The Pochaina neighborhood within the Ukrainian capital comes alive each weekend as a whole lot of individuals flock to its well-known flea market, searching for finds
Vendor Pavel Sheludko reveals a portray to a consumer 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, searching for finds. (AP Picture/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, searching for finds.
Vintage-hunters, collectors and lots of others look over seemingly limitless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. It’s a dizzying array that features Soviet-era relics reminiscent of ornamental medals, ceramics with communist leaders’ portraits, Chilly Battle-era fuel masks and army uniform objects.
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, consumers and regulation enforcement all appear undisturbed by such historic relics being overtly offered.
“It’s purely enterprise, there aren’t any (USSR) sympathizers round right here. Objects 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 struggle, even with the disappearance of vacationers and the lowering buying energy of most Ukrainians.
Regardless of increasingly consumers 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 could promote objects together with almost-vintage VHS tapes, World Battle 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.