About Mezhyhirya: Former Presidential Palace

Mezhyhirya: Former Presidential Palace, Kiev  is situated on the banks of the beautiful Dnieper River and is the former residence of ex-president of the Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. There is no shortage of things to do here, and it may be the most interesting and over-the-top place you have ever visited.

Today, in all its glory, the extravagant building is a symbol and reminder of institutional greed and corruption. Within its gated walls, there are tennis courts, a shooting range, an equestrian club, helicopter pad, ostrich farm, dog kennel, golf course, and hunting grounds.

Be sure to check out the auto museum that houses Yanukovich’s former exotic cars; head to the main mansion, nicknamed “Honka;” or explore the grounds with heated lakes. Excess is the theme here, and some attractions are more ridiculous than others, from the exotic animals at the president’s farm to the restaurant in the form of a Spanish galleon.

The Mezhyhirya Residence in the village of Novi Petrivtsi, north of Kiev, Ukraine on Sept. 22, 2017.  The massive estate was the home of former President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled the country during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. It’s now open to tourists wanting a glimpse of Yanukovych’s opulent lifestyle. A staircase winds up in a view of a room inside President Viktor Yanukovych’s Mezhyhirya estate, which was abandoned by security, on Feb. 26, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine.