Ukraine Facts

Ukraine is located in the South-Eastern part of Central Europe and has its national borders, territory, government, national emblem, flag and anthem. On land Ukraine borders Russia, Belarussia, Moldova, Slovakia, Roumania, Hungary and Poland and Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Roumania and Turkey on the sea.

The territory of Ukraine is mainly flat plains called "step." There are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean peninsula and the Carpathians in the west, but they are not very high. Mixed forests of pine and fir-trees, beeches, limes, oaks and elms cover these mountains, but the thickest woods can still be found in the northern part of Ukraine, in Volyn. Kiev and Cherkassy are located in the midst of Ukrainian southernmost pine forests. The main Ukrainian river is called the Dnieper. It is one of the longest rivers in Europe and one of Ukraine's main sources of hydroelectric power. The Dnieper and the Ross river were a historic cradle of the Ukrainian and Russian antient tribes.

Ukrainian climate is rather moderate. Winter is mild, without severe frosts, but with regular snowfalls everywhere except the souther part of the country. The rivers and lakes freeze during winter. The average winter temperature varies from -25 C in the North to -3 C in the South. Summer is very hot and dry, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The fertile black soil ("chernozem") is well watered in spring and fall and gets plenty of sunshine in the summer.

Due to favorable climatic conditions, Ukraine has traditionally been an agricultural paradise. It grows wheat, maize, buckwheat and other corns, red and green vegetables, all kinds of fruit, melons and berries.

Ukraine is one of the world's main sugar producing. It produces sugar both for its internal market as well as exports a considarable part to the Western countries.

The country is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore, coal, metals, oil, gas, mineral salts, clay and water. Ukraine has developed a varoius industries, concentrated mainly in and around big cities, such as Kiev, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Dnyeprodzerzhinsk, Odessa, Kharkov, Lviv, Yalta, Nickolayev and others. It produces planes and ships, trucks and buses, motorcars and trains, computer and electronic equipment, precision instruments and agricultural machines, TVs and radios, chemicals, textiles and various consumer goods. Odessa, Sebastopol, Nickolayev, Kherson and Kerch are main ukrainian ports.

Traveler's tips

Ukrainian time: GMT / UTC +2
Phone dialling Code: +38
Electricity specs: 220 V, 50 Hz
Weight & measure system: Metric

See Map of Ukraine

Best time to visit Ukraine

The best time to go to Ukraine is spring (late April to early June), when the trees and flowers are in bloom. During this season attractions are less crowded and rainfall is lighter than in summer. The beaches at Odessa and Crimea are packed in summer (July and August). Winter (December and January) is cold and snowy, so travellers should be prepared to don thick wool sweaters and eat their vegetables pickled.

Cultural events

Ukrainians place gifts under fir trees and sing holiday songs for New Year's Day. The country celebrates Orthodox Christmas Day on 7 January. Paskha (Easter) is the main festival of the Orthodox Church year, beginning with midnight services and continuing with parades around village churches throughout the country. In Lviv, the National Virtuoso fills the month of May with musical and theatrical performances focussing on national themes. The capital celebrates spring during Kiev Days, held the last weekend in May. In August, Crimea fetes itself at Yalta's Crimean Stars. On 28 August, religious pilgrims flock to the monastery in Pochayiv for the Feast of the Assumption. Cities and towns honour Independence Day on 24 August with performances and special events.