Ukraine

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 was able to bring about a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest "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 elections and become prime minister in August of 2006.

Languages & Population

Approximate Population: 46,299,862 (July 2007 est.)

Nationality (Noun): Ukrainian(s)

Nationality (Adjective): Ukrainian

Official Language(s): Ukrainian

Major Languages Spoken: Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Yiddish

Country Facts

Country Name (long form): none

Country Name (short form): Ukraine

Country Name (local long form): none

Country Name (local short form): Ukrayina

Name of Capital: Kyiv (Kiev)

UTC Time Difference (from capital): UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Countries Near by, and Bordering Ukraine: Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Belarus, Hungary

Land Area: 603700 sq km

Comparative Area: slightly smaller than Texas

Total Land Boundry: 4,663 km

Coastline: 2,782 km

National Holiday: Independence Day, 24 August (1991)

International Phone Code: 380

Currency Code: hryvnia (UAH)

Internet Country Code: .ua

US Embassy Location: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 04053 Kyiv

US Embassy Mailing Address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850

Services In, and Related to Ukraine

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