The Pochaina neighborhood within the Ukrainian capital comes alive each weekend as a whole lot of individuals flock to its well-known flea market, on the lookout for finds
Vendor Pavel Sheludko exhibits a portray to a client at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood within the Ukrainian capital comes alive each weekend as a whole lot of individuals flock to its well-known flea market, on the lookout for finds. (AP Photograph/Jae C. Hong)
The Related Press
KYIV, Ukraine — The Pochaina neighborhood within the Ukrainian capital comes alive each weekend as a whole lot of individuals flock to its well-known flea market, on the lookout for finds.
Vintage-hunters, collectors and plenty of others look over seemingly countless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. It’s a dizzying array that features Soviet-era relics akin to ornamental medals, ceramics with communist leaders’ portraits, Chilly Struggle-era gasoline masks and army uniform gadgets.
Regardless of Ukraine’s ban on Soviet and Nazi symbols adopted in 2015 as part of the nation’s effort to distance itself from its totalitarian previous, distributors, patrons and legislation enforcement all appear undisturbed by such historic relics being brazenly offered.
“It’s purely enterprise, there aren’t any (USSR) sympathizers round right here. Gadgets like this are in excessive demand,” says Kristian Zander, a 49-year-old market vendor, pointing on the “Shopping for USSR relics” signal at his stand. On show are kitchenware and utensils, searching knives, Soviet badges and bottle openers.
The market has survived the Russia-Ukraine conflict, even with the disappearance of vacationers and the lowering buying energy of most Ukrainians.
Regardless of an increasing number of patrons having to tighten their belts, the market nonetheless gives a big and eclectic number of items to these with any cash to spend. A single vendor might promote gadgets together with almost-vintage VHS tapes, World Struggle II dishware, manicure scissors, brand-name sneaker knockoffs, decades-old lingerie, damaged multimedia gamers and cracked guitars. The seller usually hopes to promote the wares for pennies earlier than they go to waste.
