Winged Globe sculpture. Kiev

The winged globe is a sign of kilometer zero. Sculptor Vladimir Oliynyk, architect Vladimir Pryimak, author of the globe Leonid Maly

The initial idea of creating the Zero Kilometer Sign belonged to Ukrposhta, the support of the Kyiv City Hall was purely nominal. The Florentine Column, at the foot of which you can see the distance to all the capitals of the world and the regional centers of Ukraine, was opened without much fanfare in 1996. At first, a small sculptural symbol of Kiev – Archistratig Mikhail – flaunted on the top of the column (humorous Kievans immediately called him Batman, for a long cloak). Then no one imagined that the modest postal monument would become such a popular and iconic Kiev place, and Batman-Archangel – a universal favorite, under which Paul Kiev appointed meetings!

The second version of the Zero Kilometer Sign, the so-called Winged Globe, appeared after the reconstruction of Independence Square in 2001. Since the monumental bronze sculpture of Archistratig Michael was installed on the opposite side of the Maidan, the authorities thought that two archangels for one square was too much. Therefore, the symbol of Kiev was planned to be replaced by a purely postal sign, which would symbolize Ukrposhta.

The sign had to be invented, one might say, on the move. The new monument was the globe with five pigeons hovering above it (a symbol of five continents), carrying a laurel branch in their legs, and, at the same time, the supporting axis of the ball. However, on the logo of Ukrposhta from all the symbols there was only a pigeon wing. But, in general, it turned out to be a pretty European memorial sign.