In the months since Kiev, Ukraine erupted in violent protests, I have occasionally turned to Google Street View to get my bearings about the events that I was seeing through through live streams of coverage or photos that appeared in social media or news wires.
The contrast between the black smoke of burning tires and the blue sky of timeless Street View images was often jolting. One can only imagine what residents of Kiev think when they see how much their city has been transformed.
Jan. 20, 2014
From Google Street View, Dynamo Stadium, in #Kiev, and right now, from livestream: http://t.co/oKgpAB8kRN pic.twitter.com/0S9NeLAPGY— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) January 20, 2014
Jan. 20, 2014
Striking contrast: Hrushevskoho St. in #Kiev, from Street View, and livestream right now. http://t.co/gi1jiFZrB8 pic.twitter.com/1RFljVHsTs— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) January 21, 2014
Jan. 22, 2014
Now and then: Fires on Hrushevskoho St. in Kiev, via livestream; in the past, via Street View. http://t.co/oKgpAB8kRN pic.twitter.com/DMCoVIbjzy— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) January 22, 2014
Jan. 25, 2014
Then and now. Entrance to #Kyiv’s Dynamo Stadium via Street View and @varlamov. #euromaidan pic.twitter.com/JGlrc6iVe2— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) January 25, 2014
Jan. 26, 2014
Then and now: Children’s clothing story on Hrushevskoho St. in #Kyiv. via Street View & @valamov. pic.twitter.com/1xwe7JN4R9— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) January 26, 2014
Feb. 1, 2014
Now and then: Hrushevskoho St. in #Kyiv today via @mikekomar, and from Street View. #euromaidan pic.twitter.com/9jJsEpyYNH— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 1, 2014
Feb. 19, 2014
NOW and THEN: Trade Unions House today in #Kyiv. Via @BenjaminBidder. Earlier, via street view: pic.twitter.com/mEu2SKHF9w— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 19, 2014