Since 1991 Kyiv has been the capital of Ukraine. But the history of the city began earlier. For the first time, he received the status of the capital in 882, heading Kievan Rus. Then Kyiv was the capital of the Kiev Principality, the UNR, the UNRS, the Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian SSR. Now it is the political, cultural and socio-economic center of the country and bears the title of Hero City.