On Saturday, we took the 30 minute drive up to Mezhyhirya, where the ousted president of Ukraine, Victor Yanukovich, had built and maintained an opulent manor.

The estate is over 350 acres and situated on the banks of the Kiev Reservoir, also known as the Kiev Sea.

The immense park-like grounds are entirely surrounded by a fence and criss-crossed with brick inlayed paths..

The grounds around the main house, yes, there are several houses for guests on the property, were immaculately manicured

and filled with ponds, fountains

and statuary.

There is a golf course, which we saw..

and a zoo..which we didn’t..

The buildings had been sealed so we weren’t allowed inside, unfortunately..

We did look through the windows of the Galleon, a restaurant shaped like a, well,

a galleon..

The gazebos which dotted the countryside are fitted with chandeliers

 

I am not Ukrainian, but I live and work in Kiev, and  looking at this place made me angry.. and sad.. A monument to corruption, greed and avarice built with contempt for the Ukrainian people.

I think some visitors felt the same as I..

Entry fee ( the signs call it a donation but it is an entry FEE ) is 20 uah.. there are bikes for rent, which I recommend because the area covers 7 km on paths. If you want to see what corruption can, and often does, build and you can overlook the fact that a common slug

(umm thug) from Eastern Ukraine stole billions of dollars to build it.. it’s worth the trip from Kiev..

According to the security people, they may re-open the buildings once a complete inventory is finished..

Travel with Steve                                Photography as Art

 

Happy Travels!!