Ukraine

From Imakoopedia

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.

Table of contents

1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Climate 4.2 Terrain 4.3 History 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By train 5.3 By car 5.4 By bus 5.5 By boat 6 Get around 6.1 By car 7 Talk 8 Buy 9 Eat 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact 18 External links 19 Geography 20 People 21 Government 22 Economy 23 Communications 24 Transportation 25 Military 26 Transnational Issues

Regions

Administrative divisions 

24 oblasti (singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtomnaya 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 (Kyyiv) - Capital
• Sevastopol
• Yalta

Ports and harbors 

Berdyans'k, Feodosiya, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev (Kyyiv), Kiliya, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, 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: Hora Hoverla 2,061 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 agaist 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 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

By plane

The cheapest way to fly into Ukraine is through Kiev. There are several airlines which offer direct flights to cities like Odessa, Kharkiv and Lviv (LOT, Austrian Airlines), but they will be more expensive.

By train

By car

By bus

By boat

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!

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 (chicken nests?). Secondary roads are still practicable but prudence: certains 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: impraticable on a rainy day, except in a 4*4. Maintenance services seem to have started in 2003 numerous works for improving the roads, but the works are far from finished.

Talk

Ukrainian is the official language. Near the neighboring countries, Russian, Romanian, 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. Young people speak a little English.

Buy

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

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 (Pripyat') which is the closest to the station. Many parts of the town are exactly like they were when been abandoned in 1986. Do not, under any circumstances, drink unboiled tap water. Cases of cholera are commonplace, 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/counsulates before you leave. Generally only Ukraine's neighbours have representatives anywhere besides Kiev.

External links

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The rest of this article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Imakoopedia country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and integrate it into the article above.

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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