Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe, bordered by seven countries and the Black Sea. It has a long Slavic history and was part of the Soviet Union until 1991. Kiev is the capital and a popular tourist destination. Ukrainian is the official language, but many speak Russian. The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 caused health consequences for thousands.
Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe, covering an area of 233,090 square miles (603,700 km²). Situated on the Black Sea, Ukraine also shares borders with seven different countries: Russia and Belarus to the north; Romania and Moldova to the south; and Slovakia, Poland and Hungary to the west. Most of the country is flat, with the exception of the Carpathian Mountains.
Ukraine has a long Slavic history, dating back to 4500 BC Ukraine had its heyday in the 10th century, when it was at the center of an influential empire, Kievan Rus, which stretched as far as Scandinavia.
In recent history, Ukraine became one of the countries to join the Soviet Union, although it remained self-determined to be independent, generating conflicts throughout the reign of the USSR government. Ukraine became independent again in 1991 after a series of popular acts and uprisings declared the country’s commitment to self-government. Ukraine now has an uneasy relationship with Russia, which sometimes results in political strife.
Kiev, the capital of Ukraine and former capital of Kievan Rus’, is one of the oldest cities in Europe and a popular tourist destination for those visiting the area. A mix of Western-style attractions and old-Soviet structures, the city has something for everyone. Kiev is especially popular for its many theaters and museums, along with some great examples of historic churches, such as the Saint Sophia Cathedral. The city has a total population of 2.6 million, which is relatively small when taking into account the country’s total of over 46 million.
While Ukrainian is the country’s official language, over 70% of the population is fluent in Russian, a direct result of the many years of Soviet rule. Surzhyk, a mixture of the two languages, is sometimes used in informal communication in the countryside. The government favors the use of Ukrainian for all official activities and has abolished the teaching of Russian in schools and universities.
Ukraine suffered one of the world’s biggest disasters when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded in 1986. While the details are sketchy, there are at least 4,000 cancer cases directly linked to the accident. Estimates are that over 20,000 people suffered some type of health consequence as a result of the disaster. The plant was officially closed in 2000.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
