The Monument to Princess Olha is one of Kyiv’s oldest monuments, installed over a century ago on Mykhailivska Square. It honours a ruler of Kyivan Rus whose role in the country’s history was truly decisive.
Princess Olha came to power in 944 after her husband, Prince Ihor, was killed by the Drevlians. Her revenge became legendary: according to chronicles, she set enemy settlements on fire using birds carrying burning embers. But Olha is remembered for far more than this story. She reformed the tax system, personally organised the defence of Kyiv during Pecheneg attacks, and became the first ruler of Kyivan Rus to adopt Christianity, playing an important role in diplomacy of her time.
In 2023, the statue of Princess Olha was fitted with a bulletproof vest. The action was initiated by the Women Veterans Movement to draw attention to the need for proper protection for women on the front line and to present Ukraine’s first anatomically designed body armour for servicewomen.
