Ukraine on the way to independence. Ukraine on the way to independence. First years of the independence (1986-First years of the independence (1986-

1994). 1994).

PlanPlan Social, political and economic situation in Social, political and economic situation in

Ukraine (1986-1991)Ukraine (1986-1991) Ukraine in the first years of independence. Ukraine in the first years of independence.

Presidency of Leonid Kravchuk.Presidency of Leonid Kravchuk.

Communist ideology Communist ideology lost its authoritylost its authority, the , the society was quickly politicized. society was quickly politicized.

There began There began the actions of protest the actions of protest against against closing the schools with education in closing the schools with education in Ukrainian, against forcing out the national Ukrainian, against forcing out the national language from the sphere of state language from the sphere of state management, book-publishing and mass management, book-publishing and mass media. media.

In the In the spring of 1989spring of 1989, the first free elections , the first free elections were held in the USSR were held in the USSR

On July 16, 1990 On July 16, 1990 the Parliament adopted the Parliament adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine.

In March 1990In March 1990, elections were held for the , elections were held for the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR and Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR and local councils.local councils.

On the evening of On the evening of August 19, 1991August 19, 1991, the , the conservatives of the central party-state conservatives of the central party-state management made an attempt of management made an attempt of the state the state upheavalupheaval, striving to turn the country life to , striving to turn the country life to the state before 1985. the state before 1985.

The last Secretary of USSR The last Secretary of USSR (Mikhail Gorbachev)(Mikhail Gorbachev)

On August 24On August 24, the extraordinary session , the extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR approved “The Bill of Independence SSR approved “The Bill of Independence Announcement of Ukraine”.Announcement of Ukraine”.

On December 1, 1991On December 1, 1991, the referendum on , the referendum on confirmation of “The Bill of Independence confirmation of “The Bill of Independence Announcement of Ukraine” took place.Announcement of Ukraine” took place.

There was a positive response from 90.3% There was a positive response from 90.3% of the population who took part in the of the population who took part in the referendum. referendum.

The elections of the first President of The elections of the first President of Ukraine were also held. Ukraine were also held. Leonid Kravchuk Leonid Kravchuk became the first President of Ukraine.became the first President of Ukraine.

The referendum in Ukraine created a The referendum in Ukraine created a qualitatively new situation with regard to the qualitatively new situation with regard to the problem of existence of the USSR. problem of existence of the USSR.

A week after this event, Borys Yeltsin, A week after this event, Borys Yeltsin, President of RSFSR, Leonid Kravchuk, and President of RSFSR, Leonid Kravchuk, and S. Shushkevych, Head of the Supreme S. Shushkevych, Head of the Supreme Council of Belarus announced at the Council of Belarus announced at the meeting in Minsk that the USSR no longer meeting in Minsk that the USSR no longer existed as a subject of international law and existed as a subject of international law and geopolitical reality. geopolitical reality.

For December 1991, the independence of For December 1991, the independence of Ukraine was recognized by 68 states, and in Ukraine was recognized by 68 states, and in 1992 it was recognized by 64 states.1992 it was recognized by 64 states.

The constitutional process, which began in The constitutional process, which began in July 1990 by adopting the Declaration on July 1990 by adopting the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Ukraine became the State Sovereignty of Ukraine became the most important element in the creation of most important element in the creation of the state. the state.

The Constitution of Ukraine The Constitution of Ukraine was adopted was adopted on on June 28, 1996June 28, 1996, created a strong , created a strong legislative foundation for the regulation of legislative foundation for the regulation of public relations, development of public relations, development of sovereignty and a democratic state.sovereignty and a democratic state.

The first president of The first president of Independent UkraineIndependent Ukraine

In June 1994 when, as a result of free In June 1994 when, as a result of free elections, the power was given up to elections, the power was given up to Leonid KuchmaLeonid Kuchma, the new President of , the new President of Ukraine.Ukraine.

Kuchma was, however, criticized by Kuchma was, however, criticized by opponents for concentrating too much of opponents for concentrating too much of power in his office, corruption, transferring power in his office, corruption, transferring public property into hands of loyal public property into hands of loyal oligarchs, discouraging free speech., discouraging free speech.

Dissatisfied with the economic conditions, Dissatisfied with the economic conditions, as well as crime and corruption, Ukrainians as well as crime and corruption, Ukrainians protested and organised strikes.protested and organised strikes.

The Ukrainian economy stabilized by the The Ukrainian economy stabilized by the end of the 1990s. end of the 1990s.

A new currency, the A new currency, the hryvnia, was , was introduced in 1996. introduced in 1996.

Since 2000, the country has enjoyed Since 2000, the country has enjoyed steady economic growth averaging about steady economic growth averaging about seven percent annually. seven percent annually.

The The 2004 presidential election in Ukraine featured two main candidates.featured two main candidates.

One was sitting One was sitting Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, largely supported by , largely supported by Leonid Kuchma

Government and politicsGovernment and politics Ukraine is a Ukraine is a republic under a mixed semi- under a mixed semi-

parliamentary parliamentary semi-presidential system with separate with separate legislative, , executive, and , and judicial branches. branches.

The The President is elected by popular vote is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal for a five-year term and is the formal head of state..

Ukraine's legislative branch includes the Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat 450-seat unicameral parliament, the parliament, the Verkhovna Rada..

The parliament is primarily responsible for The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the formation of the executive branch and the the Cabinet of Ministers, which is headed , which is headed by the by the Prime Minister..

The The Supreme Court is the main body in is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction.the system of courts of general jurisdiction.

The The European Union offered an offered an Association Agreement with Ukraine in with Ukraine in September, 2008. The country is a September, 2008. The country is a potential candidate for potential candidate for future enlargement of the European Union..

Verkhovna Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine

Administrative divisionsAdministrative divisions Ukraine is subdivided into twenty-four Ukraine is subdivided into twenty-four

oblasts ( (provinces) and one ) and one autonomous republic, , Crimea. .

The 24 oblasts and The 24 oblasts and Crimea are subdivided are subdivided into 490 into 490 raions ( (districts), or second-level ), or second-level administrative units.administrative units.

n total, Ukraine has 457 cities, 176 of them n total, Ukraine has 457 cities, 176 of them are labeled oblast-class, 279 smaller raion-are labeled oblast-class, 279 smaller raion-class cities, and two special legal status class cities, and two special legal status cities. These are followed by 886 urban-cities. These are followed by 886 urban-type settlements and 28,552 villages.type settlements and 28,552 villages.

GeographyGeography At 603,700 kilometres² (233,074 At 603,700 kilometres² (233,074 sq mi) )

and with a coastline of 2,782 kilometres and with a coastline of 2,782 kilometres (1,729 mi), Ukraine is the world's (1,729 mi), Ukraine is the world's 44th-largest country (after the (after the Central African Republic, before , before Madagascar).).

It is the It is the second largest country in Europe in Europe (after the European part of Russia, before (after the European part of Russia, before metropolitan France).).

The Ukrainian landscape consists mostly of The Ukrainian landscape consists mostly of fertile plains (or fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, ) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper ((DniproDnipro), ), Seversky Donets, , Dniester and and the the Southern Buh as they flow south into as they flow south into the the Black Sea and the smaller and the smaller Sea of Azov. .

The country's only mountains are the The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which in the west, of which the highest is the the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 m at 2,061 m (6,762 (6,762 ft), and ), and those on the on the Crimean peninsula, in the extreme south along the peninsula, in the extreme south along the coast.coast.

View of Yalta from the coast of the Black Sea.

Azov sea coast near Kerch.

The Dnieper River seen atop a hill in Kiev, Ukraine.

Tiraspol and the Dniester river

EconomyEconomy With the collapse of the Soviet system, the country With the collapse of the Soviet system, the country

moved from a moved from a planned economy to a to a market economy. .

Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation vehicles and vehicles and spacecraft..

The country imports most energy supplies, especially The country imports most energy supplies, especially oil and and natural gas, and to a large extent depends on , and to a large extent depends on Russia as its energy supplier. Russia as its energy supplier.

While 25 percent of the natural gas in Ukraine comes While 25 percent of the natural gas in Ukraine comes from internal sources, about 35 percent comes from from internal sources, about 35 percent comes from Russia and the remaining 40 percent from Russia and the remaining 40 percent from Central Asia through transit routes that Russia through transit routes that Russia controls. controls.

The The World Bank classifies Ukraine as a classifies Ukraine as a middle-income state.middle-income state.[

By July 2008 the average nominal salary in By July 2008 the average nominal salary in Ukraine reached 1,930  hryvnias per month.Ukraine reached 1,930  hryvnias per month.[92

Significant issues include underdeveloped Significant issues include underdeveloped infrastructure and transportation, corruption infrastructure and transportation, corruption and bureaucracy.and bureaucracy.

Ukraine produces nearly all types of Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation vehicles and transportation vehicles and spacecraft..

Ukraine is recognised as a world leader in Ukraine is recognised as a world leader in producing missiles and missile related producing missiles and missile related technology.technology.

The building of the National Bank of Ukraine

Ukrainian oblasts (provinces) by monthly salary

CultureCulture Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced

by by Christianity, which is the dominant , which is the dominant religion in the country. religion in the country.

The tradition of the The tradition of the Easter egg, known as , known as pysanky, has long roots in Ukraine., has long roots in Ukraine.

In the city of Kolomya near the foothills of In the city of Kolomya near the foothills of the the Carpathian mountains in 2000 was in 2000 was built the museum of Pysanka which won a built the museum of Pysanka which won a nomination as the monument of modern nomination as the monument of modern Ukraine in 2007, part of the Ukraine in 2007, part of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine action. action.

Popular traditional dishes include Popular traditional dishes include varenyky varenyky (boiled dumplings with mushrooms, (boiled dumplings with mushrooms, potatoes, sauerkraut, cottage cheese or potatoes, sauerkraut, cottage cheese or cherries), cherries), borschborsch (soup made of beets, (soup made of beets, cabbage and mushrooms or meat) and cabbage and mushrooms or meat) and holubtsy (stuffed cabbage rolls filled with (stuffed cabbage rolls filled with rice, carrots and meat).rice, carrots and meat).

A collection of traditional pysanky from Volyn

The Pysanka Museum, Kolomiya, Ukraine

1. Sofiyivsky Park in Uman, Cherkasy Oblast

It was founded in 1796 by Count Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki, a noble Polish szlahtich. The park is named after his Greek wife Sofia and was built in 1802. It's one of the world famous garden-park art creations. There are many scenic areas in the park including waterfalls, fountains, ponds and a stone garden. It is one of the most famous examples of late 17th or early 18th century European landscape garden design that has been preserved to the present time.

2. Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) in Kiev

Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1015 the Lavra has been a prominent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint-Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Currently, the jurisdiction over the site is divided between the state museum, National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Preserve, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the site of the chief monastery of that Church and the residence of its leader, Metropolitan Volodymyr.

3. Kamianets-Podilskyi Historical Complex inKamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast

An old street in Kamianets-Podilskyi's old town quarter.

The Stephen Báthory Gate is part of the city's old fortification complex.

4. Khortytsia[8] in Zaporizhia, Zaporizhia Oblast

Nowadays, Khortysia is designated a national museum. The rural landscape of the island features the Zaporizhian Cossack Museum and a Cossack horse show. The museum building is modern, nestling low in the landscape with dramatic views of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station to the north.The museum contains exhibits dating from the Stone Age through the Scythian period (c.750 - 250 BC) down to the 20th century, including a model of the Pecheneg ambush which claimed the life of Svyatoslav in 972 and a panorama representing the Battle for Zaporizhia, fought during World War II on October 14, 1943.

5. Chersonesos[9] in Sevastopol

Chersonesos was an ancient Greek colony founded approximately 2500 years ago in the southwestern part of Crimea, known then as Taurica. The colony was established in the 6th century BC. Chersonesos' ancient ruins are presently located in one of Sevastopol's suburbs. The buildings mix influences of Greek, Roman and Byzantine culture. The defensive wall is hundreds of meters long. Buildings include Roman amphitheatre and a Greek temple.

6. Saint Sophia Cathedral[10] in Kiev

7. Khotyn Fortress[11] in Khotyn, Chernivtsi Oblast

The Khotyn Fortress is a fortification complex located on the shores of the Dniester River in Khotyn, Chernivtsi Oblast of western Ukraine. Construction on the current fortress was started in 1325, while major improvements were made in the 1380s and in the 1460s.The fortress is a large tourist attraction for the area and Ukraine. It is also a National Ukrainian Architectural Preserve as of 2000.

LanguageLanguage According to the According to the Constitution, the , the state language of of

Ukraine is Ukraine is UkrainianUkrainian.. According to the 2001 census, According to the 2001 census, 67.5 percent 67.5 percent of the of the

population declared population declared UkrainianUkrainian as their as their native language native language and and 29.6 percent 29.6 percent declared declared RussianRussian..

Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a second language.second language.

Ukrainian is mainly spoken in Ukrainian is mainly spoken in western and central western and central Ukraine. Ukraine.

In central Ukraine, Ukrainian and Russian are both In central Ukraine, Ukrainian and Russian are both equally used equally used

In In eastern and southern eastern and southern Ukraine, Russian is primarily Ukraine, Russian is primarily used in cities, and used in cities, and surzhyksurzhyk is used in rural areas. is used in rural areas.

Percentage of native Ukrainian speakers by subdivision

DemographicsDemographics According to the According to the

Ukrainian Census of 2001, ethnic , ethnic Ukrainians make up 77.8% of the make up 77.8% of the population.population.

Other significant ethnic groups are Other significant ethnic groups are Russians (17.3%), (17.3%), Belarusians (0.6%), (0.6%), Moldovans (0.5%), (0.5%), Crimean Tatars (0.5%), (0.5%), Bulgarians (0.4%), (0.4%), Hungarians (0.3%), (0.3%), Romanians (0.3%), (0.3%), Poles (0.3%), (0.3%), Jews (0.2%), (0.2%), Armenians (0.2%), (0.2%), Greeks (0.2%) and (0.2%) and Tatars (0.2%). (0.2%).

The industrial regions in the east and The industrial regions in the east and southeast are the most heavily populated, southeast are the most heavily populated, and about 67.2 percent of the population and about 67.2 percent of the population lives in urban areas.lives in urban areas.

Ukraine is considered to be in a Ukraine is considered to be in a demographic crisis due to its high death demographic crisis due to its high death rate and a low birth rate. rate and a low birth rate.

A factor contributing to the relatively high A factor contributing to the relatively high death is a high death is a high mortality rate among among working-age males from preventable working-age males from preventable causes such as causes such as alcohol poisoning and and smoking..

To help mitigate these trends, the To help mitigate these trends, the government continues to increase child government continues to increase child support payments. Thus it provides one-support payments. Thus it provides one-time payments of 12,250time payments of 12,250 h hryvnias for the for the first child, 25,000 hryvnias for the second first child, 25,000 hryvnias for the second and 50,000 hryvnias for the third and and 50,000 hryvnias for the third and fourth, along with monthly payments of fourth, along with monthly payments of 154 hryvnias per child.154 hryvnias per child.

Lilacs in the Central Botanical Garden, with Vydubychi Monastery and the Left Bank of Kiev in the background.

E40, the longest of all European routes, going through Kiev.

General view of the Andriyivskyy Descent with the Castle of Richard Lionheart on the left and the St Andrew's Church in the background.

This ensemble of authentic windmills is the centrepiece of a 1.5 square kilometres (0.58 sq mi) open air Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine

Fire safety is a significant concern as most of the museum's structures are wooden, and many houses have thatched roofs.

View of the historic Old Town of Lviv.

A Lviv tram on a small cobblestone sidestreet in the Old Town.

The Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre, an important cultural centre for residents and visitors.

Lychakivskiy Cemetery, 2007

Kharkiv's Freedom Square.

ReligionReligion The dominant religion in Ukraine is The dominant religion in Ukraine is

Eastern Orthodox Christianity A distant second by the number of the followers A distant second by the number of the followers

is the is the Eastern Rite Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Additionally, there are 863 Additionally, there are 863 Roman Catholic Protestant Christians also form around also form around

2.19 percent of the population.2.19 percent of the population. Other groups include Other groups include Calvinists, , Lutherans, ,

Methodists and and Seventh-day Adventists. . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ((Mormon Church) is also present. Church) is also present.

The ruins of an ancient Greek theatre. Chersonesus, Sevastopol.

Ruins of Panticapaeum. 6th century BC (Kerch)

Yenikale fortress. Built by the Turks in the 18th (Kerch)

The Massandra Palace near Yalta is one of the official residences of Ukraine.

                        

Swallow's Nest, a symbol of Crimea, one of the best-known, romantic castles near Yalta. It was built in 1912 in the Neo-Gothic style by the order of the German Baron Stengel.

The Hansaray, succession home of the Crimean Khans, in Bakhchisaray.

The Greek colony of Chersonesos, Sevastopol.

Genoese fortress of Caffa in Feodosia

View of the Sevastopol port.

Bay of Sudak.

View of Yalta and the surrounding Crimean Mountains, as seen from the "Tsar's Path".

The front façade of the Livadia Palace, located in the town of Livadiya, used for the Yalta Conference during World War II.