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Ukraine is the biggest country in Europe (after Russia). Ukraine is divided into 24 regions (oblasts) and an Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Ukraine has an access to the Black Sea and the Azov Sea and two mountainsides: Carpathians in the West and the Crimean Mountains in the South.

Ukrainian Political System:
Form of Ukrainian government: Constitutional Democracy
Head of State: President
Ukraine Legislative power: Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council)
Ukraine Executive power: Cabinet of Ministers
Ukraine Judicial power: Constitutional Court
Voting qualifications: 18 and older
Political Divisions: 24 oblasts (regions) and 1 autonomous republic (Crimea)

The Ukrainian flag is composed of two equal horizontal bands of azure and golden yellow colours. It represents ripe wheat growing under the blue sky.

GMT + 2 hours

48 000 000 people (EST.)

Ukraine is located in the Eastern Europe at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Ukraine borders on Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus and Russia. Having the total area of 604.000 Esq., Ukraine is one of the biggest countries of Europe.

The country is subdivided into 24 regions (oblasts) and the Crimea - autonomous republic.

The capital is Kyiv (Kiev in Russian transliterations).

The climate is moderately continental and comparatively dry with more than 290 sunny days in the year in the South Ukraine (Black Sea coast, Crimea).

Average winter temperature:
from -8° to -15° C (between +17.6° F and +5° F)
In Ukrainian Southern regions the winter temperature hovers around freezing.
Falling snow and -10° C (+14° F) is a really rare occurrence, which is usually replaced by a thaw.

Average summer temperature:  kiev, ukraine, kiev ukraine,kiev ukraine
from +18° to +25° C (between +64, 4° and +77° F), though in daytime can get up over +35° C (+95° F).

Ukraine is located in East-Europe plain. The most part of Ukraine is in low-lying lands, fertile plains (steppes) with two highland areas: in the South -Crimean Mountains (the highest point: Ramantkosh, 1,545 meters) and in the West - Carpathian Mountains (the highest point: Hoverla, 2,061 meters).

Southern coast of Ukraine is washed by the Black and Azov Sea, coast line is 2,782 km. The majority of Ukrainian rivers flow into the Black Sea, among the biggest are the Dnipro, the Dnister, the Danube, the Desna, the Pivdeniy (Southern) Booh.

Ukrainian natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulphur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber and arable land.

State language is Ukrainian. The majority of Ukrainians are bilingual and speak Russian as well. Among foreign languages the most popular is English.

It is not advisable to carry large sums of money with you, when entering Ukraine. Traveller checks are easy to change in most banks. Only Visa & MasterCard are generally accepted as credit cards. Be sure to have undamaged banknotes, otherwise exchange points will refuse your order In stores and restaurants you can only pay in the local currency. 1$USA=5.1Hrivna.

You would be impressed with quantity and quality of restaurants here - national Ukrainian cuisine, European entrees, Italian Pizzerias or just fast food. Most restaurants have affordable prices even for a traveller of modest means.

Ukrainian cuisine restaurants become more and more popular with traditional Borsch – red and green, several kinds of Ukrainian Vareniki (dumplings) stuffed with potatoes, mushrooms, all kinds of meat or cheese, Golubtsy (cabbage rolls) - cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, meat, carrot and fried onion, usually served with sour-cream, jellied meat with horse-radish, suckling pig, stuffed fish and plenty of other Ukrainian specialties. Ukrainian cuisine is rich of natural components grown in the fertile Ukrainian soil. Tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet onion, lettuce, peaches, watermelons, apples, grapes - all vegetable and fruits produced in Ukraine taste marvellous.

The standard electric supply in Ukraine is 220V/ 50 Hz. Ukrainian plugs are of the same kind as in the most European countries – two round pins. If electric appliances you bring have different specs make sure to take a converter and/or plug adapter. To save electric power, in the last week of March all watches in Ukraine are set an hour forward and one hour backward in the last week of October.

Most Ukrainian cities have extensive public transport system which operates from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Buses, trams and trolleys are rather slow, but it is a cheap way to travel within cities. Prices range from 50 kopecks to 2 hryvnas.

Taxi is comparatively cheap for Ukrainian/Russian speaking passengers. Probably everywhere situation with taxi is like this – if one speaks a foreign language price for a taxi goes up. There are numerous taxi services, orders are taken via phone. A taxi or a gypsy cab can be hired right in the street simply by putting out your hand. Services of gypsy cabs are less expensive but are not recommended from the safety point of view. However, if you wish to use a gypsy cab make sure there is nobody else inside but the driver and negotiate the price before you get in the car.

Ukraine is famous for its high-quality textile, as well as food products and drinks: delicatessen, caviar, confectionery, chocolate, juices, beer, vodka, Crimea wines and plenty of others. Shops and markets trade via Ukrainian currency - Hryvna only. However, many shops accept Visa, MasterCard/Euro Card. You can identify such places by credit cards signs on the entrance door.

Buying a souvenir, a painting, a sculpture or other handcrafts it is a good idea to get a certificate identifying historical value (its absence) of the purchased good. This document might be useful when going through the customs upon departure from Ukraine.

State and public offices are opened from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday till Friday, with a lunch hour from 1p.m. as a rule.

The majority of stores are opened from 10a.m. to 7p.m. and closed only on Sunday. A lunch hour is usually either from 1 to 2p.m. or from 2 to 3p.m.

As for food stores, many of them work 24 hours 7 days a week, a few – from 8a.m. to 8p.m.Usual work time for cafes and restaurants is from 10-12 a.m. until a last customer leaves.

Most banks are open to public from 9a.m. to 3p.m with a lunch hour from 1 to 2 p.m. and are closed on Saturday, Sunday.