Soviet Apartment Tour. 🇺🇦

Here's a tour of a typical modern day soviet apartment in the sleeping district outside of the city center in Kyiv (Kiev). This one is at the very last metro station outside of town where I stayed for 2 weeks. Here's what I love about living outside of the center, in the Ukrainian Suburbs and what I hated about it.
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Ask anything in the comments below!

[@counterdebate]

Bald first walks into your flat and says... "it's soviet! " 🤣

[@anishgupta4312]

The first rule of Bald and Bankrupt...

[@maureenalder8905]

Was thinking the same laugh 😅🤣

[@Asptuber]

No. Bald knows Soviet when he sees it. This isn't soviet in any sense of the word.

[@counterdebate]

@@Asptuber then they will have a fight and throw seeds at each other after Johnny tells him its soviet like he did us 🤣 @0:0:07

[@davewalker8630]

What no Mosaics

[@MYKOLA_SS]

ahahahahah 0:39 babushka asks Johnny: "which floor are you on?", and Johnny says "dosvidaniya" (goodbye)

[@a55a551n90]

roasted babushka

[@ciro19900]

Ахахахаха

[@anishgupta4312]

Came here from Bald and Bankrupt. It's great to see such immersive journeys of Ukraine, your videos are awesome!

[@JohnnyFD]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@William-0415]

This brings back a lot of memories when I was in Kharkiv back in 2013. In particular, the stairwell of the block style apartment building. I remember the girl I was seeing at the time, Yulia, making a comment of acknowledgment that it didn't look very nice. I wouldn't go so far as to say she was embarrassed, but I think she could tell as an American that I probably thought it looked pretty run-down. I remember the smell in the common area hallways/stairwell was not good. I'll leave it that. Once inside her parents apartment, it was like a different world. Bright and homey, as opposed to the dark musty outside hallway. Her parents also were proud of the little indoor enclosed balcony too. They were explaining what they intended to do with that area, while her dad kept encouraging me to have more cognac shots. I didn't want to be impolite, but I was like I can't keep up. I'm gonna be drunk soon. Lol Great video. I miss Ukraine a lot. I found the people to be overall very down to earth and decent. I remember being able to walk to the grocery store after dark in Kharkiv and not the least bit worried about my safety either.

[@martinbaldie3122]

It was the cheapest soviet communal apartment (shared housing as I know) This apartment in the video looks better 100%

[@Alex-rr7qc]

Haha, by Ukrainian standards this apartment is fully renovated, there is like zero Soviet left in that place. Johnny needs to show to subscribers some real babushka Soviet places to compare

[@technoch1ef]

yes, as Ukrainian I saw nothing soviet in this appartment! Looks pretty modern to me

[@xxxXAstarothXxxx]

As Ukrainian as well I can’t agree. I used to live in rental apts and I can tell that you can easily find a $400-600 apartment with no Soviet stuff at all. I’d say a vast majority of Kiev’s young people I personally know (21+ y.o) are living in comfortable and modern looking apts, me either

[@esuil]

@@xxxXAstarothXxxx Who are you disagreeing with?

[@gopro369]

@Василий Мародёров you are spot on! was looking to buy flat in Kyiv and what pissed me off the most is the layouts, like 99% of all apartments have terrible terrible layouts to begin with that you can not do anything about. Comfort and practicality - no, they haven't heard about it, even though some have very good money now.

[@martinbaldie3122]

I agree with you. There are many ugly looking soviet blocks in rural areas. This one is located in the capital of Ukraine, looks kinda "modern"

[@maryburbrink4601]

can you do a grocery store video? It's interesting seeing what's available in other countries and price comparsions

[@yuriythebest]

probably won't work since I'm sure if he would start filming he'd instantly have the grocery store security telling him it's prohibited ( they are paranoid about other stores stealing their product layouts and prices)

[@artemmus]

I’m laughing :) the only Soviet thing in the apartment is the separate bathroom with the toilet, everything else is quite modern interior

[@davechapman2585]

yes I agree. I would say that the kitchen was renovated but earlier than the rest of the apartment.

[@FLKRM]

like 15-20 years old modern.But agree definitely not soviet.

[@lordclancharlie1325]

@@FLKRM Yes, but the spirit is still there, many colors that don't combine etc... 😂

[@dinlok8145]

When it comes to knowledge about things Johnny is not the one you should rely on lol.

[@chuckvanderbildt]

That 'magnetic' door key is actually a Dallas i-button (or some cloned version). The reader makes contact with the outside rim of the key and the front face, applies power and simultaneously reads out a microchip inside that provides the lock with a unique identifier and unlocks the door. It is keyed to you personally, and so the building manager can easily disable/block your key in the event that you lose it. Cheap, reliable (no batteries needed in the key) and very common access control system around the world.

[@JohnnyFD]

Wow interesting! Thanks for the info!

[@ZZizitt]

Doesn't really protects anything. You can easily buy a "master-key" for a few dollars and get in. Local administration slowly replaces it with RFID-locks. They are quite better in this way. At least, I haven't seen any divices to hack it on a local market.

[@chuckvanderbildt]

@@ZZizitt If they would just use actual secure i-buttons with SHA-1 encryption then circumventing them electronically would be unfeasible. They really are pretty good when properly implemented.

[@pianokeyjoe]

Just before the pandemic I bought a nice large kit of electrical access control devices for my house, and in the lot was the i-button reader and key fobs(20). I see these are solid and robust so they do make sense for this COLD Pennsylvania weather! I am actually amazed it is used so much since RF cards have taken over and in China they love biometric readers more.

[@user-xp2jx2hp5k]

@@JohnnyFD Hello Johnny. Next to your apartment on Heroiv Dnipra Street there is also a large shopping and entertainment complex "Dream town", I think it will be interesting for you to visit there. I was there with guests from different countries, they really liked it. Also in Obolon there is a large well-groomed park "Natalka", on the embankment of the Dnieper. I think this is a very good place for relaxation and privacy.

[@steve-wu7jp]

Hey Johnny, thanks for all the content lately. You are fast becoming one of my fav channels.

[@someguy7526]

Same here

[@rogerjackson484]

As well

[@rogerjackson484]

My wife is from Ukraine, we enjoy watching your videos Johnny, it was interesting for me to see how her life was in the former Soviet Union, life was not bad and actually very good there as we were brain washed here in America to believe it was bad. You have good character Johnny keep up the good work

[@serhiizaitsev2702]

ahaha uncle are you a fool?

[@keciaharris7408]

Have you ever visited NYC??? There are many housing developments with the same family values, walking distances to supermarkets-and yes food prices vary depending upon location, ie downtown Manhattan verses uptown. I felt the need to mention since you said this doesn't exist in the USA.

[@Ksyusha1]

U are right !

[@Tycini1]

10:20 This old soviet couch **points at a 2000's armchair** The only visible thing that remained from soviet times in that interior was the single green pipe at 15:08. The entire thing was fully renovated in the early 2000's or late 90's, judging by the tiles and furniture.

[@ONickolay1]

Funny to hear "old soviet" on things which were renovated at the end of 90s-beginning of 00s. You should find out real soviet apartments, there are still plenty of them.

[@lqqk3r]

Another great video and always love the drone footage as well.

[@nickgkekw]

That kind of setup is really common in soviet apartments for the bathroom/toilet and kitchen. The bathroom actually looks pretty good, looks like they actually renovated about 6-8 or so years ago. Kitchen is pretty nice. You need to go see a really janky soviet building :D

[@JohnnyFD]

That's a recent renovation? 😬

[@oleksiydolynnyi103]

@@JohnnyFD Bathroom (incl tiles) is the oldest part in the apartment, but even it is definitely not soviet. Looks like it was renovated about 15-20 years ago. The rest of the place, including kitchen is a lot more recent. This general style is post-soviet and is called "evroremont" - "european renovation", lol. It only got out of fashion about 5-7 years ago. You def need to see a real unrenovated soviet apartment with original furnishing. There are still some to be found for rent on olx website.

[@ligametis]

@@JohnnyFD Kitchen is probably like 2005-2010 renovation. I have seen soviet at grandparents, this is definitely way newer and a few levels better, mid income younger families reddit them like this around that period. Bathroom tiles are probably something from 2000-2005 (not soviet design), sink is pretty new, maybe 2012-2018, oldest things that really look like soviet are bath and tap. Overall this apartment has an usual mix of older 2000-2010 and newer 2010-2020 soviet apartment renovation style stages, but not much soviet period left.

[@oleksiydolynnyi103]

@@user-hk3tl6iq4h You're right. Outside of his narrow field of interest Johnny has very limited understanding of Ukraine, much less so about the history. He also doesn't seem very interested to learn. Maybe his local friends tell him a fact or two and that's the extent of it. But Bald is no professor either, just a guy with tons of charisma and confidence in what he says (which is nonsense at least half the time)

[@Misq1234]

Awesome apartment, reminds me of my childhood and living in similar building for few years (I'm from Poland, and it really gives me this 90's and early 00's vibes we've had)

[@gomiftw]

Loved the tour. Thanks for the video!

[@angeldetierra3855]

► 10:52 *You're holding a copy in russian of the novel "One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez"*

[@evergrowing23]

Love that homey feel I get from rentals, especially after living somewhere for a while and getting into a daily rhythm. Makes me miss traveling to new countries and seeing how others live. I would choose a sweet little spot like that any day. It has lots of nice convenient features, slow living, and generally safe.

[@Danygotaworldtosee]

Stayed at an Airbnb in the same street haha. Awesome vid

[@dingdong2103]

I was dating a Latvian woman who lived in a building pretty much like that. Corridor looked like post apocalypse but then inside it was nice and comfy.

[@martinbaldie3122]

@@dingdong2103 The Baltic states were occupied by USSR for 50 years. They built many ugly looking soviet blocks there. You can find these ugly blocks in eastern Germany as well.

[@dingdong2103]

@@martinbaldie3122 I know, I even visited Russia and Estonia during Soviet Union.

[@RandomDudeOne]

The plumbing in the bathroom is brilliant.

[@eeemaster]

Dude there is nothing better than being 5 mins away from a grocery store. I'd totally live there. Beats paying $1700 bucks for a bed bug ridden apartment in Toronto that's the size of a walk-in closet.

[@nn-dj2nu]

I was looking for apartments in northern California about three years ago, the cheapest ones I could find were "one bedroom" apartments where they took a studio apartment and put a wall in it to make a tiny room a "bedroom", the bedroom would have no closet and you couldn't fit a twin sized bed in it, they were usually located about an hour away from any city, some you would have to truck in your own propane, no washer/dryer, probably no or crappy cell or internet service, all for the measly price of no less than 1800$/month. I moved to the south, other than the humidity, it was the best decision I have ever made.

[@user-ht3jc7jt6d]

They probably take time renovating it , since it costs a lot and renting it on Airbnb probably allows them to renovate it

[@Attay7]

I have lived in worse , a 5 floors building called (хрущевский дом) it was ugly but the friendship with the local neighbours was awesome , we were as one family

[@dazza2024]

Great tour Budd yes it's Old School but the rooms are huge very homely & comfy it's a good choice well done Johnny.

[@martinzaitsev5487]

You even have this legendary Soviet red metal cans for sugar and other stuff in the kitchen.

[@shimonsieskel4482]

I like the old touches. The tile in the bathroom might be hard to replace. Where else are you going to find a lime green bathtub? The big grocery and those little shops are great. The area reminds me of an outer borough in NYC. Maybe in Queens.

[@disgustedvet9528]

Hopefully without the crime and high prices .

[@Ksyusha1]

Yess, it reminds me of NYC boroughs too ! Queens, Brooklyn, Harlem ….and even some parts of Manhattan

[@CallieMasters5000]

Something tells me you can find lime green bathtubs in that area very very easily, but they're probably not new.

[@billb7033]

We have places like that in the US, they are called "The Projects", granted they are a bit more dangerous, but they are essentially the same.

[@ettoredipugnar6990]

Thanks Johnny another great video !

[@westernwanderer8397]

I like it, Johnny. I like that it has an office space. The quirky bathroom and small kitchen are something you can get used to. Great video for my future references.

[@wrightvcx2249]

$750 a month is pretty expensive for Ukraine. I was expecting somewhere around $300.

[@Lana20041]

It,s exclusively for Johnny.

[@americanexploring7440]

The little stores inside the Subway and elsewhere are priceless and very enjoyable.

[@randolfo1265]

Great video Johnny. I like your description and your realistic expectations about the old Soviet amenities. Looks like a pretty good place to live Greetings from Canada!

[@bang2020]

Where is bald?! He’s been missing from KZbin!

[@Rdog760]

love the content keep it up !

[@rasmusnomadic2338]

I could live there happily. Being so close to good value supermarket and the little stalls and shops. And as someone who used to commute for 1.5 hours each way, 30 min subway ride not too bad. But centre of town cool too. Maybe once you're in your central flat again you can take a weekly trip to that cheap supermarket for supplies.

[@Alexus095]

Outdoor sport yards like these are great, however as a workout enthusiast I think it's a stretch of truth that you can get an actual full body workout there. You can do pull ups for upper back and biceps, dips and push ups for chest and triceps, bench sit ups for abs and you can simply squat without weights for legs. But what's left out are shoulders and lower back. In theory these grounds do have low parallel bars, which you can use for shoulders by climbing upside down on them and doing push ups with your head down. I once saw a guy do that, but only once. Aside from requiring considerable strength, such an excercise may have safety issues and you will have blood going to your head. Personally I wouldn't do it. For lower back there's no much substitute for deadlift. In theory you can make a bench for lower back (with bar holding the legs near the bottom), but I'm not sure I ever saw one. Then again you can grab rubber and do both shoulders and a rubber deadlift. However if you're even mildly serious about strengthening all major muscles - even in summer you will have to either visit gym or invest in weights, pair of adjustable dumbbells for shoulders and a barbell for deadlifts and squats. Personally I learned the hard way of the wonderful benefits of a trap bar for deadlifts, so my home gym are weights, dumbbells, straight barbell and a trap bar (thing wasn't easy to find and wasn't cheap). These days luckily I live in my private house and I have a luxury of an outdoor pull-up bar with a heavy bag setup. I consider heavy bag workout to be the most important one and even though I saw a tire setup couple of times in these sport grounds, the majority don't have such. My 2 grivnas )

[@dataterminal]

I read before that the heating in many soviet apartment blocks are provisioned by the local district, it makes sense then that the towel warmer is, well warm. So I assume the radiators in the rooms are manually controlled to be turned off otherwise they would still be heating the room during summer as well?

[@denysf.201]

This towel warmer is warm because it is connected to a warm water pipe, not to heating. And such buildings are connected to local district heating, but it starts work in autumn.

[@ingope]

Great to see this old style soviet funiture in the flats. Love it.

[@gieko19811]

Mostly no Soviet furniture in this flat some older ones, but not Soviet at all...

[@kymnprayer]

Johnny, sometimes things break down and you have to replace items in the kitchen and the bathroom-but you don't have money for the entire apartment.

[@ZZizitt]

I was waiting for this moment since your arrival to Ukraine, actually. Johnny finally understood that the best place for long-time residing in Kiev are goddamn outskirts. Of course all the prices are much lower there, out of the tourists routes.

[@lyudmilaaksan2232]

It is lovely. Little cluttered but not bad. For a time while your place is fixed up this is pretty nice place to stay.

[@maureenalder8905]

Love watching your vids thank you Mr.Bald for introducing me to Johnny ❤

[@dlite7845]

I love it! I’m headed back to Kyiv in a few weeks.

[@alexgruk2045]

Hey Johny, are you going to be back in Kharkiv in the next 2/3 weeks? Been watching your vids from NZ, would be cool to catch up

[@badgerpa9]

Johnny they have apartment buildings like that in many USA cities, some are called slums.

[@johndorian3685]

Yeah right, go ahead and find any flowers around buildings in the USA slums.

[@badgerpa9]

@@johndorian3685 he said the buildings are not in US and the buildings are. The people in the buildings destroy and burn down their local stores but USA has buildings like he showed.

[@Tota111]

Actually the interior of the apartment is far from soviet times. Looks like Kitchen was renovated somewhere around 2005-2010. That was the cheap stuff that you can get around that time for a kitchen. And as a whole, the interior of the apartment itself is couple of decades after the soviet times. You should have known this by now. So, Johhny, you are cool and all, but now you've been spending lots of time in Ukraine so I think that by now you had to be way more into the setting. Get familiar with it. It is quite easy to know what is soviet and what is not. That way you will not mislead your western viewers and will gain more eastern fans. Leave the american attitude and submerge into Eastern Europe. It will not disintegrate you

[@laakssim]

Spot on! It was so unpleasant to watch the video with all this nonsense.

[@dinlok8145]

Johnny is not known to do his research much. He is not even close to Bald or Harold on their knowledge about what they actually show in their videos

[@Thinksamuel]

@@dinlok8145 Uf, I'm happy I'm not the only one who is slightly annoyed by this Soviet baiting. I guess it's an easy way to attract viewers. I don't understand whyhe can'+t move into his newbought apartment. It does not take that long to get your furniture. It's not that he is having it handmade. Something is off with Johny, it's just not as authentic as Bald & bankrupt.

[@jackimiller8511]

Totally agree with all of you. It seemed like he liked the things that most resembled Western amenities. I'm new here and I'm curious why he travels.

[@mountainmoments]

in western EU we had more or less the same/similar stuff when bought from the cheaper stores in the 90s and early 00s. sovjet definitely looks different. the leftovers from that time was the shower/sink combo.

[@user-fm5cs4ix9k]

Adding to my first comment. We chose to live away from the centre because the air is cleaner and in the summer it is cooler than in the centre. We have a beautiful park almost next to where we live called Park Natalka and nice walks along the waterfront with great views across the Dnipro. Our apartment is newer and much bigger so we have a lot of space with 2 balconies one at the front and one at the back with concierge at the entrance. My daughters school is only a short walk. I travel a lot around the city and for me it is no problem using the metro which is better and quicker than driving because of the congestion. I also use a bicycle a lot instead of a car. We like living away from the centre but this is perhaps because we are Ukrainians and mainly foreigners like to be close to the centre.

[@nn-dj2nu]

Hello, thank you for sharing. Do you think there are fun things for a single man to do in the outskirts? I like a simple life but like to go out on the weekends, watching some of Johnnie's videos about scams in the city centet makes me not want to live there.

[@user-fm5cs4ix9k]

@@nn-dj2nu Hi. The biggest problem I see with many KZbin VLOGS and so on is a misunderstanding of a country and situations in a country. First I notice many KZbinrs from different channels complain that things are not the same as their home country. Obviously this is true but is this not the reason why people visit or relocate to another country because it is different. If all countries were the same then you may as well stay at home and there would not be any reason for a travel industry. My English friend came to visit Ukraine 6 years back and has come every year with the dream of retiring here. He said "Ukraine is like a different planet that is only 3 1/2 hours away from the UK and this is why I love being here". We have corruption but so does the USA and UK but the difference is there the corruption is hidden better. Scams well yes we have scammers, pick pockets and thieves but no more than the west and looking at statistics we have less than say the USA. I think that foreigners visiting different countries feel themselves out of their comfort zone and therefore imagine that there is more danger than there really is. I am a photographer. My job is to photograph models, make and update portfolios and shoot portraits. I also do my own photography of many genres and sometimes you will see me walking the streets or riding my bike in Kyiv or in nature at night or 2am or even at 5 am to shoot photos. I am carrying from $6000 to $12000 of gear with me and I do not have a problem. When I am in the UK I would never do this because there is not safe. We have gypsies from Romania and Hungary that pick pockets, scam and rob people but as with any country or city in the world you just need to be careful and keep your eyes open. No disrespect but I would never go to the USA because crime is many times higher. Kyiv is generally safe. Johnny and Bald recently made a video about a district of Kyiv called Troieshchyna and said that they were told it was a dangerous place but this is not so. Another KZbinr from USA called Peter Santenello has made many videos on his channel about Ukraine and he goes with facts. I suggest you watch his videos to get the real picture of my city and country. To answer your question I would say yes live away from the centre because it is more comfortable. I live in Obolon. From my apartment there are many supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices and so on all within a few minutes walk to 1 mile. The Dnipro river and beaches are 3 minutes from my home. Park Natalka is 10 minutes. Metro Obolon is 10 minutes walk and so is the huge 3 floor shopping centre called Dream Town. There are buses and taxis too. I do not suggest using Uber as with the pressures placed on drivers there seems to be many accidents so better to use the Ukrainian version called Uklon and there is a better app from this company. If I want to go to the centre of Kyiv by metro including the walk to station Obolon this will take you around 25 minutes maximum. Everything here is convenient and works well. People need to embrace the differences and not complain about them. Traditions and cultures are different in every country and this is why the EU never agree on anything. I live here with my wife and daughter and I also live in England with work as my parents and grandparents went there from Ukraine many years back. Adapting, accepting and integrating is the important thing piece of advice I can give anyone who wants to live in another country.

[@nn-dj2nu]

@@user-fm5cs4ix9k wow, thank you for the detailed response. The area were you live sounds exactly what I would like. Are there any bars or clubs or some kind of night life in the outskirt were you live? Also is having a car not easy, being from the USA I am used to driving my own car, or is this not practical? Thanks!

[@nn-dj2nu]

@@user-fm5cs4ix9k sorry, one more question, you mentioned Gypsies, I have been told by eastern European folks that I look like a gypsy, in not, it is something I feel insecure about. Do you think people will have negative feelings to me based on the way I look? I just want to get along and be a part of a community, but I am aware that there may be some nepotism in regards to how I look, do you think I will have issues, or do most people not care? Thanks agian.

[@user-fm5cs4ix9k]

@@nn-dj2nu As you are from the USA I do not think looking like a gypsy would be a problem. We can see Americans and English from 10 km away so you will not have a problem and not need to feel insecure. These things do not bother us. You will find Ukraine welcoming and friendly but remember we are straight to the point direct speaking people so do not be offended by this it is just how we are. We just use fewer words than western people.

[@lynnthomas5795]

I really like the apartment and would live there! Negatives are the bathroom fawcet and I want to be able to use that awesome balcony!

[@VagabondAnne]

I’m glad to hear that the supermarkets get better further out. I am near Beresteiska right now, moving to Lukianivska for a moth, then a month on the eastern side of the Dnipro.

[@JohnnyFD]

The best supermarket near you is Mega Market. I would walk there, do your shopping, and take a taxi back home.

[@VagabondAnne]

@@JohnnyFD will do!

[@craigfinno551]

You seem like a great person I just subscribed keep up the good work

[@stjut]

Comfortable and functional apartment, well situated with everything on the doorstep. Not really that far from the city centre but for your needs you'll be happier downtown. Thx for yr time.

[@svitlana2651]

Спасибо,Джони. Мне сейчас предстоит жить на съёмной квартире и это меня вводило в депрессию.Но ты со своим позитивом помог мне взглянуть на жизнь проще))

[@Lana20041]

В Киеве намного безопаснее, чем в Америке видала я Детройт, Нью Йорк, Чикаго, Кливленд, Толедо. Вот где самая настоящая жуть.

[@mattorban]

@@Lana20041 Америка прекрасна и в сотни раз лучше Украины. Но вынужден признать, в Украине и России намного безопаснее чем в крупных городах в США и Канады. И количество бездомных и зависимых очень мало. В Ванкувере с этим просто жесть 🤦‍♂️

[@chrisyates8115]

Nice! Love it!

[@gregorylewis8471]

Honestly Johnny I don't know why you are whinging about being away from the city centre. That place looks like you have everything you need! I wouldn't have any problem living there! All the best, thanks for sharing!

[@LUK77ACH]

He’s whining pretty much about everything, no wonder he is still single.

[@davidwong6684]

Hi Johnny. How much do you pay for this apartment rental. Thks Johnny.. David from Singapore

[@kevinsantana481]

I've learned a lot from your videos about Ukraine and I really like this country. Although I live in Georgia, almost neighbouring country, unluckily I have never been there

[@Lyzzzander]

That's actually pretty thougtfull for owners to store some extra building materials. You always by some extra, cause if you're floor tile or wallpaper broke off for some reasons, you never gonna find exact same replacements for it. They are most likely made for some collection for about a year, and gone forever from shelves.

[@JohnnyFD]

Agreed. But there are better places to store it than in the middle of the balcony. Even under a bed would be better. =)

[@socialnak]

Your camera quality is not bad. Are you using your phone? What camera do you use?

[@JohnnyFD]

Just my iPhone.

[@Resoluteofficial]

you have some serious talent on the piano

[@injunnfuz6698]

Great info

[@NibrocNod]

I actually like the bathroom and kitchen. Retro can be pretty cool.

[@TheDailyRocky]

I think I was on the same street. The metro station is Heroiv Dnipra if anyone's wondering.

[@simian5805]

Seems cool. A good home base to explore out from.

[@connielimon90]

I like it! I especially liked the old kitchen.

[@OrdinaryBean]

You're quite the pianist, Johnny! 👏👏👏👏👏 🤣

[@enki4589]

You could stop going to the center as often. I love where you are right now!!!

[@davidpui4675]

I like the tiles etc so older styles suit me too

[@OGGOAT23]

I used to live in a Chushchiovka 1 bedroom appartment..good old days

[@pianokeyjoe]

I am ALWAYS for Country or suburban living for long term stays/life, but for short term stays I prefer the city for the reason you stated. It is real nice to go to the busy cities and towns and do the shopping, and what not, and then escape to the country,suburbs or small town at the end of the day. I live that life NOW! Highly recommend!

[@yuriythebest]

It's amazing, and somewhat jarring, to see you describe basically 'where I live' and all the kiosks and vegetable stores I walk past every day 16:20 - Yess, this poppy seed bread from Welmart is amazing, goes well with coffee! You wouldn't believe how many times I bought it - their bread section is just wow... It will give france a run for it's money

[@dawnvandeventer588]

The share mixer is a cool idea.

[@Iukaz]

Who knew Johnny was so good at piano!

[@CallieMasters5000]

Who knew you could play a piano without pressing the keys?! 🤔

[@kayjonsson8228]

Oh I hope we get to se the renovation of your apartment!

[@georgesboutz8080]

Nice old Soviet style apartments, they always have hallways to connect to the rooms and of course, the sinister looking green hallways and the tiny elevators that squeak and groan all the time. All the apartments I have rented in Russia are very similar to this one. Being a musician, I love the piano. I would rent that apartment happily! How much would that place sell for?

[@jamoon469]

Nice neighborhood and apartment...I would enjoy it.

[@jumpda5]

The peculiarity of these houses for foreigners is that they look old and ugly from the outside, and foreigners often have the impression that these are some kind of miserable abandoned ruins. but the bottom line is that almost all people have modern renovations and furnishings inside their apartments the same as in European houses. in fact, these houses made in the Soviet era are quite high quality and reliable, although they look bad. they are very warm, it is so warm in them that in winter at a temperature of -30 outside in the house it is so hot that you have to ventilate the room

[@CallieMasters5000]

Those buildings are made to last. They're not crumbling or being knocked down, as they can still house a lot of people.

[@ivanmischyuk9813]

I'd most likely would rent an apartmnent somewhere near Livoberezhna or Lisova train station [red line]. I consider left coast to be the ultimate budget living area. Obolon is kinda budget but not really: novostroikas/new apartment buildings kinda gentrified the budget part out of Obolon.

[@debia1490]

Hi Johnny, as a country girl with 5.5 acres and horses 🐎, what is land like out there? Just curious? Plentiful

[@JohnnyFD]

There is a ton of farm land.

[@samorodin2908]

This video is great! Was actually surprised to see you at Heroiv Dnipra especially considering that i walk through this market from school almost every day. Very interesting to look at your perspective on things here, because some ukranians actually enjoy soviet buildings aesthetics despite that in my opinion they look bad, unorganised and the urban planning around them kinda sucks because there is nothing to do in the area as opposed to the centre, and almost everyone has to leave from there during the day for work, hobbies, to hang out, etc.

[@tarbyonlineful]

Looks great

[@edm9704]

You make that place sound very inviting. The map shows that it is about 7 miles (11.2 km) from the center of Kiev. 40 minute travel time on the subway is more than I would expect, but you must be right.

[@JohnnyFD]

40 minutes is point to point, factoring the time it takes to go up and down the station escalators, etc.

[@angeldetierra3855]

► 8:35 That's a key fob. The HOA will program it. Depending on the type of building. It will give you access to the building, amenities and your private unit. Way better than using the conventional keys. In less than a minute you can disable it. These key fobs and the CCTV help you investigate unwanted situations that may happen in your buildings.

[@otzi1]

That system is called 1-Wire. We used to use them for paying for the public transport in Istanbul, Turkey. They were replaced by a contactless card afterwards.

[@JohnnyFD]

It's convient, I like it. But how does it actually work?

[@angeldetierra3855]

@@otzi1 ► We have other brands here in the US. I'm not familiar with the one you're mentioning. All those systems basically do the same. Very easy to program, reliable and need very little maintenance.

[@angeldetierra3855]

@@JohnnyFD ► In a nutshell: There's a computer dedicated to handle the access in your building (doors / gates / elevators). The fob has a unique id number. You input that number in the system, assign it to a particular unit, and give the access to that particular fob. For instance: Main Entrance + Common Areas + Garage + South Tower Elevator + Beach Gate. Main Entrance will give you access to the North, South, East & West doors. Common Areas will give you access to the Card room, Library, Pool Room, Fitness Center, Media Center, Playroom. Whenever access is granted or denied the information is recorded in the system. We can see & print the location / date / time where the fob is used. If you go to another building that has the same system. The fob won't be recognized -- In the system I can see that somebody tried to access the building and that the access was denied. We're very careful with the system. If we notice something suspicious. We contact immediately the unit owner and disable the fobs. Hope this help you understand the keyless access control system.

[@living-wellon-less5669]

I actually like that bathroom and that tap is actually ingenious, you don't have all the buildup around the faucets that makes it more difficult to clean! And the separate toilet is actually more sanitary but they do need a sink!

[@pedrozatravel]

In New York there are buildings like those apartments, mostly in the projects.

[@t.freeman3595]

I stayed very close to this apartment in Kyiv in May, I believe I stayed down the street from this building. I agree with you that the area is relaxed and it is normal people there. I really liked the neighborhood markets there, I went to them often. I hope to stay in this area again when I return to Ukraine.

[@ATrainTravels]

I like the extra security into the main building entrance.. 20 years ago it was not like that in Ukraine... anyone could go inside..

[@micqyy]

you're such a talented musician 😁

[@living-wellon-less5669]

Have you shopped at Novus? The one I went to even had a bar in the back, a good selection of meat, excellent cheeses, almost everything I would want in America but better quality! And the selection of good quality beer is outstanding in Ukraine!

[@kltpep]

Johnny, The U.S. has tons of places just like this one. Go to Miami, Detroit, etc....I see building like this in all the main older cities.

[@CATMANROG]

Most entertaining Johnny ! As an old displaced Hawaii guy, your simple and comfortable in Kiev is good. I settled in hills opposite San Francisco, giving me life in forest park with multi-bridge / Alcatraz view. Weather about the same as Kiev, except our fog summer “air conditioning”. To me, home is where close friends and happiness are. So, Kiev is too far to live, too complicated to invest in, but great to visit… as are so many places and people you and Bald have shared with us. Mahalo, Rog 🐾

[@nathaniya77]

Always wanted to live near olimpiyska, never left riverside or heroiv dnipra. Settled in golosiiv, happy about high ceilings and big trees)) although building is much older than this one apt renovation is modern) so, it depends

[@oohjesus2]

looks like I lived there before too...is it near the airport ?

[@JohnnyFD]

No. But all of the buildings look the same throughout the former USSR.

[@richardthornhill4630]

Typical apartment, small kitchen, balcony, multiple keys for entry. Huge apartment complexes and very few single story homes, except is exclusive neighborhoods or in rural areas - and no garage for a car. If you do own a vehicle, it is necessary to rent a parking booth or leave it on the street wherever a spot is available. Winter changes everything.

[@ArnsteinTrany]

I did a class in Russian, and in out text book was a drawing of the typical Soviet apartment. I knew it straight away from my visits to my girlfriend 15 years prior in Kyiv. Excatly the same. And I saw it again in this video. Only difference was where the entrance was. Alle the rest, identical.

[@anatolyex]

Guess what...It suppose to be identical . Why would not it be. Those buildings were manufactured at a few factories, with a few standard plans available . If you were some kind of "apparatchik" , the "servant of the people" with connections, you could get something fancier. Otherwise to own an apartment like this, was a real commodity .A ton of people could only dream to have their own place .

[@CallieMasters5000]

In the US we've always associated the color white with sanitation and cleanliness, so we have white bathroom fixtures, white walls and furniture. There, they love that Soviet green on all the hallways and public areas, like it's an antiseptic to coat everything with it. I wonder who started that? Some guy probably picked that shade of green a long time ago.

[@texasfly8865]

I hope that beautiful place is still intact. So sad what is happening.

[@snitao]

We do have these, they’re called the projects

[@johnparrish9215]

Where you have your Soviet apartment offers everything that is positive about living in the city with few of the negatives. If I were to ever move to the city I hope to find one as good as that one. I'm not young so my idea of a social life is much different than most but I'm pretty sure that my usual method of taking my neighbor a fresh pie (I love making pies don't judge me) and a smile can make friends over there too.

[@Ksyusha1]

I love your comment and your attitude !)))) but bringing a pie to a neighbor in this kind of building , plus smiling, plus being a foreigner ……. may lead u to a disappointment or even trouble . (Usually people keep to themselves , a short exchange between the neighbors is common , but people won’t understand if u start knocking on their doors with a pies . They ll become suspicious and ll decide on one of the following : u want something from them or u simply insane or, finally, u can be taken advantage of . So, a simple conversation about the weather will be a better and safer gateway into a new friendships. Ukrainians of a certain age don’t understand smiles from a strangers . It takes them a while to lower their guard and accept someone.

[@johnparrish9215]

@@Ksyusha1 Damn, I'm sorry to hear they were beaten down that hard.

[@yaroslavromanyuk5669]

@@johnparrish9215 Well, -people are different. I would probably laugh and invite you for a coffee if you appeared at my door with a pie and a heavy foreign accent. But I'm only 31, and usually friendly with people unless they give me a solid reason to not be.

[@Ksyusha1]

@@yaroslavromanyuk5669 I’m the same 😀🤝

[@Ksyusha1]

@@johnparrish9215 🙌🤝

[@joanrath126]

Cute place to decorate an make your own.a store close by is handi.