The only national capital that lies on the Dnieper River is Kyiv, historically also spelled Kiev.
Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, occupying both banks of the Dnieper in the north-central part of the country. The river flows south through Ukraine before emptying into the Black Sea, making it one of Eastern Europe's major waterways. Kyiv's historic core developed on the river's western, or right, bank, while substantial urban districts later expanded across the eastern, or left, bank.
The Dnieper has shaped Kyiv's history as a route for trade, travel, and political expansion. The city was a major center on the medieval route commonly called the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, linking the Baltic region with Byzantium. Its bridges, river ports, and waterfront have remained important to the city's development.
A common mix-up is Dnipro, another major Ukrainian city on the same river. Dnipro is not the national capital; it is a regional city located well downstream from Kyiv. The spelling Kyiv is Ukraine's official English-preferred transliteration, while Kiev remains a familiar historical form.