Just in front of the kremlin mound is a statue of the city's founder - Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Prince Yuri Dolgoruky was born around the turn of the 12th century and became the Prince of Rostov-Suzdal and then the Grand Prince of Kiev. He is famous for founding many other Russian cities, including Moscow. Like most statues of Yuri Dolgoruky, this statue depicts him holding out his arm, as Dolgoruky means the Long-Armed, a sobriquet he earned due to his decision to rule Kiev from afar. The large statue looks even more impressive as it does not stand on a pedestal but at ground level, allowing people to walk right up to it.