Podil, also known as Podol or the Lower City, is a historic neighborhood situated in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. It is geographically positioned on a floodplain terrace over the Dnieper River, located between the Kyiv Hills and the lower stream of the Pochaina River.
As one of the oldest neighborhoods in Kyiv, Podil served as the birthplace for the city's trade, commerce, and industry. Following the Mongol invasion of Rus' and the subsequent destruction of Kyiv, the area functioned as the primary city center until the 19th century. During this period, it housed the city administration (magistrate) and the main university before later becoming a site for the city's port and shipyard.