Ukraine
A quick reference guide for beginners
Location, population, languages, and religions
Many people don't know much about Ukraine. Ukraine is a quite large country in Eastern Europe (about the size of Texas or France) with a fairly large population (48 million). It is a Slavic country with two dominant languages — Ukrainian and Russian — that are spoken about equally (though only Ukrainian is the official state language). Most Ukrainians today consider themselves Christians, with major religions being Orthodoxy and Catholicism.
Cities
The capital of Ukraine — Kiev (or Kyiv) — has over 3 million people. Other large cities are Kharkov (or Kharkiv), Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk (or Dnipropetrovsk), Odessa (or Odesa), and Lviv. The spelling of these cities in English can differ depending on whether the names have been transliterated from Ukrainian or Russian.
History and borders Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, or USSR, until its breakup in 1991. Parts of Ukraine have been independent countries in the past, and modern-day Ukraine has been independent since August 24, 1991. Ukraine maintains close economic, political, cultural, and linguistic ties to Russia, but is a separate country with its own political system and geopolitical strategy. Other countries that border Ukraine are: Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.
Economic situation
Ukraine is poorer than most countries in Europe, but its market economy has been growing fast since 2000 after years of depression following the collapse of the Soviet Union's command economy. During this collapse, industrial production dropped more than during the Great Depression in the United States. This caused millions of Ukrainians to emigrate to western countries in search of work and a better life. Now things are getting better — especially in the big cities — and some Ukrainian emigrants have been moving back. Today there are quite a few rich people, but most of the country remains poor, and there is a small but growing middle class. Ukraine's currency is the Hryvnia. U.S. dollars and Euros are also widely used. Ukraine is not part of the European Union, but many Ukrainians hope to join it some day.
Political situation
Ukraine is a democratic country with a parliament (Verkhovna Rada) and a president (currently President Viktor Yuschenko). In late 2004, the Orange Revolution brought Yuschenko to power after election results were falsified in favor of Viktor Yanukovich, who is now the Prime Minister of Ukraine. There is much competition for power and control of large industries in Ukraine. Voters themselves are split between those who favor a European political course (mostly in the west and north) and those who favor closer ties with Russia (mostly in the east and south). These two halves of Ukraine also have cultural and linguistic differences.
Geography and climate
Ukraine is a mostly flat or rolling country with fertile plains which are heavily farmed and some forests in the north. There are large rivers such as the Dnipro, which flows south into the Black Sea. There are low mountain ranges in Crimea — in the extreme south of Ukraine — and in the far west (the Carpathians). The highest peak is Hoverla at 2061 meters above sea level ( 6762 feet). Most of Ukraine is quite cold and often snowy in the winter, but warm or hot in the summer. The weather is similar to the northern Great Plains and Upper Midwest (i.e. North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa).
Travel and tourism
Ukraine is not a common destination for international tourists, but it is slowly growing in popularity. Travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and some other countries do not need a visa to visit. The most visited cities are Kiev, Lviv, and Odessa. The peninsula of Crimea is also popular as a summer destination because of its many beaches and resorts (such as Yalta) along the Black Sea coast. There is also skiing in the Carpathian Mountains of western Ukraine. Visitors to Ukraine usually visit Orthodox and Catholic churches, Jewish sites, and ancient monasteries and fortresses. Ukrainian souvenirs are also popular among tourists and include woodwork, painted eggs, and embroidery. Ukraine's crime rate is quite low — especially violent crime — and the country is safe for tourists. English is spoken well by just a few young and middle-aged people.
Culture
Ukrainians are known for their hospitality and enjoyment of conversations, eating, and drinking. It is quite easy to make friends in Ukraine. Many foreigners come to Ukraine for romance as well. In the cities you will see a lot of people with a European mentality side by side with Soviet influences. Much of Ukraine is agrarian, and people in villages often live in old-fashioned houses and ride horse carts around. Cell phones and electronic devices have become very popular in Ukraine, and people are buying automobiles right and left, which has created traffic problems in the cities.
Further reading
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