PREVIEW

Kyiv city head Vitali Klitschko (L) and Ambassador of Belgium to Ukraine Luc Jacobs inaugurate the "Ukrainian Shield" sculpture by Oleksii Stepanov during the opening of the renovated Belgian Alley, which symbolises solidarity and friendship between Ukraine and Belgium, near the bell tower of St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery on the eve of Kyiv Day, Kyiv, Ukraine, May 30, 2026. The alley stretches from Mykhailivska Square to the upper station of the Kyiv Funicular. Renovated by the Embassy of Belgium and the Kyiv City State Administration as a sign of support for the Ukrainian capital, it now features flowers and benches. First opened in 2018, the alley reflects the shared history between Ukraine and Belgium: Belgian engineers helped build the Kyiv Funicular, and during the First World War, St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery assisted Belgian soldiers