The monument to Ukraine’s past corruption

Alessandra visits the former residence of Ukrainian President Yanukovych, now a museum to government looting of public funds – and a reminder of the corruption that Ukraine is now fighting.

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Protesters fighting government forces at barricades on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) on February 19, 2014 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

It is hard to imagine how Mezhyhirya, a national park outside of Kyiv complete with a beach, a zoo and a retro cars museum, was once a private residence. 

But, after decades of being a national park, through corruption's sleight of hand, in 2002 it became President Viktor Yanukovych’s personal home.

Until ten years ago.