Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Alley

The Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Alley is an open-air street memorial on Instytutska Street in central Kyiv, Ukraine, a short uphill walk from Independence Square, known as the Maidan. It honours the protesters killed during the Euromaidan demonstrations, also called the Revolution of Dignity, which began in November 2013 after the government suspended an association agreement with the European Union. The deadliest days were 18 to 20 February 2014, when snipers and security forces killed dozens of people in the streets around the Maidan, and the dead and those who later died of wounds are collectively known as the Heavenly Hundred. The street where many were shot became a spontaneous shrine, with photographs, flowers, candles, helmets and national flags attached to the wall and placed on the pavement. Over the years it has been formalised as a memorial, with portraits and memorial plaques carrying the names of those who died, and a cross and monuments added nearby. The Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and the Revolution of Dignity Museum project are planned as a permanent museum complex nearby. The character is that of a public street shrine rather than a designed monument, and it is maintained by volunteers and relatives. Visitors walk along the alley, read names and dates, and observe quietly. The area also contains the Hotel Ukraine and the government quarter, and the surrounding streets show the history of the protests. Because the memorial is outdoors in an active public area, it is always open, though security restrictions near the government quarter can apply, so visitors should follow local guidance.