Ukraine was the center of the first eastern 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 achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and endured a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although Ukraine achieved independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties.
A peaceful mass protest referred to as the “Orange Revolution” in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in parliamentary (Rada) elections, become prime minister in August 2006, and be elected president in February 2010. In October 2012, Ukraine held Rada elections, widely criticized by Western observers as flawed due to use of government resources to favor ruling party candidates, interference with media access, and harassment of opposition candidates. President YANUKOVYCH’s backtracking on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU in November 2013 – in favor of closer economic ties with Russia – and subsequent use of force against students, civil society activists, and other civilians in favor of the agreement led to a three-month protest occupation of Kyiv’s central square. The government’s use of violence to break up the protest camp in February 2014 led to all out pitched battles, scores of deaths, international condemnation, a failed political deal, and the president’s abrupt departure for Russia. New elections in the spring allowed pro-West president Petro POROSHENKO to assume office in June 2014; he was succeeded by Volodymyr ZELENSKY in May 2019.
Tourism Information...
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The Best of Ukraine...
Ukraine's Most Popular Sights...
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Here is a list of some of the most interesting and visited places. Cities or areas listed will always have more than just one thing see and do. With the popular cities or areas we list some of the best known, which should go on everyone’s, must see list when they visit. |
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Oblasts of the Ukraine…
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At this time Crimea has declared itself an Autonomous Republic state.
Sevastopol & Simferopol are in the cur
Country Information...
| Capital | Kiev |
| Largest City | Kiev |
| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| Currency | Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) |
| Area | 603,628 km2 ranked; 46th |
| Population | 44,209,733 (July 2016 est.) ranked 32nd |
| Language | Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes small Crimean Tatar-, Moldavian-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 2.9% (2001 est.) note: 2012 legislation enables a language spoken by at least 10% of an oblast’s population to be given the status of “regional language,” allowing for its use in courts, schools, and other government institutions; Ukrainian remains the country’s only official nationwide language |
| 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 est.) |
| Religion | Orthodox (includes Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox (UAOC), Ukrainian Orthodox – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), Ukrainian Orthodox – Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish |
| Electricity | 230V, 50Hz (European plug) |
| Country code | +380 |
| Internet TLD | .ua |
| Time Zone /Summer | (UTC+2) / (UTC+3) |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Anthem | Shche ne vmerla Ukraina “Ukraine has Not Yet Died” |
| President | Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
| Prime Minister | Denys Shmyhal |
Holidays and Observances in Ukraine in 2020
| Date | Name | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day | National holiday |
| Jan 7 | Tuesday | Orthodox Christmas Day | National holiday, Orthodox |
| Jan 14 | Tuesday | Orthodox New Year | Observance, Orthodox |
| Jan 22 | Wednesday | Ukrainian Unity Day | Observance |
| Jan 25 | Saturday | Tatiana Day | Observance |
| Feb 14 | Friday | Valentine’s Day | Observance |
| Mar 8 | Sunday | International Women’s Day | National holiday |
| Mar 9 | Monday | International Women’s Day observed | National holiday |
| Mar 20 | Friday | March Equinox | Season |
| Mar 29 | Sunday | Daylight Saving Time starts | Clock change/Daylight Saving Time |
| Apr 1 | Wednesday | April Fools | Observance |
| Apr 19 | Sunday | Orthodox Easter Day | National holiday, Orthodox |
| Apr 20 | Monday | Orthodox Easter Day holiday | National holiday, Orthodox |
| May 1 | Friday | Labor Day | National holiday |
| May 9 | Saturday | Victory Day / Memorial Day | National holiday |
| May 10 | Sunday | Mother’s Day | Observance |
| May 11 | Monday | Victory Day / Memorial Day observed | National holiday |
| May 16 | Saturday | Europe Day | Observance |
| May 31 | Sunday | Kiev Day | Observance |
| Jun 7 | Sunday | Orthodox Pentecost | National holiday, Orthodox |
| Jun 8 | Monday | Orthodox Pentecost holiday | National holiday, Orthodox |
| Jun 21 | Sunday | June Solstice | Season |
| Jun 28 | Sunday | Constitution Day | National holiday |
| Jun 29 | Monday | Constitution Day observed | National holiday |
| Jul 5 | Sunday | Navy Day | Observance |
| Jul 7 | Tuesday | Kupala Night | Observance |
| Jul 8 | Wednesday | Family Day | Observance |
| Jul 28 | Tuesday | Baptism of Kyivan Rus | Observance |
| Aug 24 | Monday | Independence Day | National holiday |
| Sep 22 | Tuesday | September Equinox | Season |
| Oct 4 | Sunday | Teacher’s Day | Observance |
| Oct 14 | Wednesday | Defenders’ Day | National holiday |
| Oct 25 | Sunday | Daylight Saving Time ends | Clock change/Daylight Saving Time |
| Nov 9 | Monday | Cultural Workers and Folk Artists Day | Observance |
| Nov 21 | Saturday | Dignity and Freedom Day | Observance |
| Dec 6 | Sunday | Army Day | Observance |
| Dec 19 | Saturday | St. Nicholas Day | Observance, Orthodox |
| Dec 21 | Monday | December Solstice | Season |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Catholic Christmas Day | National holiday |