Maidan into the government quarter: Hrushevskyi Street and Instytutska Street. The study delves into the historical development of the Pecherske and Lypky neighbourhoods as both real and symbolic centres of authority in modern Kyiv, demonstrating how the area between the city's main avenue, Khreshchatyk, and Lypky became a significant space of interaction and conflict between the ruling authorities and society. Cet article explore les tendances a long terme de la geographie symbolique de Kyiv, qui ont constitue le cadre des principales batailles de la Revolution de la Dignite (2013-14), soit deux rues montant du Maidan vers le quartier gouvernemental : la rue Hroushevsky et la rue Instytutska. L'etude se penche sur l'evolution historique des quartiers Pecherske et Lypky en tant que centres d'autorite reels et symboliques dans la Kyiv moderne, demontrant comment la zone situee entre l'avenue principale de la ville, Khreshchatyk, et Lypky est devenue un espace important d'interaction et de conflit entre les autorites dirigeantes et la societe.

Automated summary

This paper explores the long-term trends in Kyiv's symbolic geography that led to the main battles of the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-14. It focuses on the historical development of the Pecherske and Lypky neighborhoods as centers of authority in modern Kyiv and highlights the significance of the area between Khreshchatyk Avenue and Lypky as a space of interaction and conflict between the ruling authorities and society.