The Ukrainian Black Sea

The Ukrainian Black Sea mural on 35 Bulvarno-Kudriavska Street feels like a small piece of the coast in the middle of Kyiv. It was created by South African artist Jake Aikman as part of the international Art United Us initiative, which brings together street artists from around the world.

Painted on the wall of a three-storey building, about a 15-minute walk from Universytet metro station, the waves look so realistic they almost seem to move and shimmer in the light. Aikman is known for his atmospheric seascapes, and this mural is one of the calmest and most mesmerising pieces of street art in Kyiv.

After the start of the war, the mural took on a new meaning. For many locals, it became a reminder of travel, quiet mornings by the sea and a peaceful life that will return. People come here to pause, step away from daily worries and, for a moment, feel the breath of the Black Sea right in the city.

Photos: funtime website