Ukraine

General Information

Country name: (conventional long form) none, (conventional short form) Ukraine

Area: 603 700 sq km

Population: 47 732 079 (2004)

Capital: Kiev

Population: 2 611 327 (2001)

Administrative divisions: (24 oblasti (singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtomnaya respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular - misto) with oblast status**) Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy) (1), Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv) (2), Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi) (3), Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k)(4), Donets'ka (Donets'k) (5), Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k) (6), Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv) (7), Khersons'ka (Kherson) (8), Khmel'nyts'ka (Khmel'nyts'kyy) (9), Kirovohrads'ka (Kirovohrad) (10), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka (Kiev) (11), Luhans'ka (Luhans'k) (12), L'vivs'ka (L'viv) (13), Mykolayivs'ka (Mykolayiv) (14), Odes'ka (Odesa) (15), Poltavs'ka (Poltava) (16), Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol') (17), Rivnens'ka (Rivne) (18), Sevastopol'**, Sums'ka (Sumy) (19), Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil') (20), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya) (21), Volyns'ka (Luts'k) (22), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod) (23), Zaporiz'ka (Zaporizhzhya) (24), Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr) (25)
note: oblasts have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Map of Administrative Divisions

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)

Government: Republic. Independence: 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Head of State: President Viktor Yushchenko since 23 January 2005
Head of Government: Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko since 23 January 2005, acting

Language: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian

Religion: Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2 (GMT +3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)

Electricity: 220V AC, 50Hz

Weights & measures: Metric

Visas: The information about visa regimes should be learned in Embassy of Ukraine or in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Website: http://www.mfa.gov.ua/

Economy

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 December 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% of 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. 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 of 4.1% in 2002 was more moderate, in part a reflection of faltering growth in the developed world. In general, growth has been undergirded by strong domestic demand, low inflation, and solid consumer and investor confidence. Growth was a sturdy 8.2% in 2003 despite a loss of momentum in needed economic reforms.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) composition by sector: agriculture 23.4%, industry 41.5%, services 35.1% (2001)

Labor force (by occupation): industry 32%, agriculture 24%, services 44% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 4% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers (2003)

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, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

Exports - partners: Russia 17.8%, Turkey 6.9%, Italy 4.7%, Germany 4.2% (2002)

Imports - commodities: energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners: Russia 37.6%, Turkmenistan 11.2%, Germany 9.9% (2002)

Money

Currency: The national currency of the Republic of Ukraine is the Hryvnia consisting of 100 kopiyka. At present, banknotes with nominal values of 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Hryvnia, as well as coins with nominal values of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 kopiyok are in circulation

Currency exchange: Money should only be changed at currency booths on the street or in banks. It is advisable to keep receipts showing money changed. Changing money with black-market traders is not recommended and can be dangerous

Exchange rate indicators: £1.00=10.07 Hryvnia, $1.00=5.32 Hryvnia (November 2004)
Website: http://www.bank.gov.ua/Engl/

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 09.30-17.30

History

Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kievan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan 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 and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial 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 to 8 million more deaths. Although independence was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive, as the legacy of state control has been difficult to throw off. Where state control has dissipated, endemic corruption has filled much of the resulting vacuum, stalling efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties.

Culture

Ukrainian, like Russian and Belarusian, is an Eastern Slavic language. It's arguably the closest of the three to the original 9th century Slavonic used in Kiev before the more formal Church Slavonic from Bulgaria was introduced with Christianity in the 10th century. Despite being watered down by Russian and Polish and being banned by Tsar Alexander II in 1876, the Ukrainian language persevered and is becoming more widespread. It was adopted as the country's official language in 1990, though Russian is understood by almost everyone.

The origins of Ukraine's national literature go back to medieval Slavic chronicles such as the 12th century Slovo o polku Ihrevim (The Tale of Ihor's Armament). The beginnings of modern Ukrainian literature stem from mid-18th century wandering philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda, the 'Ukrainian Socrates'. Skovoroda wrote poems and philosophical tracts in Ukrainian, aimed at the common person rather than the elite. Taras Shevchenko, an ardent nationalist who was born a serf in 1814 and became a national hero, was the first major writer in Ukrainian. His work launched a golden age of Ukrainian literature. The most talented and prolific writer of the early 20th century was Ivan Franko, whose work spanned fiction, poetry, drama, philosophy and children's stories.

The roots of Ukrainian folk music lie in the legendary kobzar, wandering minstrels of the 16th and 17th centuries who accompanied their songs of heroic exploits with the kobza, a lute-like instrument. The bandura, a larger instrument with up to 45 strings, replaced the kozba in the 18th century. Bandura choirs were soon all the rage, and the instrument became the national symbol.

Church buildings dominate Ukrainian architecture. One unique genre is the wooden church, featuring gables and wooden-shingled onion domes and cupolas - all held together by complex joinery without nails. Painting also has its roots in religious themes. Until the 17th century, the key expression was the icon - a small image of Christ, the Virgin, angels or saints, painted on a limewood panel and attributed with healing and spiritual powers. Church murals, mosaics, frescoes and illuminated manuscripts developed at the same time as the icon.

Ukrainian cuisine stems from peasant dishes based on grains and staple vegetables like potatoes, cabbage, beets and mushrooms. Meat is typically boiled, fried or stewed. Desserts are usually laden with honey and fruit, mainly cherries and plums, and often baked into sweet breads.

Environment

Ukrainian is bordered by Russia to the east and north; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova to the west; and large stretches of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south. Ukraine's topography consists almost entirely of steppe - gently rolling, partially wooded plains. The horizon is broken by a belt of highland running from the north-west to the south-east, but the only serious mountains are a short stretch of the Carpathians in the far west and the Crimeans in the far south. There are forests and some scattered marshlands in the north; in the south the steppe is open and sparsely wooded. Nearly 3000 rivers flow through Ukraine.

Inland Ukraine has a relatively moderate continental climate. The hottest month is July, when the daily high averages 23°C (73°F), while January, the coldest month, averages around freezing. The eastern areas catch a few of the chilling Siberian breezes, while the west gets the tail end of warm Mediterranean winds. On the coast, Yalta and Odessa are generally a few degrees warmer than the inland areas; in winter they rarely dip below freezing during the day. Inland, June and July are the wettest months; the coast experiences most of its limited rainfall during December and January.

Geology

Geological structure.The territory of the Ukraine occupies western East European platform and the bordering folded structures of the Carpathians and the Crimea. In the platform area, Ukrainian crystalline massif (shield), Volyn-Podolsk plate, L’vov basin, Donetsk aulakogen, Dnieper – Donetsk and the Black Sea coastal basins are distinguishable. The largest structural unit is the Ukrainian crystalline massif, which takes up the central part of the country and is composed of Archean and Proterozoic rocks dated back as 3500 – 1200 million years. Towards the Carpathians, those rocks are gently subsiding and pass into Volyn – Podolsk plate composed of Riphean, Vendian and Paleozoic rocks.

The central part of Donetsk aulakogen is composed of thick (up to 15 km) Carboniferous coal-bearing formations and Permian salt-bearing beds exposed on the surface. In the northwestern area of the basin, Triassic and Jurassic deposits were found and Cretaceous and Paleogene – Neogene rocks were discovered on the basin’s edges; they make up folds subsiding in the northwest in Dnieper – Donetsk basin filled with a layer of dislocated salt- and coal-bearing formations of the Paleozoic and weakly dislocated layer of Mesozoic – Cenozoic rocks. In the south, the Ukrainian massif is bounded by the Black Sea coastal basin filled with gently sloping Cretaceous and Paleogene – Neogene deposits.

Mountain structures of the south of the Ukraine, that is Gorny Crimea and a part of Eastern Carpathians, belong to the Alpine geosyncline folded area. The Crimea Mountains are a large block anticline rise composed of Triassic – Jurassic flysch rocks, Cretaceous and Tretinary sandy clayey and carbonaceous strata. The Ukrainian Carpathians comprise Carpathian foredeep, Carpathian folded area (flysch zone) and Transcarpathian inner trough. In the folded area Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks overlaid with Mesozoic deposits and flysch of the Cretaceous and Paleogenic. Neogene formations are characteristic of Carpathian and Transcarpathian basins.

Natural resources. At the territory of the Ukraine, there are large ore and coal basins: Krivoi Rog iron ore basin, Kerchenskyi iron ore basin, Nikopolskyi basin of manganese ore, Donetsk coal basin, L’vov – Volynskyi coal basin as well as many brown coal deposits. Combustible gas and oil fields for the major part are associated with Paleozoic deposits of Dnieper – Donetsk basin and with Paleogene – Neogene sediments of Carpathian basin. There are deposits of mercury, titanium ores, bauxite, nepheline, alunite, kaoline, deposits of rock salt and potash salt. Deposits of non-metalliferous useful minerals like granite, gabbro, labradorite, limestone, quartzite, marble, graphite, chalk, glass sand, and foundry sand are abundant. The Ukraine is rich in mineral sources. Medicinal mineral mud is abundant in the shore of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea.

Getting Around

Large towns (with population): Kiev (2 611 327), Kharkov (1 470 902), Dnepropetrovsk (1 065 008), Odessa (1 029 049), Donetsk (1 016 194), Zaporozhye (815 256), Lvov (732 818), Simferopol (343 644), Sevastopol (342 451). The last population census was held in 2001

Getting between major Ukrainian cities is best done by train. They're frequent, cheap and often a convenient night's journey. If you want to save a few hrvynia and don't mind the extra time, buses serve almost every city and small town; they're best for short trips outside main cities not served by trains. Buses are always dirty and overcrowded, but there's no better way to mingle with the locals than on a bumpy, overheated ride through the countryside.

Accommodation

Hotels. Standards are lower than in countries where the tourist industry is more developed. The best hotels are in Kyiv, Odessa and the seaside resort Yalta.
Website: http://www.hotelsukraine.com/

Private Rooms. A room in a private home is an excellent accommodation option in Ukraine as the people are friendly and hospitable, and prices tend to be far more reasonable. However, there is no organisation as such that arranges rooms in private homes. Visitors can, however, ask around, as the savings and greater comfort may be well worth the effort (as long as due caution is observed).