Kyiv subdivisions include the formal administrative subdivision (raions) and the informal subdivision (historical neighborhoods). The first formal subdivision of the city dates back to 1810 when the Ukranian capital was divided into Starokyiv, Pechersk, Podil (first and second parts). Following the Tsar Nicholas I’s decree in 1833-1834, Kiev was divided into 6 raions, and was later increased to 10. There were 8 Raion Councils as of 1917.
As Kiev was expanding during the Soviet time, the number of raions gradually increased. They have been named after Soviet party leaders. As political situation and leadership changed, raion names also changed.
The last Kiev raion reorganization happened in 2001. At present, Kiev raions include: Darnytskyi Raion, Desnianskyi Raion, Dniprovskyi Raion. Holosiivskyi Raion, Obolonskyi Raion, Pecherskyi Raion, Podilskyi Raion. Shevchenkivskyi Raion. Solomianskyi Raion, and Sviatoshynskyi
Kiev also has a system of non-formal historical neighborhoods. There are dozens of such neighborhoods in Kiev. But they constitute some kind of hierarchy, since most of these neighborhoods have lost their distinct topographic limits.
The oldest neighborhoods in the city got their names way back in the Middle Ages, posing a great linguistic interest. The most recent whole-built developments have residential marketing names or numeric designations.
The Right Bank contains the city’s older portions, as well as most of its governmental institutions and business areas. The Left Bank, on the other hand, was incorporated into Kiev only in the 20th century, and is predominantly residential.
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