Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge

Opened just in time for Kyiv Day on the 26th June 2019, the bridge stretches between Saint Volodymyr Hill and the People's Friendship Arch. It's mainly made of concrete with glass and metal barriers at each side along with some glass floor panes which you can choose to walk over. There is also a cycle path across the middle of the bridge, but at the moment due to the crowds it's very difficult to cross on a bike. The electric scooter tours come across here too and have exactly the same trouble with it.

On 10 October 2022 a Russian missile landed right underneath the bridge. The cables and the steel held, but the glass didn't, and the city had to replace 18 of the glass floor panes and well over a hundred of the glass side panels before it reopened on 17 December 2022, and it's been open ever since. The arch at the end has changed more than the bridge has: it's been renamed the Arch of Freedom of the Ukrainian People, though most people still call it the Friendship Arch.

Finding the Bridge

There are two ways to get to the bridge:

• From Andriyivskyy Descent, find St Andrew's Church and the walkway behind it at the lower end. If you see lots of paintings hanging up on the side of the pathway and a wooden deck-style path, you're going in the right direction. Walk around 15 minutes and you'll see a statue of Volodymyr The Great and the bridge behind it. On your way there are several viewing points with great views of Podil and you'll also walk under the Funicular track.
• From Maidan Nezalezhnosti, proceed in the direction of the river, cross under the roundabout and up the stairs towards the big silver arch and you'll see the bridge on the left.