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Ukraine – a romantic deep soul of Europe

Those who do not love their country can’t love anything…
J.Byron

If you open the World map you will see the country that possesses the largest territory in the whole Europe. This is Ukraine – country of green fields, blue seas and warm sun shine. Ukraine had many lords - Turkey sultans, Austrian and Polish lords, the German and Soviet governors during the World War II – but people who live here always were holding their roots and land very strongly. This country has a very dynamic history, sincere and friendly people, diverse and rich culture. You will never regret that you visited Ukraine.

If you are a real skier, open the great possibilities that wonderful Carpathian and Crimean resorts give in winter time. Admire the beauty of the Black and Azov Sea where the life is very active and interesting in summer. Visit the forest area of Ukraine where the centurial beeches are linked by their branches, where the lindens, oaks and pines tie their branches in a tight net over the meadows and lawns. From these forests, through Kyiv, and to the sea the Dnipro river carries its waters – the largest river in Ukraine and third largest in the world. Dnipro – “Saint River”- unites the Ukrainians with their history.

Among classical Byzantian architecture, golden domes of Orthodox churches and monasteries, museums of XIX century you can transfer in your minds to the far away past. And today in 15 years after the nation of its country became a creator of its fate modern tourist industry of Ukraine quickly enters the International culture scene. Peaceful cafes where the tasty poppy and honey cakes, goods markets in the open air where the friendly sellers ask you to try a piece of cheese or apple; book stores with literature for all tastes; night clubs of European style; art galleries – these are the typical features of the Ukrainian city. In the combination of old and modern is borne a new face of ancient country.

If you are keen on visiting museums you will be interested in watching of the Ukrainian history by the sight of the creators of different times – from Middle ages till nowadays – in the National art museum, where a wonderful collection of carved and drawn icons, portraits of famous Cossacks, sculptures and art of baroque. Museum of Ukrainian national art is a mirror of people’s customs and traditions – these basic values of Ukrainian nation. And those who have a real wide circle of interests will be really interested to visit the Museum of book and typing and Museum of miniatures.

Ukraine that affirms as independent state has definitely to be in the list of the countries you dream to visit. While traveling in Ukraine you will open a lot of exciting things in such cities as Kyiv, Lviv, Yalta, Odesa and so on. Let the history be your guide! The country of passion and deep soul is waiting for you!

Contents:

• Geographical location
• Climate
• Geographical centre of Europe
• Our symbols
• Ukrainian currency
• Demographical situation in Ukraine
• History of Ukraine
• Administrative division
• Economy of Ukraine
• Relations with international financial institutions
• Politics of Ukraine
• Ukraine and the World
• Kyiv – capital of Ukraine
  • Administrative division of Kyiv
  • Transport
  • Culture and rest
• Sport in Ukraine
• Educational system in Ukraine
• Religion in Ukraine
• Culture of Ukraine
• Famous people of Ukraine
• Toursim in Ukraine
  • Feel the rhythm of your life! Visit winter Carpathians!
  • Lviv – mysterious city of Ukrainian dreams...
  • Sunny Crimea! Incredible beaches! Fantastic sunsets!

Ukraine is “Europe-Asian crossroad”

Convenient geographical location of Ukraine caused several advantages that have the important meaning in the future growth to the level of developed countries. The territory of the country can be named a Europe-Asian crossroad. Through its territory the main transport highways that connect Western Europe and countries of Transcaucasia and Central Asia lay. Since long tie ago many trading roads from Scandinavia to the countries of the Near East (the famous way “from varyahs to the Greek”), from countries of Western Europe to China, India and other countries were here. So from geopolitical side Ukraine always played a combining role of West and East and took the possibilities of insertion into European and Asian civilizations..

Location

Ukraine is the country in the Central-East of Europe, is located in the Southern-East part of the East European plain.
Its total area includes 603 628 km2 that takes 5.7% of the territory of Europe and 0.44% of the territory of the world. Ukraine is the largest country that has borders that do not come out of the territory of Europe.

Neighbor countries

The country has the common borders with Russia in the East, Belarus in the North and is washed by the Black and Azov sea. In the West Ukraine borders on Poland and Slovakia, in the Southern West – with Hungary, Romania and Moldova. With Russia and Romania Ukraine has not only land but also sea borders. As well through the sea Ukraine borders on Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia. The largest sea ports of Black sea are Odesa, Illichivsk, Kherson, Sevastopil and the similar of Azov sea are Mariupol, Berdyansk and Kerch. The total length of the border is 6992 km (from them land border includes 5637 km). The length of sea part of the border is 1355 km (1056.5 km om Black sea, 249.5 km on Azov sea).

The extreme spots of Ukraine

The territory of our country lays for 1316 km from West to East and 893 km from North to South. Ukraine lays between 52°20’ and 44°20’of Northern breadth and between 22°5' and 41°15' of Eastern longitude. The extreme Northern settlement is village Petrivka of Chernihiv region, Southern – Sarych bay (Crimea), Western – Chop of Zakarpattya region, Eastern – village Chervona Zirka of Lugansk region.

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Ukraine is located mostly in the temperate climate zone. The climate is typical temporal-continental. Only the Southern coast of the Crimea has subtropical, Mediterranean type climate. The average winter temperature varies from -8C to -12C (+17.6F – +3F). The temperature in the Southern regions in winter is about 0C (+32F). Average summer temperature is +18C - +25C (+64.4F - +77F), hence during the day time it can almost reach +35C (+95F).

This chart shows the average weather conditions covering rain, average maximum daily temperature and average minimum daily temperature.

Source:
www.bbc.co.uk/weather

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Geographical centre of Europe Geographical centre of Europe is located in the Ukrainian Carpathians on the Rakhiv lands near the village Dilove. On behalf of this important event of its placement the monument was placed here in 1887. Only this thing already could differentiate our country on the European continent. From the depth of ages our Slavic country has a rich culture and spirituality. We ARE in the Centre of Europe: only several hours of flight from Kyiv (500 km) or Prague (900 km), in 380 km from Budapest and in 600 km from Vienna, 1640 km to Bonn, 1500 km to Moscow, 1730 km to Geneva and 1850 km to Rome. Geographical centre of Europe was determined by the specialists of Hungary. There are Latin words on the monument: "LOCUS PERENNIS. Dilicentissime cum libella librationis guae est in Austria et Hungaria confecta cum mensura gradum meridionalium et paralleloumierum Europeum. MD CCC LXXXVII", which mean: ”Constant, proper, eternal place. Very properly using the special apparatus produced in Austria and Hungary, with the scale of meridians and parallels, the Centre of Europe is established. 1887”.

Origin of the name of country

The word “Ukraine” has Slavic origin and meant land, corner, territory. The most possible Indo-European root is *(s) krei- to cut, to divide. The opinions about the etymology of the words are also very different, hence the most suitable connection with princedom – the land was cut and divided for princedom.

So Ukraine means “the land allocated for us, separated from other lands” – i.e. “Our own land”.

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		Our symbols The Ukrainian flag The Ukrainian flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width. The top part of the flag is blue, the bottom part is yellow. The proper origin of these typical heraldic colours is definitely still disputed. The colours of the sky and golden wheat fields have symbolized Kyivan Rus yet before the introduction of Christianity. With the acceptance of Christianity, blue and gold were incorporated into church symbolism. On the 28, January 1992 Verkhovna Rada approved State Flag of Ukraine. Article 20 of the Constitution of Ukraine proclaims: National Flag of Ukraine is a banner of two equal-sized horizontal strips colored blue and yellow.
The national emblem
Trident (tryzub) is a historical symbol of Ukraine, mark of the Middle Ages Kyiv dukes. It is a magic symbol of the Norther-Ariy tribes. It has a Scandinavian origin. While spreading of Christianity took the meaning of the saint trinity. There are a lot of versions about the origin and meaning of the trident.The oldest samples of the Trident date back to the 1st century AD. Archives first mention this symbol around the 10th century. In Kyivan Rus the Tryzub was used by the great princes. When Prince of Kyivan Rus – Ihor -from 912 to 945 AD, sent ambassadors to sign a treaty with the Byzantine emperor, they signed the paper with a Trident. At the times of Kyiv Prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavych (980-1015 AD), the coins had a sign of Trident on the opposite side from the side that displayed the governor’s portrait. The trident represented the division of the world into the three spheres: - the earthly one - the celestial one - and the spiritual, i.e. the combining of the Divine, the Paternal and the Maternal It can also be interpreted as union of saint three signs of air, water and earth. On 2 March, 2000 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued a Decree approving the composition of the State Commission on Preparation and Conduct of the Contest for the Best Sketch of the Great Coat of Arms of Ukraine. Now the modified sign of the tryzub – “trihead” – is widespread in the national Ukrainian embroidery, in patterns and ornaments. It was reborn after the announcement of the Ukrainian peoples Republic in 1918. Starting from 192 tryzub is a national emblem of Ukraine. It is traditionally represented as golden on the blue background – regarding the colors of State Flag of Ukraine.

The State Anthem of Ukraine is written on the music written by M. Verbytskyi with the words by Pavlo Chubynskyi, an outstanding ethnographer from the region of Ukraine's capital, Kiev. In 1863, Mykhaylo Verbytsky, Ukrainian composer and a Greek-Catholic priest composed music to accompany Chubynsky's text. The first choral performance of the piece was in 1864 at the Ukrainian Theatre in Lviv.

In 1917, it became the anthem of the Ukrainian People's Republic.

Shche ne vmerla Ukraina was sung as already the national anthem on the December 5, 1991 while inauguration of the first President of Ukraine - Leonid Kravchuk.

English transliteration of the anthem:

Shche ne vmerla Ukrayiny i slava, i volya,
Shche nam, brattia molodii, usmikhnet'sia dolia.
Z-hynut' nashi vorizhen'ky, yak rosa na sontsi,
Zapanuyem i my, brattia, u svoyiy storontsi.

CHORUS x2
Dushu y tilo my polozhym za nashu svobodu
I pokazhem, shcho my, brattia, kozats'koho rodu.

Stanem brattia, v biy kryvavy, vid Sianu do Dony
V ridnim kraiu panuvaty ne damo ni komy.
Chorne more shche vsmikhnetsia, did Dnipro zradiie,
Shche na nashiy Ukrayini dolen'ka naspiie.

CHORUS

A zavziatta pratsia shchyra svoho shche dokazhe,
Shche sia voli v Ukrayini pisn' huchna rozliazhe.
Za Karpaty vidibiet'tsia z-homonyt' stepamy,
Ukrayiny slava stane pomizh narodamy.

CHORUS

English translation of the anthem:

Ukraine has not perished, neither her glory, nor freedom,
Upon us, fellow--Ukrainians, fate shall smile once more.
Our enemies will vanish, like dew in the morning sun,
And we too shall rule, brothers, in a free land of our own.

CHORUS
We'll lay down our souls and bodies to attain our freedom,
And we'll show that we, brothers, are of the Cossack nation.

We'll stand together for freedom, from the Sian to the Don,
We will not allow others to rule in our motherland.
The Black Sea will smile and grandfather Dnipro will rejoice,
For in our own Ukraine fortune shall flourish again.

CHORUS

Our persistence and our sincere toils will be rewarded,
And freedom's song will resound throughout all of Ukraine.
Echoing off the Carpathians, and rumbling across the steppes,
Ukraine's fame and glory will be known among all nations.

CHORUS

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Hryvnia (or hryvnya) has been the national currency of Ukraine since 2 September, 1996. It replaced the Ukrainian karbovanets at the exchange rate of 1 hryvnia = 100,000 karbovanets. One hryvnia includes 100 kopiykas. Hryvnia was introduced at the time Victor Yuschenko (current President of Ukraine) was the head of National Bank of Ukraine.

Yet in the 11th century Hryvnia was used as currency in the well-known Kievan Rus'. The origin of the word hryvnia is considered to be connected with the Slavic griva -'mane'. There is a theory that Hryvnia may have indicated some decoration or something very important that could be worn around the neck and usually made of silver or gold. Later the word was used as a name for silver or gold ingots of a certain weight. The smallest currency unit was veksha -'pelt of a squirrel'.

Very often you can find hryvnya (hryvnia) spelt as hryvna. But National Bank of Ukraine has recommended to make a distinction between hryvnia and hryvna. Linguistic research was cited as proof that hryvnia is concerned to medieval currency and hryvna is the woman's decoration of that time.

The hryvnia sign is a cursive Ukrainian letter He, with a double horizontal stroke that symbolizes stability. Sign of the Ukrainian currency was encoded as U+20B4 in Unicode 4.1 released in 2005. Public contest held by the National Bank of Ukraine resulted in the specific design of the hryvnia sign.

Current rate (March 2007) of the Unites States Dollars (USD) to the Ukrainian hryvnya (UAH) is: 100 USD = 505.00 UAH

Current rate (March 2007) of the Great Britain Pounds (GBP) to the Ukrainian hryvnya (UAH) is: 100 GBP = 662.51 UAH

The obverse and reverse sides of the Ukrainian hryvnyas have the following images:

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Demographical situation in Ukraine Regarding the quantity of population Ukraine takes the 5-th place in Europe (after Germany, Italy, Great Britain and France) and 21 place in the world. It possesses 7.3% of population of Europe and 1% of population of the Earth. For a long period of time Ukraine was divided among neighbor countries. Every country tried to carry out the politics of denationalization of the Ukrainians wishing their complete assimilation. Returning of independence in 1991 created the conditions for the Ukrainians consolidation, development of their national conscience and feeling of proud to be a member of the Ukrainian nation.

Dynamics of population growth

Systematic population listings during the XX century help to interpret the facts of largest changes in the growth of Ukrainian population during this time.

In 1913 current Ukraine had 35.2 mln persons. According to the approximate estimations during the World War I and II, public revolutions, collectivization of agriculture, repressions and artificial hunger Ukraine lost about 20 mln of people.

After the war period citizens of other USSR republics started actively migrate to Ukraine. The pre-war period level of population in 40.6 mln of people was reached only in 1956.

The population in the second half of the XX century started growing mainly due to the natural gain. The peak of the gain is in 1993 year when Ukraine had the population of 52 mln of persons.

90`s influenced greatly the population factors in this country. Active migration caused by the appeared possibilities of free transfer in the borders and out of the borders of Ukraine, together with other factors caused general decrease in the population. Starting from 2003 due to stabilizing processes and stable growth of the economics of the country Ukraine possessed a link of positive tendencies that can further influence the demographical situation in this European country.

All-Ukrainian population listing

First Ukrainian population listing was carried out on the 5, December 2001 (the previous one was held in 1989 when Ukraine was a member of USSR). According to the data of this listing the population of Ukraine included 48 mln 457 thousands of people. This value was greatly reduced comparing to the one in 1989.

Density and location of population on the territory of the country

As many other European countries Ukraine has pretty large density of population – 80 persons per km². The lowest parameter of density is in the Northern part of the country – in the Chernihiv region - 39 persons/km². The highest one is in Donetsk region. It includes 183 persons/km². The Eastern regions have a bit higher than the middle one parameter of density - 90 persons/km².

Ukraine remains mostly urbane country with the advantage the city population over the country one: 32 mln of city men against 16 mln of the village men. The less country regions are Donetsk region – 10%, Luhansk region -14%, Dnipropetrivsk region -17%, Kharkiv region -21%, Zaporizhzhya region -24% of country men. The most country focused are Ternopil region and Zakarpattya regions – per 59%, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions -58%, Vinnytsya region -56% and Rivne region -55%.

Ukraine increased the quantity of its cities. For today there are 454 of them. From them 37 are the cities with the quantity of population from 100 000 to 500 000. Nine cities have over 500 000 of citizens and five of them have the population more than 1mln of people. Kyiv as a capital has 2.6 mln of people.

Sex content of the population

Ukraine shows the increase of the female population over the male sex: 22 mln of male (or 46.3%) against 26 mln of female (53.7%). The largest percent of the female – 55%- is in the Chernhiv region, the lowest is in Zakarpattya region. But comparing to 1989 year the disproportion between female and male populations decreased due to some alignment in villages; in cities on the contrary the quantity of women per 1000 men increased a bit (but it mailnly concerns to the elder age groups as in the reproductive age the quantity of men and women is almost equal).

Age content

During the listing in 2001 the process of ageing of the population was observed. In the age structure the part of the people of pension age increased. It took almost 23.9% and the children quantity decreased (18.1%). The average term of life of the Ukrainian person is about 68 years, i.e women – 73 and men – 63 years. The ageing of the population is the characteristic feature of all European countries.

Citizenship, nationalities in Ukraine

From all the populations of Ukraine the Ukrainians are 47 mln 950 thousands of people, foreigners are 168 000 from which 151 000 are the citizens of previous USSR countries. The major part of the foreigners lives in the capital and in the Southern part of Ukraine, i.e in the Crimean peninsula.

In the content of the population it shows a highly expressed advantage of two ethnos: 37.5 mln of persons are Ukrainians and 8.3 mln are Russians. During the interlisting period the quantity of the Ukrainians grew a bit, and the quantity of the ethnic Russians decreased in 4 times. For the first time after the World War II Ukraine showed the growth of quantity of persons for whom the Ukrainian language is native.

The main factor of the ethnical transformations was the migration processes and change of self conscience – if during the Soviet period the part of the Ukrainians (as in many other countries) ranks as the Russians, now they understand that they are the representatives of the main ethnos of independent Ukraine.

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Prehistorical period

on the territory of Ukraine over 300 000 years ago. One of the oldest cultures is considered to be a culture of Trypillya (4000-3000 BC). Its memorials are spread all over South Western Ukraine. The culture has its name due to the title of settlement that was found by V.Khvoyka in 1890’s. The citizens of Trypillya planted wheat, made pottery and drills. The culture of Trypillya is considered a top of the development of agricultural communities in Europe.

Close to 1500 BC the territory nomadic tribes appeared in Ukraine. Some of them were the Cimmerian (IX-VII centuries BC). There are some recalls about them in the written sources. Even the antique authors asGerodot, Kallimakh, Strabon mention about this nation calling them as “gamirra”. The Cimmerian took the large territory between Dnister and Don, and the Crimean peninsula. It is thought that the Cimmerian are the branch of old Iran nomadic nation that is genetically close to Scythians. Scythians, the nation from the Central Asia, in VII century BC occupied the Ukrainian steppes and superseded the Cimmerians. Approximately at the same time the Greek started to set up first colonies in the Northern Black sea coast. The Scythians created a government and controlled the region till 200 AC until they were superseded by the groups of nomads that were called Sarmats. About II century BC – III century AC Ukraine possesses the crossing way for Goths that are won by the Guns in 375 that lately created a strong government between Don and Carpathians. Attila was the head of the government and died in 451. Hence after some defeats to the Romans it was collapsed.

Prince period

In IX-X centuries the first Eastern Slavic government with the capital in Kyiv under the power of Ryurikovichi – Kyivan Rus was founded. The first mentions about Rus (Khakan Ros, 839 AC) belong to the Bertynski literature. According to the writings the varyah head Oleg catches Kyiv in 882 and make it the capital of the country that combines Rus and Novhorod. During next 100 years Kyivan Rus catches close eastern Slavic tribes and some of the Finnish tribes on the Northers East. The Kyivan prince Svyatoslav captured vyatichi. Volodymyr the Great proclaimed the adoption of Christianity in Byzantium in 988. The Kievan government becomes a very strong power at the times of Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054). Later it was divided into separate princedoms. After the Batyeva attack in 1237-1241 and collapse of Kyiv the main feature of government left the Galytsko-Volyn princedom (1199-1340).

Lithuanian-Polish period

In XIV century the major part of the Rus together with Kyiv came to Hedyminovychi. Lithuanian-Russian government was formed – Great Lithuanian princedom. The Polish princedom captured Galutska and Kholmska lands (completely in 1387). After Krevska Union in 1385 Polish and catholic influence in the Great Lithuanian princedom strengthened. Step by step the Orthodox nobility was superseded from power. In 1456 the Volyn princedom was destroyed, in 1470 – Kyivan. As a result of Lyiblin union in 1569 Volyn, Pidlyashshya, Podillya, Bratslavschina and Kyivan lands passed to the Polish authority.

Starting from XVI the meaning of kozaks - a new layer of population – came into power. The center of “Kozatstvo” became Zaporizka Sich. In 1591-1638 there were a lot of kozaks – village men revolts that were finished in a default or compromise. Kozaks revolution 1646-1657 (Khmelnychchina) destroyed Polish power. The kozaks government (Hetmanshina) under the leading of hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskiy formed.

After Khmelnytskiy death (1657) a period of citizen wars and foreign interventions started (Ruin). All this brought to Ukraine division. Ukraine was divided through the Dnipro river between Rich Pospolyta and Moscow government. Autonomous kozaks government left only in one left part of Ukraine under the power of Moscow. After unsuccessful report of Ivan Mazepa Petr I limited the autonomy of Hetmanshina.

From the end of XVII century Ukrainian national Movement is born. Firstly it has only cultural direction (Cyril and Methodiy), then political one. The formation of modern Ukrainian nation started.

Period of Ukrainian National Republic

Formation of Ukrainian National Republic was proclaimed on 20 XI 1917 by the Ukrainian Central Council, and from 1918 – Independence of Ukraine. As a result of November revolt in 1918 in Galychina Western Ukrainian Republic was formed. It proclaimed union with Ukrainian National Republic. The war for the Independence 1917-1921 finished in defeat and new division of Ukraine. The major part of it established Soviet power.

Soviet period

In 1922 Ukrainian SSR came into the content of USSR. In 1929 an artificial collectivization of villages, mass Stalin repression, forced hunger of 1932-1933, destruction of national intelligency were preceded. Regarding the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact in 1939 the Western Ukraine is added to Ukrainian SSR. At the beginning of World War II the Ukrainian army struggled against Germany and USSR (until the beginning of 50’s).

After World War II, in 1945, some amendments to the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR were accepted that permitted it to proceed as a separate subject of international law in some cases, but at the same time remaining a part of the USSR. In particular, these amendments allowed the Ukrainian SSR to become one of founding members of the United Nations together with the USSR. In reality this simply meant giving the Soviet Union extra seats in the UN, since the Ukrainian SSR had no independent voice in international affairs.

Independent Ukraine

On the 24, August 1991 Verkhovna Rada proclaimed independence of Ukraine that was supported by the all-peoples referendum (1 December, 1991). The democratic political system was formed that was fixed by the Constitution of 1996. Ukraine makes steps to the integration to European Union.

Orange revolution

Orange revolution is a campaign of national protests, meetings, strikes in Ukraine, organized and carried out by the supporters of Viktor Yuschenko – the main candidate from the opposition on the presidential elections in November-December 2004, after the proclaiming by the central election commission preliminary results according to which the winner was Viktor Yanukovich. The action started on 22, November 2004.

Change of current power of Ukraine that took place as a result of Orange revolution and connected to it complete reorientation of inner and outer political course of the country gave a great majority of spectators the possibility to speak about the row of “color” revolutions that started from the change of power in Serbia and continued in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.

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Ukraine is divided into 24 regions, 2 cities with special status and 1 autonomous republic. Modern system of regions of Ukraine is formed in 1932 when the first 7 regions were formed instead of current administrative system from 40 districts and 406 areas.

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The economy model of Ukraine is a free market with gross domestic product that used to grow in two times during last years. There were a lot of fluctuations in the economy of Ukraine in 1990’s including hyperinflation and drastic economic fall.

Ukraine has many features of European economy. Ukraine is known as a major producer of wheat. The most important crops produced in Ukraine are rye, wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflowers and potatoes. Ukraine also has a large industrial concentration due to the many raw materials in the country. Materials which come out of the country are iron, manganese, coal, anthracite, aluminum, mercury, nickel, natural gas, oil, zinc, titanium and bauxite. The major industrial centers of Ukraine are Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporzhizhya, Mariupol, Donetsk and Makiyivka. Industrial products from Ukraine include: steel, tractors, machinery, building materials, chemicals, consumer goods and fertilizers. The majority of Ukraine's trading takes place with Russia, Germany, Italy, Belarus, China and Turkmenistan.

Most of the trades of Ukrainian products are focused on Russia and European Union. Ukraine imports 90 of its oil and most of its natural gas. Instead, Ukraine is transporting Russian gas to EU through its well-developed gas pipelines system, being the Europe's vitally important gas transiter. However Ukraine is independent in electricity supply thus even providing with it Russia and Eastern Europe.

This is a chart of trend of Gross domestic product of Ukraine during 1995 -2007 years.

Aside from the influence of investment risks on the amounts of foreign investment coming to Ukraine, such amounts have always been highly dependent upon Ukraine’s relations with global financial and lending institutions, such as International Monetary Fund, EBRD and World Bank.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) assists Ukraine by providing lending support under Extended Fund Facility (EFF) subject to Ukraine’s commitments to carry out economic reforms, including inter alia, speeding-up privatization processes and making them more transparent.

The IMF was not satisfied with those reforms carried out in Ukraine by the Ukrainian government. This meant that in order to get further financial support Ukraine had to assure IMF and other international financial institutions of the enlargement of reform process.

The meeting of EBRD that was held in Kyiv in May 1998 was a prominent event for the development of economical course of Ukraine. This was the meeting of banking, financial and business representatives in Ukraine has given an opportunity to address the problems that exist in the country’s economy and to outline the future prospect of Ukraine’s development.

• credit line for small and medium enterprises through commercial banks at the quantity of 120 mln USD
• large credit and investment facilities, with three Ukrainian manufactures being identified that are guided in river transfer, confectionery and brewery.
• Investments into energy sector, telecommunications and municipal projects

Thus as a result Ukraine has been internationally recognized as independent state with rich resources and high potential. Foreign investors showed their interest in investing into Ukrainian economy and Ukraine has experience in investment in almost all fields.

In September 1998 the Extended Fund facility of Ukraine as approved as 2.2 billion USD. In 1999 3-year program grew up to $2.6 billion. Ukraine's failure to meet monetary targets and/or structural reform commitments caused the EFF to either be suspended or disbursements delayed on several occasions. The last EFF payment was carried out in September 2001. Ukraine met most monetary targets for the EFF payment at the beginning of 2002.

In 1992 Ukraine adopted the membership in the IMF and the World Bank. Ukraine is a member of European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Ukraine submitted in order to be a member of World trade organization for several times but in majority the government took steps to reinvigorate the process. The government's stated purpose is to enter the WTO by the end of 2006- March 2007. Currently, the only country that blocks Ukraine's acception to the WTO is Kyrgyzstan.

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Ukraine is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic that has multi-party system. Executive power is presented by the Cabinet. Legislative power is focused in Parliament.

President President is the guarantor of the state sovereignty and territorial indivisibility and human and citizens rights and freedoms. The President is elected every 5 years by popular vote. Currently the President of Ukraine is Viktor Yuschenko who won in the elections and was sworn in on January 23, 2005. The president’s official residence is Mariynsky palace where different presidential meetings, international conferences, congresses are held. President ensures state independence, national security and the legal succession of the state. President has the right to veto laws (except laws amending the Constitution). President has the right to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada in certain cases specified by the Constitution.

Legislative power

Parliament The official name of Ukraine’s parliament is Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Supreme Council). Verkhovna Rada is the body of legislative power in Ukraine. It consists of 450 deputies elected by the equal and direct universal suffrage through a secret ballot. The deputies have full legal immunity during the term of their work on this position. The mission of the parliament includes the adoption of laws, determining of the principles of domestic and foreign policy, introduction of amendments to the Constitution, approval of country budget, declaration of war and peace, determining of certain control functions, election of judges for permanent terms and others. The parliament elects for the Chairman (Speaker) (currently Alexander Moroz), the first Deputy Chairman and the Deputy Chairman. Before the Chairman is elected the Parliamentary meetings are carried out with the help of temporal group that consists of four representatives of the largest parliamentary fractions. The Chairman is present at the parliamentary meetings, signs bills and sends them to the President, signs the parliamentary acts. And the Chairman is authorized to sign the vetoed by President Laws if two-thirds of the Parliament had voted and thus the veto was overcome.

Executive power

Cabinet Cabinet of ministers of Ukraine is the highest body in the executive power of the country. The Cabinet is under the control of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and is responsible to President of Ukraine. The head is Prime Minister (currently Viktor Yanukovich), first vice Prime Minister (Mykola Azarov) and Ministers. The Prime Minister is nominated by the President and approved by the parliament. The Prime Minister nominates other members of the Cabinet (ministers) for approval by the Verkhovna Rada, except the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs and of Defense, who are nominated by the President. Prime Minister and his Cabinet can now be dismissed only by the Parliament. The Cabinet issues resolutions that are mandatory for the execution.

Judicial system

The judicial system of Ukraine consists of local courts of general jurisdiction (civil and criminal jurisdiction), appeals courts and high courts with specialized jurisdiction (the Appeals court of Ukraine, High Administrative Court of Ukraine and High Arbitration Court of Ukraine).

Political parties

Ukraine is government with large amount of parties. Very often parties combine into coalitions in order to work with each other. Current names of the major political parties in Ukraine are the following:

-Party of Regions

-Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko (All-Ukrainian United Fatherland and Social Democratic party)

-Bloc Our Ukraine (Peoples Union Our Ukraine, Party of Industrialists, People’s Movement of Ukraine, Christian democratic Union, Ukrainian Republican party Assembly, Congress of Ukrainian nationalists)

-Socialist party of Ukraine

-Communist party of Ukraine

-Peoples Opposition Bloc of Natalia Vitrenko (Progressive socialist party of Ukraine, Rus-Ukrainian Union) and many others.

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Foreign policy of Ukraine

Ukraine continues steadily building of its foreign policy on the basis of principles of international law, UN Charter and other international legal acts. "Basic Directions of Foreign Policy of Ukraine" approved by the Verkhovna Rada on July 2, 1993 approves such political position of our country. This is a document that is used as a basement for the development of Ukraine`s foreign policy.

Regarding its active position in international organizations, Ukraine received a considerable technical and financial assistance, particularly from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Population Fund (UNPF United Nations Conference On Trade And Development (UNCTAD), Global Ecological Fund (GEF), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), etc. A number of important projects and programs of the UN were held with participation of Ukraine.

• development of bilateral interstate relationships (relations with neighbour countries, important partners and influential countries);
• European integration (advancement to the ultimate goal of integration of Ukraine to EU, adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to those of EU and Council of Europe, strengthening of relationships of Ukraine with NATO)
• multilateral diplomacy (effective participation of the country in activities of international organizations)

Ukraine and EU

Ukraine's strategy for integration to the EU is based on:

-Constitution of Ukraine, which assumes the aims of the Ukrainian foreign policy activity through maintaining peaceful and mutually beneficial collaboration with the members of international community according to the and standards of international law.

-Partnership and Cooperation Agreement that was signed between two parties represented by Ukraine from one side and the European Union from the other (PCA). This agreement sets the mechanism of interaction between Ukraine and the EU.

-Main Directions of Ukrainian Foreign Policy.

Ukraine and NATO

The relations between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have been developing in the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (NACC until 30 May 1997). Ukraine determines its national interests concerning NATO with regard to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's role in maintenance of international peace, stability and security.

The development of a distinctive partnership between Ukraine and NATO assumes an increased level of guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity, security in the Central and Eastern European region, assistance from NATO and its member states in protection of the population from the consequences of civil emergencies, utilization of experience of NATO member states in ensuring the democratic control of armed forces, formation of professional armed powers, integration into European security structures facilitates actively Ukraine's as well as its participation, as an important independent factor, in creation of a new architecture and system of security in Europe.

Ukraine and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Ukraine is actively participating in discussing and setting of all issues of international security and cooperation within the OSCE region. This includes the development of a basis for general European security and the strengthening power and stability, following a need to enhance the role and effectiveness of the OSCE in safeguarding security within the region in terms of political, military, human, economic, ecological, and other spheres, and to enhance OSCE's preventive and peacemaking potential.

Today's cooperation of Ukraine with the OSCE is an example that is worthy to be followed by other countries.

Ukraine and the Council of Europe

Ukraine is a member of a series of conventions by the Council of Europe, in particular, six crime control conventions, European Convention on Information about Foreign Legislation, the European Cultural Convention, European Framework Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation among territorial communities or authorities, and Framework Convention on Protecting National Minorities.

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Contents:

• Administrative division of Kyiv
• Transport
• Culture and rest

Kyiv – the capital of Ukraine is one of the largest cities of Europe. It is located on the river Dnipro (Dniper). The population of this city is about 4 130 000 people (without estimation of tourists – about 2661). The city has a territory of 839 km2. Together with suburbs it forms the Kyiv agglomeration with the population of 5 206 000 people. Kyiv is a separate administrative territorial unit in the content of Ukraine. Its status is determined by the special law. As well Kyiv is an administrative center of Kyiv region.

The city is a cultural, industrial, scientific and transport center of Ukraine. It is located in the North of Central part of Ukraine. The city has its own flag and coat of arms.

There is a legend exists that Kyiv was founded by three brothers Kiy, Schek and Khoriv and by their sister Lybid in the 5-th century as a center of polyany tribes. It was named on behalf of the elder brother. According to the archeological investigations the first city settlement on the territory of Podil appeared earlier than 880/ Regarding the general point of view starting from 882 Kyiv was the capital of Kyivan Rus. First mentioning about the city are in the tractate “About managing the Empire” by Konstantin Bahryanorodny and in the Kyivan literature of Jewish community. They verify that in the beginning of the 10-th century Kyiv was a castle area of Khazaria on the border with Levedia (prehungarian establishment on the territory of Ukraine). Konstantin call this castle ^“Sambat” that means “high strengthening” from Turkic (probably and Khazarian).

Ancient Kyivan Rus that reached its greatest period of ascendancy during the 11th and 12th centuries, was a center of trade routes between the Baltic and the Mediterranean seas. The city of Kyiv together with strong power of Kyivan Rus were destroyed in 1240 by Mongol invaders. These lands were divided into Galicia, Volynia, Muscovy and later, Poland, Lithuania, and Russia. As a result, modern Ukrainian history, for the most part, has been defined by foreign occupation.

From 1654 Ukraine was in the content of Russian Empire. From January 1918 till April 1919 it became a capital of independent Ukraine (Central Rada, Hetmanschina Skoropadkoho). At the same time starting from 1918 the capital of Soviet Ukrainian USSR was Kharkiv. In 1934 Kyiv became a capital.

Kyiv suffered severely during World War II, and many irreplaceable architectural and art treasures were destroyed. Earlier in the 1930's the Soviet authorities systematically destroyed many churches. Extensive restoration has revived much of historic Kyiv.

Despite repressions, suffering, political turmoil, and ecological disasters, Ukraine's spirit and national identity have never died. On August 24, 1991, after the aborted coup in Moscow, Ukraine proclaimed its independence. As of 1994, Ukraine has diplomatic relations with over 135 countries and close to 60 diplomatic missions are established in Kyiv. News correspondents, business representatives, and students from all over the world reside in Kyiv, and the flow of foreign tourists and official delegations is heavy year round. The resident American community consists of Embassy personnel (including dependents), correspondents, business representatives, clergy, professors, and students.

Administrative division of Kyiv Kyiv consists of 10 districts that are separated by the Dnipro river Right bank: Shevchenko district – 200 000 citizens Pechersk district – 170 000 citizens Podil district – 210 000 citizens Obolon district – 290 000 citizens Svyatoshyn district – 360 000 citizens Solom'yansk district – 280 000 citizens Holosiiv district – 200 000 citizens Left bank: Desna district – 320 000 citizens Dnipro district – 360 000 citizens Darnytsia district – 250 000 citizens

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Special status of the city

According to the article 133 of the Constitution of Ukraine the city of Kyiv has a special status determined by the Law of Ukraine “About capital of Ukraine – city-hero Kyiv” and is not submitted to regional power. According to the Law the head of Kyiv city state administration is automatically chosen as major. The major is chosen using direct votes.

Kyiv is a large industrial centre of Ukraine. The city represents almost all industrial fields starting from food industry and ending in aircraft construction.

Large transport net (railway and highway roads, river port, International airport in Boryspil and airport Zhulyany that keeps local flights in the country). From 1960 metropolitan starts its history. It has 3 lines with total length of 56.5 km.\

Airport Boryspil

Boryspil (LATA KBP, UKBB) International airport in Kyiv.It was founded in 1959 on the basis of military airport. The same year started carriage and passengers transfers. In 1965 new Boryspil air station was opened. According to the order of Minister of transport of Ukraine from 11 March 1993 new State international airport was created in Boryspil.

The airport possesses three terminals: A, B and C

TERMINAL A

Terminal is guided on the service to passengers that travel in the borders of Ukraine. A comfortable waiting room (2-nd floor), toilet (first floor), currency exchange offices, air help, air companies representatives are located in this terminal. Close to terminal A one can find cozy cafes, guarded parking lot.

TERMINAL B

In the International Terminal B of airport Boryspil a changed scheme of passengers’ examination on aviation safety is introduced.

The offices for examination of aviation safety are located in the in the flight hall directly before leaving for landing. After passage of passport control passengers are waiting in the flight room for a proclamation of an invitation of appropriate flight to enter the check points for aviation safety examination. After the end of the procedure passengers are located in the waiting zones till the beginning of the landing to the plane.

In order to prevent the delay of flight passengers should preliminary come to check points for examination of aviation safety.

The main terminal of airport is guided on the service of the majority of the passengers that leave for close or faraway countries. Terminal possesses stores, cafes and bars, air companies representatives, travel companies, banks, Internet access, business center, storage rooms. The second floor of the terminal has Duty Free, restaurant.

TERMINAL C

Terminal is focused on service of VIP clients. It is located to the right from Terminal B, is provided by the guarded parking lot. The waiting room has convenient rooms for the rest, net services, halls luxurious banquet rooms, conference halls and telecommunication facilities. High level of service, maximum of attention to the customer’s wishes and friendly attitude are guaranteed.

Metro

Ukraine possesses a convenient, safe and inexpensive metro system in three Ukrainian cities. These are Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. In Kyiv, you can buy tokens at any metro station. One token’s price is 50 kopiykas. If metro is going to be your most frequently used way of transportation, it is reasonable to purchase a monthly metro pass at a price of 25 Hryvnias (about 4.5 USD).

Trolleybuses and buses

This type of transport in the capital provides a good and cheap way to travel around the city. One can buy tickets at a price of 50 kopiykas at bus stops or from a controller on the trolleybus or bus. As well you can purchase monthly passes are also available at a price of 17 hryvnias per month. If you do not punch your ticket and are caught, you will be charged a 10 Hryvnia fine. In addition, there are private minibus companies that serve practically the same routes and will offer you a faster and a more comfortable ride. The price per ride varies from 1 to 2 hryvnias.

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Outstanding memorials of the city

	Kiev Pecherska Lavra Pecherska Lavra one of the greatest monuments of Kiev was built almost nine centuries ago. It is presented as a complex of churches, masterpieces of architecture by themselves that for a long time has been a holy place for devout Christians. Famous for its catacombs with the saints' relics, Lavra is also called the Monastery of Caves. Museum collections of miniatures and church treasures are amazing places worthy to be seen at least once in your life.
	Mariyinskiy palace This is a unique creature that stands in a beautiful parking zone overlooking the Dnipro river. The palace used to be a residence of Tsar family. The prosperous building was designed by the Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1750 and built under the supervising of the Russian architect Ivan Michurin. Now this palace is used for the official state ceremonies such as presidential meetings and international conferences.
	Zoloti Vorota (Golden Gates) It is a strengthened wall that used to be the sign of the border of the city in 1037. The part of the wall was reconstructed in 1983 when in the business part of Kyiv museum Zoloti Vorota was built.
	St. Sophia Cathedral This cathedral is a uniquely remained unspoilt during Soviet times. The great establishment was built by the prince Yaroslav the Wise in 11 century in the name of victory over the pechenig tribe. The cathedral became the most important political and cultural center of the Kievan Rus.
	Volodymyr Cathedral This Orthodox church was built in 1882 in neo-Byzantium style. The wall painting that was made by famous Russian artists is of great historical value. It is also necessary to recall a beautiful chorus singing and mosaics of Venice masters that is present in Cathedral.
	House of Horodetskiy One of the most interesting parts of Kyiv, this house is located in a very peaceful and quiet part of the city center. Outstanding architect Horodetskiy built this house as private residence in 1902-1903. The walls and roof of the house are decorated with intricate sculpture pattern of mythological and hunting subject. The house is considered to be one of the most attractive buildings in Kyiv.
	Funikuler It was built in 1905 and till now is an easy way to reach the Mykhailivska square (uptown) from Podil (downtown). The trip takes only several minutes. The view from funiculer is adorable. One can see panoramic scenery of Kyiv and Dnipro. The cost of such a trip is just 50 kopiykas, except Sundays when it is for free.
	Museum Pirohova Museum of national architecture and life is presented as an architectural-landscape complex under the opened sky. It represents all historical ethnography regions of Ukraine. Museum is founded in the village Pirohovo on the suburbs of Kyiv in 1969. There are almost 300 architecture exhibits on the area more than 150 ha. First visitors were accepted in 1976.

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Football

The major kind of sport that all Ukrainians are fond of is definitely football. Ukraine has several levels in this game. The highest rate and level is Top League (Ukrainian Premier League). The next league with lower rate is the Ukrainian first league. The other lower leagues include the second league A, the second league B and the second league C.

The leagues' competitors are changed every year. The lowest two clubs in the Top League get sent down to the Ukrainian first league, while the two top teams of the Ukrainian first league move up to the Top League. The three lowest Ukrainian first league teams get sent down to the second league A. After that the Top three teams in the second league A move up to the Top League.

The teams from all leagues can participate in the Ukrainian Cup contest. The winners will participate in the Ukrainian Super Cup.

Ice Hockey

Together with football Ukraine plays ice hockey, has a hockey league and has a national hockey team that is ranked 11-th in the World by IIHF. The coach is Olexandr Seukand.

Basketball

There is also basketball league in Ukraine. The top Ukrainian league has the name of Ukrainian Basketball Super League. The next level league is called Top League, and the next stronger league – the First League.

Boxing in Ukraine

This kind of sport became so popular in this country probably due to incredible glory of two Ukrainian brothers-boxers: Vytaliy and Volodymyr Klichko. Both of brothers were World Champions in boxing but never had been opponents in the ring.

Common professional took place on 6, November 1996 in Hamburg (Germany), in which every brother knocked out the opponent.

Vitaly has finished his professional career on 9 Novemeber 2005 but still there is a possibility of his returning to the great sport.

Famous Ukrainian sportsmen

Ukraine can be proud of its sportsmen who for many times took the first places in the International Contests and brought Golden, Silver and Bronze medals from the Olympic games.

• Yana Klochkova (swimming)
• Vitaly and Volodymyr Klichko (boxing)
• Andrey Shevchenko (football/on the photo)
• Yuriy Bilonoh (light athletics)
• Valeriy Goncharov (sport gymnastics)
• Yuriy Nikitin (jumps on the trampoline)
• Alena Kostevich (shooting)
• Natalia Skakun (heavy athletics)
• Irina Merlini (free wrestling)
• Elbrus Tedeev (free wrestling)
• Roman Gnatyulk (judo)
• Elena Krasovskaya (light athletics)
• Igor Razorenov (heavy athletics)
• Vladislav Tretyak (fencing)
• Alena Morozova (rowing)
• Tatyana Kolesnikova (rowing) and many others…

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Institution types and credentials

School leaving and higher education credentials:

• Matriculation School Certificate
• Diploma of Specialist
• Diploma of Bachelor
• Diploma of Master
• Certificate of Candidate of sciences
• Certificate of Doctor of Sciences

Pre-higher education:

• Kindergarten (until the age of 6-7)
• Elementary school (first four years of formal education)
• Lower secondary (middle) school (graduate receives an Attestat of Incomplete Secondary Education)
• Upper secondary education (general academic schools, secondary vocational schools, specialized technical schools)
• Technical lyceum (full-time (12 - to 18-month courses for graduates of 11-year to complete secondary education in specific skills or trades)

Specialized and technical education:

• Tekhnikum (for skilled technical, industrial, engineering technologies, agriculture and other fields)
• Uchilische (for studying of librarianship, pre-school teaching, nursing, and medical services)

Higher education:

Types of higher education institutions in Ukraine:

• University
• Academy
• Institute
• Conservatoire
• College

Advanced degrees and research:

The candidate of sciences is the first advanced academic degree in Ukraine. The candidate of sciences is granted after at least a three year period of guided research and completion and public defence of a thesis.

The doctor of sciences degree is awarded by the Highest Qualification Attestation Commission together with a council of experts in the field of specialisation. After publication of the final thesis the work is submitted to an academic council which includes the representatives of Highest Qualification Attestation Commission and professionals in the field. There is a necessity of 10-20 paper work presence.

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Religion in Ukraine Ukraine has deep religious roots.The major religion in Ukraine is Christianity that is represented as Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic confessions. Islam and Judaism are presented in much lower level. There is a strong confrontation between Christian confessions. The dominative positions are taken by the Ukrainian Orthodox church of Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP). The first hierarch is metropolitan Kyivan and of all Ukraine Volodymyr (Sabodan).UOC MP possesses independent from Moscow Saint Synod that chooses and sets its episcopes, autonomous budget, separate status of juridical person, the right to be represented from Ukraine on the Orthodox events of common church meaning. According to the last estimations 69% of Orthodox Ukrainians belong to UOC MP. The positions of UOC MP are very strong in Central and Eastern Ukraine, as well as in the Crimea. On the Western Ukraine where the national directions are extremely strong UOC MP always has been loosing its influence.

The second by the influence is considered to be the Ukrainian Orthodox church of Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC KP) with the patriarch as a head Filaret (Denisenko). The main influence of the church is in the Central Ukraine. As well UOC KP is connected to the Ukrainian Diaspora and has branches in USA and Canada. Third is the Ukrainian Autocephaly Orthodox church (UAOC) The church was maintained in 20s of XX century. Its administrative center was set up in Canada during the Soviet times.

The Greek-Catholic church is a factual representative of the pope in Ukraine. The head is Archbishop Luybomyr Guzar that was elected on the voting Synode 24-25 January 2001 in Lviv. The Pope approved the choice of Synod and in several days Guzar became a cardinal. This church especially has the influence on the West of the country.

Ukraine also possesses Ukrainian Roman-Catholic church that is mostly focused on the Western part of Ukraine. The head is the Lviv Archbishop Marian Yavorskiy.

In the religious field the official powers of Ukraine, as well as in their other directions in their politics, keep the direction for the demonstration f the independence of Ukraine from Russia. Currently a new idea is developed very actively. It assumes the creation of common church that has to combine UOC MP, UOC KP and UAOC. The State committee in the problems of religion of Ukraine already develops the program of creation of Single church.

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Traditional clothes National dress of any nation reflects the geographical situation of the country this nation occupies, mentality the climate, levels social development and a style of life. The Ukrainian national costume is not an exception. The costume remarked that the traditional woman's dress will be able to give one a clear picture of historical and cultural features of life in the Ukrainian village of the past. The girls from the Dnipro River area used to wear a classical type Ukrainian national dress that is very typical of Ukrainian traditional costume in general. In addition the shirt or, probably, more properly "blouse" had a special, sometimes symbolical meaning for those who were wearing it. People from Poltava region used to wear long one, with embroidered sleeves; from the Chernihiv land wore the longest dresses among others presented in Ukraine. The shirt that was planned to be worn on weekdays differed from the one that was worn on Sunday. Every woman had to know how to make and decorate a shirt, and teenage girls obligatory were taught how to do the needlework. In summer girls and women usually didn’t wear hats and wore their hair braided. Earrings, necklaces, rings and other decorations were often attributes to girls clothes. They were of different kinds and of different colours, but mostly they has to suit to the main clothes. That is why more often they were black, white or red.

National cuisine Be sure – if you taste Ukrainian food you will never want to go back to your country! The national cuisine of this country is extremely delicious and admires by its generosity and unique taste. Varenyky are dough pockets filled with potato, cheddar cheese, or cabbage, or blueberries, or cherries, or ... anything else. Ukrainian varenyky can be compared to Polish pierogi, Russian pilmeni, Jewish kreplach, Italian ravioli, or Chinese wonton. Mmmmm. The word "varenyky" is used in any region of Ukraine. Every true Ukrainian can’t imagine his life without this tasty dish. Holubtsi are Ukrainian cabbage rolls. The filling is mainly hamburger with a small amount of rice. Cabbage leaves are steamed in order to make them soft and then are filled and boiled with tomato sauce and sour cream. The word "holub" means "dove" in Ukrainian and holubtsi have the approximate shape of a dove. Borshch is typical Ukrainian beet soup. It is a national food that tastes greatly with a good piece of white bread, some pieces of garlic and sour cream. Kutya is a Christmas eve mixture of wheat, seed and honey, served cold.

Kovbasa is Ukrainian smoked ham sausage. It can be of different types, shapes and tastes. But all of them are true treasure of this country. Try it together with borsch and believe you will stay here forever! Horilka is Ukrainian hard liquor.

Ukrainian language

Ukrainian language is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. Ukrainian uses a Cyrilic alphabet. It shares some vocabulary with the languages of the other Slavic nations as Belarusian, Polish, Slovak and Russian.

National holidays

Ukrainian press in English

• Ukrainian Bulletin
• Ukrainian Quarterly
• Ukrainian Weekly
• Brama News
• Kiev Post
• Interfax
• The Day
• Ukrainian Business Post
• Ukraine FM
• Ukraine Life
• Ukraine News
• Ukraine Post
• Ukraine Sport
• Ukrainian Observer
• Unian

Ukrainian state TV channels

• 1+1
• 5 kanal (5-th Channel)
• ICTV
• Inter
• Novyy kanal (New channel)
• Pershy natsionalny (the First national)
• STB
• TET
• Tonis
• TRK “Ukraina”
• UTR
• M1 International
• TRK Era
• Pershy Sportyvny Ukraina (the First Sport Ukraine)

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There are a lot of prominent people in Ukraine who have a large following, not only in their own country, but also in other parts of the world. Their achievements are in different fields but they are loved and respected by their people and fans across all the country. Many famous people from Ukraine have worked really hard to reach their accomplishments and aims.

Statesmen

Anna Yaroslavna

(between 1024 and 1032—1075)

Daughter of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, in 1049 became a wife of the French King Henry I. In 1060 has become a regent at the time of her son’s ruling Fillip I (1060—1108). Together with her son she signed all important documents. For the second time she married the Count Raul III de Krepi.

Bandera Stepan

(1909- 1959)

Leader of the Ukrainian Nationalists Organization

Since 1931 –head of regional execution UNO and commandant of ULO. In 1934 he was condemned to death for murder organization of the Home Secretary of Poland. Bandera was released in September 1939. In 1940 Bandera headed the revolution group UNO. He was a prisoner of German concentration camps. After the war Bandera became a head of the movement of west units of UNO.

Hrushevsky Mykhaylo

(1866-1934)

Outstanding statesman of Ukraine; Head of The Central Council in 1917-1918

A scientist of the International standard. His encyclopaedic and fundamental nature still amazes thousands of Ukrainians. More than two thousand of works of history, sociology, literature, ethnography, folklore issued from his pen.

Writers

Hohol Mykola

(1809-1852)

Writer, dramatist

Mykola Hohol – is one of the most complicated writers of the world. His style combined compound metaphors, parable, ironical allegories, neologisms. The books written by him are so mysterious that are of great interest among millions of readers.

Lesya Ukrainka

(1871-1913)

Poetess, translator

Lesya Ukrayinka – is a highly respected person in Ukraine. She is writer, she is woman, she is a suffering soul. She is genius author who has created a great amounts of masterpieces of poetry filled with deep feelings, love to Ukraine and to life. The life of the poetess is a legendary deed of a wise and courageous woman.

Shevchenko Taras

(1814-1861)

Poet, artist

Talent works of Shevchenko is a unique phenomenon in the history of Ukrainian literature, spiritual culture in general and in the literary language as well. His poetry stated important social ideas – of equality and fraternity of sovereign nations, formation of humane society developing the best human beings’ qualities, attracting attention of people of Ukraine to the present and past of their homeland, Shevchenko skillfully had reflected them in his works of art. Many large cities in Ukraine possess memorial to this prominent writer who will never leave our hearts.

Famous people of nowadays

Achievements of Ukraine on the World stage

	Vitaly Klichko World Boxing Committee (WBC) decided to confer title of honorable World Champion in super-heavy weight to Ukrainian Vitaly Klichko.
	Ruslana Singer, deputy The winner on the International Contest “Eurovision 2004” that took place in Istanbul, Turkey.
	Olga Shilovanova model Won on the 16-th National contest of Miss Ukraine 2006 with the possibility to represent Ukraine in the Miss World Contest.

Vasyl Vyrastyuk

Record of Ukraine

He has drawn a chain from 5 trams with total weight of 101.5 tones for the length of 17.9 m during 59.62 sec!

Borys Valeev

He has lifted a bar with the weight of 20 kg 1821 times during 1 hour.

Mykhaylo Voronin

Created the largest smoking of the size 500!

World record

The deepest metro station (500 m) and longest escalator (87 m) in the World!

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Contents:

• Feel the rhythm of your life! Visit winter Carpathians!
• Lviv – mysterious city of Ukrainian dreams...
• Sunny Crimea! Incredible beaches! Fantastic sunsets!

Ukraine is an ideal place to have a pleasant rest. Ukraine attracts more than 15 mln foreign tourists every year. They come from Russia, as well as from Western Europe and USA. Ukraine is a cross-road between East and West. It is not far from Turkey. It has an incredible place for high quality rest in the Black sea coast. Every year tourists from many countries get rid of their business and come to the sandy beaches of Ukraine filled with pleasant warm sun shine.
Ukraine has Carpathian mountains that provide excellent skiing, hiking, snowboarding, fishing and hunting. Ukraine has wonderful vineyards, historical parks and ancient castles... Sometimes even with ghosts.
The advantage of tourism in Ukraine is visa free entrance for the citizens of USA, European Union, Canada, Switzerland, Russia.

Skiing!!! Somebody who has been in the mountains in winter knows what means skiing. Of course they had to spend some time to study these skills, but definitely they had much fun. For the professionals it is not only winter kind of sport but passion, lifestyle, self-expression. Why do people wear the fetters on their legs, why do they get a lot of bruises and do not stop, but skiing? Lovers of skiing test themselves and find a call and serenity in this process. And we can not tell that magic that is searched by them is located on the top of the mountain, in its middle or at the end of the ski way.

The Ukrainian Carpathians are young mountains that have the approximate age of 25 mln years. They are situated in the center of European continent. The name of Carpathians is connected with present in the pre-Christian time tribe of Carps that lived on this territory over the rivers Pruth and Ocheret.

Carpathians fill the part of the Mountain chain for about 500 km. The highest peaks of the mountains are Goverla -2061m, Rebra – 2046m, Pip Ivan – 2026m, Petros – 2020m. All of them are situated in the Chornogorskiy mountain range that lays on the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpatska regions.

The second highest range is Beskidy located in the area of Zakarpatska and Lvivska regions. The height of the mountains in this range is a little bit higher than Chornogorskiy one, in general for 1600 m. Beskidy are more comfortable for exploration as they are situated near the main railway and auto highways that is a good perspective for the development of ski sport and tourism.

Another example is the village Volosianka that is located in 8 km from Slavsko. It used to be considered a dump and dull zone, completely out of interest. Currently two hotels and a sit-down car cableway are under construction. The construction of an elementary school has been completed. A gas pipeline is also going to be installed. Soon the investments came to Pidharka, Sopit, and Urych. Kyiv businessmen plan a three-star hotel, rope tows, skiing tracks, and tennis courts nearby. In truth, however, current legislation has many gaps, including the rope tow as well as alpine skiing track design and technical requirements. Now these problems are being solved with the help of local specialists.

Recently it became very popular to live in private villas and houses. Last several years brought a fresh impetus for private housing construction. Large cottages near the road are usually called agrosettlements. Currently the district possesses 83 resorts, with 38 functioning during all year round.

These small pleasant accommodations often propose very nice living conditions offering all necessary amenities. Nobody knows the exact number of such agrosettlements; perhaps some seventy. There is one problem, however; the current legislation does not provide for green tourism, just as there are no clear provisions on how their owners should pay taxes.

It is no wonder that there is such a demand for having rest in the Western Ukraine – Carpathians area famous for the unforgettable landscapes and comfortable conditions for winter sport. Snow here is mostly lying from the start of Decemeber to the end of April. And as for famous resort Dragobrat snow was there for the last 30 winters, even when these seasons were mild. Almost every region here possesses places for skiing – ski resorts, sanatoriums, rest houses with territory for skiing. The Carpathians resorts keep developing all the time and now they already reach the level of international standards. The most famous places are – Slavsk, Dragobrat, Yaremche, Sinevir, Yablunicya, Mijhirya, Guta, Svalyava etc. So, you wish high quality skiing, snowboarding or just pleasant walks in a beautiful nature of snowy mountains. Carpathians are for you!

Slavsko Ski Resort

Due to the increase in tourism for a number of Carpathian ski resorts, various renovation and regeneration projects are due to be started next year. The main project will happen at the resort located on Trostyan Mountain, Slavsko. So, far 40 million Dollars will be injected into the resort of Slavsk to improve infrastructure and ski facilities. The mayor of Slavsko, Michail Kripta, has stated that the project will boost tourism even more in the area and provide better catering for the increases in tourists already coming.

International grants are to be provided as part of the financing of the development, new tourists routes and trails etc. Michail Kripta the Mayor also reported that a government body with the purpose of developing the green ‘Eco tourism’ will also be founded.

In particular he added that the main investor of this project is an Austrian company. Currently, investors are negotiating on locations of new ski lifts. But Kripta has also mentioned that the government has given their consent for this project.

The duration of the project is expected to be three years and as well as new lifts, the old lifts will be renovated and extra seats added. This will increases the hourly capacity of each lift and will be particularly beneficial during the peak season (December through until February).

An important point is the extension of ski lifts down to the railway station in the resort town. This will mean that the tourists who come to Slavsk will be able to go straight to the ski lifts. These lifts, in turn, lead direct to many hotels. The need for a car in Slavsko will be minimal in three years time. Currently, there are taxis waiting for tourists at the railway.

Ukraine is currently undergoing a property boom which has been rippling through Eastern Europe for the past 7 years. The Carpathians of Ukraine, with their history, stunning scenery and good ski resorts are now under the spotlight and beginning to be targeted by savvy investors and developers. Slavsko in particular has seen tourism increase the most in the last two years. There are 10 new hotels being built in the resort as the demand for tourism is so great, the whole resort and surrounding was reported completely occupied last year.

Slavsk experiences a wide range of tourists from different countries. Local tourism from Ukrainians has always been very strong but Russians, Polish and now from Germany has been noted. Due to the consistent snow fall and good skiing conditions, avid ski fans are beginning to realise what this beautiful region of Ukraine has to offer.

Slavskoe is located in 130 km from Lviv, which has an airport along with rail, taxi and bus links to the resort. Slavskoe- is one of the most popular ski resorts of the Ukrainian Carpathians. That is why it is very prominent among Ukrainians as well as foreigners, who make investments to the Carpathian property or buy the Carpathian property for sale.

There are several ski zones already and these are due to be expanded (Trostyan, Politeh, Pogar, Grabovec, Krokus), including the central ski way of the sport base “Dynamo”, which was used for international sport events. The Dynamo centre is due to be renovated as part of the development project.

Tuhlya (near Slavsk)

The village of Tuhlya, located only a few miles from Slavsko ski resort is to also benefit from new facilities. A consortium of successful Kiev businessmen have organised a fund to build a substantial water-park. The complex will take up 4 hectares and construction is scheduled to start in April 2007.

According to the local council, plans are in the process of being checked. The consortium is confident that they will be passed and have chosen the Slavsk reason because they feel it has the most potential at the present time. The summer aspect of the Carpathian ski resort has huge potential that has not yet been realised but with the addition of this new aqua-park, tourists will have all year round enjoyment in Ukraine’s most popular mountain town Slavsko.

During the passing summer season the Ukrainian Carpathians again tried to remove the image of the place of only winter rest. Ski sport – is not a limit in the tourist possibilities of this area. That is why during this year a lot of opportunities of summer vacation were presented.

The struggle for the summer season in Dragobrat started actually in spring. The main festivals that are connected with the most colorful Ukrainian holidays –Ivana Kupala, holiday of the saint Petro and Pavel-took place here. The famous musical groups gave their concerts just in the open air. The atmosphere of such festivals was filled with ancient traditions and customs of the Ukrainian nation.

The Kupala’s holiday was held in spirit of pre-christian traditions under the rumble of drums, trembits and other national instruments and looked very extravagantly. It also was prominent for the interesting walking tourism – as simple one-day tours as well as complicated routes. Here you have an opportunity to overcome the highest tips of the Ukrainian Carpathians – Goverla, Petros, Bliuznicya, Chorna Hora, Unharyaska, Dohyaska.

The second hot spot of the Ukrainian Carpathians is an extreme bicycle sport, which is considered to be one of the most exciting and perspective kinds of sport activities on Dragobrat. The routes that today cross the Svidovecky, Chernogiesky, Marmarossky mountain slopes attract a lot of foreign tourists. One of them, for example, lies across the ancient Czech-Polish border, the other one – across the old military roads. The longitude of the two-day route is 60 km, the height is 440-1600 m under the sea level.

The foreigners, especially citizens of Europe, are greatly interested by the extreme kind of sport as ‘jeeping’. Tourists really estimated the possibility to overcome the high slopes of the Carpathians on their cars. The fourth in the extreme list is rafting through Chorna Tisa and White Tisa. By the way as for these two rivers that later form just Tisa, also have a people’s tale. They say they are a husband-river and wife-river. You can see it in the character of these rivers. Hence the classical raft on the gum boat (for 4-20 persons) is organized in the period of snow melting (March-May), so that the tourist could struggle with barriers on their way. That is more interesting.

And finally one more entertainment for the active – paraplanerism. Dragobrat is a complex of slopes with height differences from 600 to 1400 m under the sea level. This helps to carry out the flights both in thermal and in dynamic streams.

Many factors are greatly favoring the exclusiveness of Carpathian. Among these are:

• the climate of course, pure fresh mountainous air that gives one energy and strength to overcome the hills and reach the tops of the Highlands;
• mineral and spring waters
• rocks and caves, top of the mountains, rivers and waterfalls, lakes and streams;
• delicious and exceedingly tasty traditional quisine, Hutsul dishes which is prepared of clean and useful ecological products. Mainly it is mushrooms with sour cream, "brynza" (something similar to salt cheese) and many other exquisite Ukrainian dishes;
• Many locals are telling legends to curious tourists, sing songs, poems and other interesting and exciting stories about Carpathian Mountains;
• One can also visit numerous museums, resort complexes, comfortable hotels, cafes and restaurants made in traditional wooden design.

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Now Lviv becomes more and more popular among tourists from Ukraine and other countries. It is a unique pearl of our country that combines a deep history with all its adorable architecture and modern life.

It was March 2003 when Lviv region adopted first tourism and recreational programs for 2003-2007. This program was worked out by the regional administration's resort and tourism department jointly with the National Academy's Institute for Regional Studies. Then later other programs also appeared, such as National Tourism Development Program, the Resort Business Development Program. Niw the cabinet is working on the development of next resort business priorities program.

It is known that Lviv region was the first to sign a collaboration agreement between regional administration and Tourist State Administration of Ukraine. This region worked out a tourist itinerary marking and coding system that was officially examined, coordinated with the State Committee on Standards and Certification, and is currently recommended all over Ukraine. At present young service specialist are taught in the best fourteen service schools at various levels of accreditation. Now tourist business consists of what appear to be minor things, like regularly supplied clean rushnyk embroidered towels, tasty meals, good lighting, and polite guides.

Lviv’s small and large hotel took necessary certification. Hence only two large ones obtained four stars rate; tourists often prefer smaller and homelike ones. It definitely means that city visitors must live in comfortable conditions with pleasant interior design, good service and delicious cuisine. There are many such small hotels in the vicinity of Lviv and along all major highways. In fact, they need little advertising, as their publicity is secured by word of mouth. Only last year brought thirty cases of hotels certification and it grows every year.

However, why Lviv is so popular right now? Why it attracts so many tourists? The answer is easy. People want to plunge into a real history seeing the majority of historical places. They all find it here. Where else can one celebrate Christmas in a more exotic atmosphere, with countless marketplace puppet shows, with whole villages joining in the festivities, when one is drawn in a whirlpool of songs and dances?

Lviv has so many places worthy to visit…

• the Old Town
  • Ploshcha Rynok Market Square
  • Black House
  • Armenian Cathedral
  • Orthodox Cathedral with Korniakt Bell Tower
  • Latin Cathedral "Assumption of Mary"
  • St George Cathedral of the the Greek Catholic church
  • Dominican Church "Corpus Christi"
• Lviv “High Castle” – the top of the city located on the hill overlooking the historical centre
• Union of Lyublin mound
• Lyichakiv cemetery
• Museum of folks and arts
• Museum of brewery
• Olesky castle
• Museum – drug store
• Museum of brewery
• National Opera and ballet theatre

Recently Lviv celebrated its 750-th anniversary that was a real event in the life of this city. There were a lot of ceremonies, festivals, concerts dedicated to this date. A true hologram effects were realized on the building of National Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater.

How to get to Lviv:

By plane

Lviv has an international airport just in 7km from the main city. Lviv has direct international routes including flights from Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Frankfurt (Ukraine International Airlines) and Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines). Recently Ukraine International Airlines presented numerous flights with direction Lviv- Kiev (weekly).

By train

There are trains coming from whole of Ukraine every day with the destination in Lviv.

The easiest way to get to L'viv by train from Western Europe is through Krakow (Poland). From there, take a train to Przemysl. There is also a direct train from Krakow to L'viv once a day, but we do not recommend this route as it much more expensive and takes longer time because they have to stop for pretty long term in order to change the wheels at the border.

Trains from Hungary and Slovakia usually on their way to Kyiv stop in L'viv.

By car

It is a comfortable and easy way as there high quality roads and highways that go from the majority of the Ukrianian cities to Lviv.

By bus

There are daily buses from Polish cities of Warsaw, Lublin, Przemysl. There is a possibility to get bus from other European cities.

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Crimean peninsula is one of most adorable places in the Earth. Former Tsar residences as Livadia, Massandra, Nikita Botanical garden, as well as Marble caves, Khan palace in Bakhchisaray, Genoese Tower in Sudak – everything is very interesting and really worthy to see. The tasting halls of Massandra, Inkerman, Novyy Svet, Koktebel invite several types of species of famous Crimean wines and cognacs.

Palaces and sanatoriums, parks, pine forests and cypress alleys in combination with sea and mountains – all this creates a special image f the Southern coast, its famous resorts as Yalta, Alushta, Miskhor, Foros and so on...

Western Crimea is one of the best places on the planet for treatment and taking care of your health. In Peschanoe, Nikolaevkka, Yevpatoria warm and not deep Kalamitskiy bay, golden sandy beaches, curative muds, thermal mineral waters sources, available prices for living and food.

Eastern Crimea is an adorable corner with great mountains, wild rocks, mysterious grottos and convenient blue bays.

Crimea is a unique corner of the Earth. It suits ideally for a good rest, travelling and sightseeing. Crimean can propose much more than more expensive Mediterranean resorts that differ only by their high prices.

Rest in the Crimea – is a healthy climate, warm sea with pleasant beaches and beautiful landscapes. And pf course plunged into deep greens health centres. They usually suit the highest international standards. All this – is Crimea!

Not only in Ukraine but in other Black sea resorts is difficult to meet such a unique combination of conditions for excellent rest and together with this effective treatment. Rest in the Crimea is not only beach, beer and fruit. There are a lot of place worthy to see. A various number of international musical contests and famous singers concerts, exciting excursions and travelling will be your friends all over your trip to the Crimea.

Alushta

The most advantageous thing in Alushta is its clean tender sea and warm sandy beaches that attract tourists so much. On the beach one can have various entertainments, water cycles and hydrocycles, diving and fishing, or you may simply have a rest on a comfortable sun bed or sun-heated pebbles and listen to the pleasant sounds of sea!

Alushta is located in 36 kilometres south of Simferopol (this city has an International state airport) easily combines the comfort and refinement of the Southern Coast and childish freedom of untouched green lands. This area is very famous among car drives, bicycle tours lovers and those who are keen on horseback riding and hiking. The area suits greatly for motorising, as well as for extreme high-speed mountain bicycling. Especially pure air and general feeling of happiness (and this you will have for sure) enhance the effect of local resort facilities. This area is well-known for many health centres for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory organs, problems with the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Alushta is main Olympic base of Ukraine. Sport complex "Spartak" is located here and has high quality sport facilities. Last years brought large investments for the reconstruction of 4 and 5 star hotels and resort complexes. Currently there are about 80 health resorts, dozens of rest complexes, camps for students and children, a lot of private mini-hotels and ellings. Recently it became quite popular to purchase a property in this city; hence Crimean property is pretty expensive.

Alushta's mountain amphitheatre is very popular among tourists. Long promenades in the mountain area around Alushta are both romantic and interesting. Tourists can climb to prominent Chatyrdag, ( “ Mount Camp ” , in Crimean Tatar), the Eklizi-Burun Peak, and “ Church Cape. You can view almost all Crimea while being on the top of these peaks.

Yalta

Yalta is a fantastically beautiful resort on the southern corner of the Crimea. Yalta will always be a favourite destination for great many of tourists with its mild climate, lush green landscape and rugged beaches.Yalta is the ancient homeland of the Scythians, the city gained fame as a choice 18th-century Russian retreat. Yalta’s treasures also remain from the 19