A cherished weekend flea market in the Ukrainian capital survives despite war
Soviet-era gas masks are for sale at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. It’s a dizzying array that includes Soviet-era relics such as decorative medals, ceramics with communist leaders’ portraits, Cold War-era gas masks and military uniform items. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Shoppers crowd at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor puts on a Soviet army jacket at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two vendors move boxes out of their containers at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The market has survived the Russia war despite the disappearance of tourists and the decreasing purchasing power of most Ukrainians. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Vendor Pavel Sheludko shows a painting to a shopper at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Miscellaneous items for sale are laid on the hood of a Lada 2107, a vehicle manufactured during the Soviet era, at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Soviet-era badges and pins are for sale at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Despite Ukraine’s ban on Soviet and Nazi symbolics adopted in 2015 as a part of the country’s effort to distance itself from its totalitarian past, vendors, buyers and law enforcement all seem undisturbed with such relics being sold. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two vendors play chess at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor selling old cameras and accessories sits in his booth at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Three Ukrainian Soldiers shop at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A woman looks at a pair of jeans at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Shoe vendor Andrei Saveliev uses an American flag as a table cover at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
People shop at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The market has survived the Russia war despite the disappearance of tourists and the decreasing purchasing power of most Ukrainians. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor shelters from rain in front of her container at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Pants for sale hang on a wall covered with the ivy at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Soviet-era gas masks are for sale at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. It’s a dizzying array that includes Soviet-era relics such as decorative medals, ceramics with communist leaders’ portraits, Cold War-era gas masks and military uniform items. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Soviet-era gas masks are for sale at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. It’s a dizzying array that includes Soviet-era relics such as decorative medals, ceramics with communist leaders’ portraits, Cold War-era gas masks and military uniform items. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Shoppers crowd at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Shoppers crowd at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor puts on a Soviet army jacket at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor puts on a Soviet army jacket at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two vendors move boxes out of their containers at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The market has survived the Russia war despite the disappearance of tourists and the decreasing purchasing power of most Ukrainians. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two vendors move boxes out of their containers at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The market has survived the Russia war despite the disappearance of tourists and the decreasing purchasing power of most Ukrainians. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Vendor Pavel Sheludko shows a painting to a shopper at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Vendor Pavel Sheludko shows a painting to a shopper at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Miscellaneous items for sale are laid on the hood of a Lada 2107, a vehicle manufactured during the Soviet era, at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Soviet-era badges and pins are for sale at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Despite Ukraine’s ban on Soviet and Nazi symbolics adopted in 2015 as a part of the country’s effort to distance itself from its totalitarian past, vendors, buyers and law enforcement all seem undisturbed with such relics being sold. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Soviet-era badges and pins are for sale at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Despite Ukraine’s ban on Soviet and Nazi symbolics adopted in 2015 as a part of the country’s effort to distance itself from its totalitarian past, vendors, buyers and law enforcement all seem undisturbed with such relics being sold. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two vendors play chess at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two vendors play chess at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor selling old cameras and accessories sits in his booth at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor selling old cameras and accessories sits in his booth at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Three Ukrainian Soldiers shop at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Three Ukrainian Soldiers shop at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A woman looks at a pair of jeans at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A woman looks at a pair of jeans at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Shoe vendor Andrei Saveliev uses an American flag as a table cover at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Shoe vendor Andrei Saveliev uses an American flag as a table cover at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
People shop at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The market has survived the Russia war despite the disappearance of tourists and the decreasing purchasing power of most Ukrainians. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
People shop at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 9, 2023. The market has survived the Russia war despite the disappearance of tourists and the decreasing purchasing power of most Ukrainians. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor shelters from rain in front of her container at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A vendor shelters from rain in front of her container at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Pants for sale hang on a wall covered with the ivy at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Pants for sale hang on a wall covered with the ivy at a flea market in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 8, 2023. The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds. Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Pochaina neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital comes alive every weekend as hundreds of people flock to its famous flea market, looking for finds.
Antique-hunters, collectors and many others look over seemingly endless rows of trinkets and time-worn wares. It’s a dizzying array that includes Soviet-era relics such as decorative medals, ceramics with communist leaders’ portraits, Cold War-era gas masks and military uniform items.
Despite Ukraine’s ban on Soviet and Nazi symbols adopted in 2015 as a part of the country’s effort to distance itself from its totalitarian past, vendors, buyers and law enforcement all seem undisturbed by such historic relics being openly sold.
“It’s purely business, there are no (USSR) sympathizers around here. Items like this are in high demand,” says Kristian Zander, a 49-year-old market vendor, pointing at the “Buying USSR relics” sign at his stand. On display are kitchenware and utensils, hunting knives, Soviet badges and bottle openers.
The market has survived the Russia-Ukraine war, even with the disappearance of tourists and the decreasing purchasing power of most Ukrainians.
Despite more and more buyers having to tighten their belts, the market still offers a large and eclectic variety of goods to those with any money to spend. A single vendor may sell items including almost-vintage VHS tapes, World War II dishware, manicure scissors, brand-name sneaker knockoffs, decades-old lingerie, broken multimedia players and cracked guitars. The vendor often hopes to sell the wares for pennies before they go to waste.