Ukraine <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:up-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Kiev (Kyyiv)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>republic </td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>hryvnia (UAH)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 603,700 sq km ''water:'' 0 sq km ''land:'' 603,700 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>48,396,470 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>Ukrainian (official), Russian (widely-spread), Romanian, Polish, Hungarian</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish</td></tr> </table> </div>  '''Ukraine''' (''Ukrayina'') is a country in Eastern Europe. It lies at the northwest end of the Black Sea, with Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland to the northwest, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, and Romania to the south west and south, with Moldova in between. Formerly part of Tzarist Russia and subsequently the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe and lies at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Image:up-map.png|thumb|450px|Map of Ukraine ==Regions== ; '''Administrative divisions''' : 24 oblasti (singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular - misto) with oblast' status**; Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy), Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv), Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi), Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k), Donets'ka (Donets'k), Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k), Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv), Khersons'ka (Kherson), Khmel'nyts'ka (Khmel'nyts'kyy), Kirovohrads'ka (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka (Kiev), Luhans'ka (Luhans'k), L'vivs'ka (L'viv), Mykolayivs'ka (Mykolayiv), Odes'ka (Odesa), Poltavs'ka (Poltava), Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Rivnens'ka (Rivne), Sevastopol'**, Sums'ka (Sumy), Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya), Volyns'ka (Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka (Zaporizhzhya), Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr); note - when using a place name with an adjectival ending 's'ka' or 'z'ka,' the word Oblast' should be added to the place name ''note:'' oblasts have the administrative center name following in parentheses ==Cities== *Kiev (''Kyiv'') - Capital *Donetsk (also spelled ''Doneck'') *Kharkiv *Lviv *Mykolayiv - shipbuilding centre in the Southern Ukraine *Ochakiv (Ochakov, Achikale) *Odessa (also spelled ''Odesa'') *Sevastopol|Sevastopol' (also spelled ''Sevastopol'' formerly ''Sebastopol'') *Yalta *Kaniv ; '''Ports and harbors''' : Berdyans'k, Feodosiya, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev, Kiliya, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odessa, Reni, Sevastopol', Yalta, Yuzhnyy ==Other destinations== ==Understand== ===Climate=== Temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south ===Terrain=== Most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south ; ''Highest point:'' Hoverla mountain, 2061 m ===History=== Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine was able to bring about a short-lived period of independence (1917-1920), but was reconquered by the USSR that had the misfortune of seeing two famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 million more deaths. A 1986 accident and fire at the Chernobyl' Nuclear Power Plant contaminated a large area of surrounding countryside and was the world's worst civil nuclear disaster. Although independence was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive as many of the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. ; '''Independence''' : 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) ; '''National holiday''' : Independence Day, 24 August (1991) ==Get in== ===Visa requirements=== Citizens of most nations are required visas, with the exception of Romania, Hungary, Poland, Mongolia, Serbia, Lithuania and Montenegro, and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (except Turkmenistan). In addition, between May 1, 2005 through September 1, 2005 no visas are required for the citizens of Switzerland and the EU countries. More information from http://www.ukraineinfo.us/consular/visas.html ===By plane=== The cheapest way to fly into Ukraine is through Kiev. There are several airlines which offer direct flights to cities like Odessa (MALEV, LOT, Austrian), Kharkiv and Lviv (LOT, Austrian Airlines), but they will be more expensive. ===By train=== You can get in Ukraine by train from any land-bordering neighbour. When coming from Europe you should spend some time changing rail wheels in order to adapt to different rail distance standard. Generally, in Ukraine a railway travel is much cheaper than plane, and is comparable (but probably cheaper) to bus or car travel. It will take at most a whole day to ride across the country, so unless you are in hurry take a train. It's a good practice to take long-distance trains, which are much more comfortable. Avoid cheap third-class travels if you're cautious of local experiences. ===By car=== Expect long queues if you're crossing western Ukrainian border with car. You may be lucky, though. ===By bus=== There are inexpensive direct bus services to Lviv and Ivanofrankovsk from Poland. They usually offer a budget level of comfort. ===By boat=== There are some ferries from Istanbul to Odessa or to Crimea. ==Get around== The quickest way to get around big cities is the so-called marshrutka - the minibuses which follow routes much like the regular buses do. The fare is paid as soon as you get in. You tell the driver that you want to get off when you're approaching the destination. Each city has an inter-city bus station from which you can go pretty much anywhere in Ukraine. Fares and quality of service vary widely. If you wish to travel by a train, try to get the more expensive tickets ("SV" and "kupe"). Being a foreigner and travelling in "platzkart" (compartments without doors) is not safe. Keep in mind that when you purchase train tickets and when you get onto the train, you must show your passport. ===By car=== It is possible to get around in Ukraine by car, but one must be aware of certain particulars: The signs are all in Ukrainian. Only a few signs, every 200 km or so, are written in the Latin alphabet, and indicate only main cities. It is notably recommended to have a good road map (the only ones really available are in Ukrainian), because the indications on signs are far from being exhaustive. You are strongly advised to respect the signage, especially speed limits. Be aware that unlike in Western countries, where indications are repeated several times, in Ukraine, an obligation or a prohibition is often indicated on a single sign, which you must not miss. The police is always there to remind you! You should avoid conflicts with officials. Bribery is a common practice, but it is not at all advised to foreigners, and may get you into further trouble. Speed in cities is limited to 60 km/h (35 mph). Speed in "nationals" is limited to 90 km/h (55 mph). Speed on highways is limited to 120km/h (75 mph). Fuel is no longer a problem in Ukraine. There are today numerous service stations in all cities. There are different types of fuel, such as diesel, unleaded 95, and more rarely unleaded 98 ; one finds also 80 and 76. Fuel is much less expensive than in Western Europe (counting 2.9 hr for a litre of 95 unleaded, which amounts to about 45 euro cents, 3.2hr for 98). There is nothing else to say about fuel quality; Western-made motors support it well. The state of roads is a vast subject: The main roads are practicable for all cars, as long as you don't go too fast, for the numerous repairs they have undergone made them not smoother but the opposite. But there are few potholes. Secondary roads are passable, but beware: certain zones can be full of potholes and you must therefore not hesitate to stop and change lanes (even circulate as in England), or avoid them. Roads between villages are often dirt and not stabilized: inaccessible on a rainy day, except in a 4x4. Maintenance services seem to have started numerous works for improving the roads in 2003, but the work is far from finished. Be careful when you're in suburban areas or in villages siding a road. Sometimes domestic animals prefer to walk on asphalt just like real pedestrians. It is not unlikely to meet several smashed cat or dog corpses during an hour ride on a busy highway, so be prepared to see it. Bicycle traffic is not very strong, but you will sometimes see an aged man transporting a sack of grass on an old road-bike or a cycling enthusiast in bright clothes riding a semi-professional racing bike. Those are even more likely to be met on well-maintained roads where the pavement is smooth. ==Talk== Ukrainian is the official language. Near the neighboring countries, Russian phrasebook|Russian, Romanian phrasebook|Romanian, Polish phrasebook|Polish, and Hungarian are spoken. Russian is a close relative of Ukrainian and is most often the language of choice in the south and east of Ukraine. It is safe to assume that in large cities everyone would understand Russian (the post-Soviet heritage), however, beware that in central and especially western parts people may be reluctant to help you if you speak Russian. On the other hand, in eastern parts and especially Crimea, Russian is commonplace. Young people speak a little English, because it's common as a foreign language in school. * see: Ukrainian phrasebook ==Buy== To do shopping you would most certainly need local currency (hryvnias). Dollar, euro and Russian ruble exchange points are very common in cities, and exchange rate is usually quite fair (e.g. if you exchange from dollars to hryvnyas and back you'll lose only about 0.5%). However, sometimes and in some banks there are problems with cache deposits (or that is the official version), so do not exchange too much dollars unless you're travelling to scarcely-habitated locations. When doing person-to-person payments you might be able to pay in dollars or euros, for those are widely recognized as solid currency, and you might in fact get better rates than in official exchange poins. However, be careful with that, because it's not strictly legal to make payments with foreign currency. If you want to buy any kind of artwork (paintings, easter eggs) in Kiev, the place to visit is Andriivsky Uzviz (???????????? ????? in Ukrainian, ??????????? ????? in Russian). ==Eat== ==Drink== You will find a large variety of alcohol drinks in Ukraine, but *do not* buy drinks in suspicious places. There have been reports about intoxication caused by fabricated vodka sold by street marketers. The most known Ukrainian brand of vodka (or horilka in Ukrainian) is Nemiroff. Many others are available. In south Odesa region (Bessarabia) and in Crimea wine distilleries are commonplace. Locals commonly drink large amounts of alcohol, more so the country folk. Soft drinks are in large assortment as well, and "the cheaper the worse" rule generally applies. ==Sleep== Hotels might be a traumatic experience for a westerner anywhere outside Kiev. The cheaper the hotel, the larger the chance of some quite unfortunate surprises, especially for those not familiar with the Soviet-style level of service which still remains in many places. ==Learn== ==Work== ==Stay safe== Try not to publicize the fact that you're a foreigner - by clothing or otherwise. With the exception of Kiev, Odesa and a few other large cities, foreign tourists are quite rare. You may get robbed. ==Stay healthy== There is radiation contamination in the northeast from the accident at Chornobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. However the effect is negligible unless you permanently live in Chornobyl area itself. There are even tours to the town of Slavutych (Prypyat') which is the closest to the station. The town is famous for the haunting scenery of blocks of apartment buildings abandoned in 1986, now standing out amid the vegetation which spawned from years of neglect. ;Do not, under any circumstances, drink unboiled tap water. Cholera and other waterborne parasites occur frequently, especially in the south. ==Respect== Ukraine is by no means a conservative country with respect to clothing or behaviour. It is very similar to the way you would behave in a western country. ==Contact== Enquire the locations of your country's embassy/consulates before you leave. Generally only Ukraine's neighbours have representatives anywhere besides Kiev. ==External links== ro:Ucraina fr:Ukraine {{stub}} ---- ''The rest of this article is an Wikitravel:CIA World Factbook 2002 import|import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a '''real''' Wikitravel country article according to our Wikitravel:country article template|country article template. Please Wikitravel:plunge forward|plunge forward and integrate it into the article above.'' ---- ==Geography== ; '''Geographic coordinates''' : 49 00 N, 32 00 E ; '''Area''' : ''total:'' 603,700 sq km ''water:'' 0 sq km ''land:'' 603,700 sq km ; '''Area - comparative''' : slightly smaller than Texas ; '''Coastline''' : 2,782 km ; '''Maritime claims''' : ''continental shelf:'' 200-m or to the depth of exploitation ''exclusive economic zone:'' 200 NM ''territorial sea:'' 12 NM ; '''Natural resources''' : iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land ; '''Land use''' : ''arable land:'' 57.1% ''permanent crops:'' 1.73% ''other:'' 41.17% (1998 est.) ; '''Irrigated land''' : 24,540 sq km (1998 est.) ; '''Environment - current issues''' : inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant ; '''Environment - international agreements''' : ''party to:'' Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands ''signed, but not ratified:'' Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol ==People== ; '''Nationality''' : ''noun:'' Ukrainian(s) ''adjective:'' Ukrainian ; '''Ethnic groups''' : Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001) ; '''Religions''' : Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish ==Government== ; '''Country name''' : ''conventional short form:'' Ukraine ''former:'' Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic ''local short form:'' Ukrayina ; '''Constitution''' : adopted 28 June 1996 ; '''Legal system''' : based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts ; '''Judicial branch''' : Supreme Court; Constitutional Court ; '''Diplomatic representation in the US''' : ''chief of mission:'' Ambassador Konstantin Ivanovych HRYSHCHENKO ''FAX:'' [1] (202) 333-0817 ''consulate(s) general:'' Chicago and New York ''telephone:'' [1] (202) 333-0606 ''chancery:'' 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 ; '''Diplomatic representation from the US''' : ''chief of mission:'' Ambassador John HERBST ''embassy:'' 10 Yurii Kotsiubynskyi Street, Kiev 01901 ''mailing address:'' use embassy street address ''telephone:'' [380] (44) 490-4000 ''FAX:'' [380] (44) 244-7350 ; '''Flag description''' : two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky ==Economy== ; '''Economy - overview''' : After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements. Shortly after independence in late 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Now in his second term, President KUCHMA has pledged to reduce the number of government agencies, streamline the regulatory process, create a legal environment to encourage entrepreneurs, and enact a comprehensive tax overhaul. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas of structural reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms and have threatened to withdraw financial support. GDP in 2000 showed strong export-based growth of 6% - the first growth since independence - and industrial production grew 12.9%. The economy continued to expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and industrial output grew by over 14%. Growth was undergirded by strong domestic demand and growing consumer and investor confidence. ; '''Industries''' : coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar) ; '''Agriculture - products''' : grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk ; '''Exports - commodities''' : ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, food products ; '''Imports - commodities''' : energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals ; '''Currency''' : hryvnia (UAH) ; '''Currency code''' : UAH ; '''Exchange rates''' : hryvnia per US dollar - 5.3126 (January 2002), 5.3722 (2001), 5.4402 (2000), 4.1304 (1999), 2.4495 (1998), 1.8617 (1997) ==Communications== ; '''Telephones - main lines in use''' : 9.45 million (April 1999) ; '''Telephones - mobile cellular''' : 236,000 (1998) ; '''Telephone system''' : ''general assessment:'' Ukraine's telecommunication development plan, running through 2005, emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile cellular system ''domestic:'' at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair; more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied; telephone density is now rising slowly and the domestic trunk system is being improved; the mobile cellular telephone system is expanding at a high rate ''international:'' two new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and three Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project which connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems ; '''Radio broadcast stations''' : AM 134, FM 289, shortwave 4 (1998) ; '''Radios''' : 45.05 million (1997) ; '''Television broadcast stations''' : at least 33 (plus 21 repeaters that relay broadcasts from Russia) (1997) ; '''Televisions''' : 18.05 million (1997) ; '''Internet country code''' : .ua ; '''Internet Service Providers (ISPs)''' : 260 (2001) ; '''Internet users''' : 750,000 (2001) ==Transportation== ; '''Railways''' : ''total:'' 22,510 km ''broad gauge:'' 21,951 km 1.524-m gauge (8,927 km electrified) ''standard gauge:'' 49 km 1.435-m gauge ''note:'' these data do not include railroads dedicated to serving industry and not in common carrier service (2001) ''narrow gauge:'' 510 km 0.750-m gauge ; '''Highways''' : ''total:'' 273,700 km ''paved:'' 236,400 km (including 1,770 km of expressways and a substantial amount of all-weather roads with gravel surfaces) ''unpaved:'' 37,300 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1990) ; '''Waterways''' : 4,499 km ''note:'' 1,672 km are on the Pryp'yat' and Dniester (Dnister) (1990) ; '''Airports''' : 718 (2001) ; '''Airports - with paved runways''' : ''total:'' 114 ''over 3,047 m:'' 14 ''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 50 ''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 21 ''914 to 1,523 m:'' 3 ''under 914 m:'' 26 (2002) ; '''Airports - with unpaved runways''' : ''total:'' 604 ''over 3,047 m:'' 13 ''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 37 ''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 52 ''914 to 1,523 m:'' 45 ''under 914 m:'' 457 (2002) ==Military== ; '''Military branches''' : Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Interior Troops, Border Troops ==Transnational Issues== ; '''Disputes - international''' : Ukraine and Romania have yet to resolve claims over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake) Island and delimitation of Black Sea maritime boundary, despite 1997 bilateral treaty to find a solution in two years and numerous talks; Russia and Ukraine have successfully delimited land boundary in 2001, but disagree on delimitation of maritime boundary in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea; Moldovan difficulties with break-away Transnistria region inhibit establishment of a joint customs regime with Ukraine to curtail smuggling, arms transfers, and other illegal activities ; '''Illicit drugs''' : limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; drug-related money laundering a minor, but growing, problem; lax anti-money-laundering regime de:Ukraine First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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