FAQ about Ukraine

What is the capital of Ukraine?

Kiev (Kyiv) is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, as well as the capital and largest city of Ukraine.

Where is Ukraine located?

Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe, north of the Black Sea, and next to Russia. Ukraine also borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Belarus.

How big is Ukraine?

Ukraine covers about 603,550 square kilometers, which makes it the largest country entirely in Europe and the second largest country in Europe after Russia.

What is the population of Ukraine?

Over 45 million people live in Ukraine.

What is the official language of Ukraine?

Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine, but Russian and Crimean Tatar are recognized as regional languages. Other minority languages spoken in Ukraine are Romanian, Polish, and Hungarian.

What religion is practiced in Ukraine?

The main religion in Ukraine is Ukrainian Orthodox Christianity of both the Kyiv Patriarchate and the Moscow Patriarchate, which has influenced the country’s culture and architecture. Other major religions include Ukrainian Greek Catholicism, Ukrainian Autocephalous, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Judaism.

When was Ukraine founded?

Ukraine has been known under various names and been ruled by various other countries over its existence. Ukraine’s territory has changed and moved around several times since it was first founded. During the 10^th and 11^th centuries, Ukraine was known as Kyivian Rus, and was the first East Slavic State, which was the most powerful nation in Europe at the time.

In the 14^th century, the region was ruled by the Golden Horde, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and Poland, before becoming the Cossack state in 1648.

The Great Northern War in the early 1700s divided Ukraine among regional powers once again. At the end of the 18^th and much of the 19^th centuries, most of Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire, and the rest was controlled by Austria-Hungary.

Ukraine became the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Ukrainian SSR) in 1919, which was part of part of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991. The Ukrainian SSR was one of the Soviet Union’s 15 constituent republics, and was primarily controlled by Moscow.

When did Ukraine become independent?

Ukraine became independent for a brief time from 1917 to 1920 after czarist Russia fell and before the creation of the Soviet Union. More recently, Ukraine became independent from the USSR when it dissolved in 1991. Ukraine’s Independence Day is August 24, 1991.

When is Ukraine’s national holiday?

Ukraine’s national holiday celebrates its independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991. Ukraine also celebrates Unity Day, when Western and Eastern Ukrainian republics united in 1919

What are Ukraine’s administrative regions?

Like Russia, Ukraine is divided into oblasts, or provinces, and one autonomous republic: Crimea. Ukraine also has two cities with a special status: Kiev and Sevastopol.

There are 24 oblasts in Ukraine:

• Cherkasy
• Chernihiv
• Chernivtsi
• Dnipropetrovs’k
• Donets’k
• Ivano-Frankivs’k
• Kharkiv
• Kherson
• Khmel’nyts’kyy
• Kirovohrad
• Kyiv
• Luhans’k
• L’viv
• Mykolayiv
• Odesa
• Poltava
• Rivne
• Sumy
• Ternopil’
• Vinnytsya
• Volyn’
• Zakarpattya
• Zaporizhzhya
• Zhytomyr

Who are Ukraine’s political leaders?

President: Viktor Yanukovych

Prime Minister: Mykola Azarov

What form of currency does Ukraine use?

Ukraine has been using the hryvnia, or grivna (UAH) since September 2, 1996. The grivna was the currency of Kievan Rus, back in the 11^th century.

What are some aspects of Ukraine’s culture and traditions?

Ukrainian culture is heavily influenced by the Ukrainian Orthodox church, neighboring nations, since the country’s boundaries have changed many times, there is much overlap. Food in Ukraine is typical Eastern European food, such as cheese (especially head cheese), sausage, and borshch, which is the national soup of Ukraine.

Many ancient traditions are carried on in Ukraine today, like traditional dances and music. One Ukrainian tradition is the decorating of Pysanka, or Ukrainian Easter egg during Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. Pysanky are intricately decorated using a wax-relief method, though there are many variations on design and techniques for creating these eggs. There are many superstitions surrounding these Easter eggs, primarily about their protective powers and effects on fertility.

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Tags: country facts, country profiles, Europe, Ukraine

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