Kyiv–Borodianka: A Road of Memory and Revival

This audio guide will take you along a route that, in the spring of 2022, became one of the main axes of the Russian offensive on Kyiv. The journey begins in the capital and leads through Irpin, Bucha, and Vorzel to Borodianka.

Along the way, you will hear stories about the places where the fate of Kyiv was decided: the defense of Moshchun, the destroyed Romanivskyi Bridge, which became a “road of life” for tens of thousands of civilians, the cemetery of bullet-riddled cars in Irpin, and sites that later became evidence of Russia’s war crimes.

The audio guide combines a chronological account of events with firsthand testimonies from defenders, volunteers, and local residents who lived through the occupation. Their voices offer a deeper understanding of the first days of the full-scale invasion, the growth of local resistance, and the ways people helped one another survive.

The final stop on the route is Borodianka — a town whose images of shattered apartment blocks were seen around the world. Here, you will visit some of the sites that suffered the greatest destruction, see British artist Banksy’s mural “David and Goliath,” and encounter other symbols of a community demonstrating remarkable resilience and renewal in the aftermath of occupation.

This journey is a route of remembrance: for those who lost their lives, for those who risked everything to save others, and for the people who, despite the tragedy they endured, found the strength to rebuild their town and their lives.

Kseniia Pavlyshyn