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Eastern Europe, bordering the
Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia
in the east
Lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Highest point: Hora Hoverla
2,061 m
Capital: Kiev (Kyyiv)
Religion: Ukrainian Orthodox
- Kiev Patriarchate 19%, Orthodox (no particular jurisdiction) 16%, Ukrainian
Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 9%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6%, Ukrainian
Autocephalous Orthodox 1.7%, Protestant, Jewish, none 38%
Languages Spoken: Ukrainian
(official) 67%, Russian 24%;
small Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities
See also: Languages
spoken in Europe, Languages of
the world
Information & Brief History
Ukraine was the center of the first
Slavic state, Kievan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was
the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine
quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan 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.
The new government presents its citizens with hope that the country may
at last attain true freedom and prosperity.
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Ukraine