"Ukraina" redirects here. For other uses see Ukraina (disambiguation). This article is about the country. For other uses see Ukraine (disambiguation). Ukraine Flag Coat of arms Anthem:    (Ukrainian)1 Shche ne vmerla Ukrayiny  (transliteration) Ukraine's glory has not perished Location of  Ukraine  (green) on the European continent  (dark grey)    Legend Capital (and largest city) Kiev 5027N 3030E / 50.45N 30.5E / 50.45; 30.5 Official language(s) Ukrainian Recognised regional languages Russian Crimean Tatar Ethnic groups  77.8 % Ukrainian 17.3 % Russian   4.9 % others2 Demonym Ukrainian Government Unitary semi-presidential republic  -  President Viktor Yanukovych  -  Prime Minister Mykola Azarov  -  Speaker of Parliament Volodymyr Lytvyn Legislature Verkhovna Rada Formation  -  Kievan Rus' 882   -  Kingdom of GaliciaVolhynia 1199   -  Cossack Hetmanate 1649   -  Ukrainian National Republic November 7 1917   -  West Ukrainian National Republic November 1 1918   -  Ukrainian SSR December 30 1922   -  Second Declaration of Independence June 30 1941   -  Independence from the Soviet Union August 24 19911  Area  -  Total 603628 km2 (45th) 233090 sq mi   -  Water (%) 7% Population  -  2010 estimate 458880003 (28th)  -  2001 census 48457102   -  Density 77/km2 (115th) 199/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2010 estimate  -  Total $302.679 billion 4   -  Per capita $6656 4  GDP (nominal) 2010 estimate  -  Total $136.561 billion4   -  Per capita $30034  Gini (2006) 315 (medium)  HDI (2010) 0.7106 (high) (69th) Currency Hryvnia (UAH) Time zone EET (UTC+2)  -  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3) Drives on the right ISO 3166 code UA Internet TLD .ua . Calling code 380 1 An independence referendum was held on December 1 after which Ukrainian independence was finalized on December 26. The current constitution was adopted on June 28 1996.

Ukraine (i /jukren/ ew-krayn; Ukrainian: transliterated: Ukrayina ukrjin; Russian: ; Crimean Tatar: Ukraina) is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603628 km making it the largest contiguous country on the European continent.7 Ukraine borders the Russian Federation to the east and northeast Belarus to the northwest Poland Slovakia and Hungary to the west Romania and Moldova to the southwest and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast respectively.

Established by the Varangians in the 9th century the medieval state of Kievan Rus' the first East Slavic state emerged as a powerful nation in the middle ages until it disintegrated in the 12th century. By the middle of the 14th century Ukrainian territories were under the rule of three external powersthe Golden Horde the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland.8 After the Great Northern War (17001721) Ukraine was divided between a number of regional powers and by the 19th century the largest part of Ukraine was integrated into the Russian Empire with the rest under Austro-Hungarian control. After a chaotic period of incessant warfare and several attempts at independence (191721) following World War I and the Russian Civil War it emerged on December 30 1922 as one of the founding republics of the Soviet Union. The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic's territory was enlarged westward shortly before and after World War II and southwards in 1954 with the Crimea transfer. In 1945 the Ukrainian SSR became one of the founding members of the United Nations.9

Ukraine became independent again after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Herewith began a period of transition to a market economy in which Ukraine was stricken with an eight-year recession.10 Since then though the economy experienced a high increase in GDP growth. Ukraine was caught up in the worldwide economic crisis in 2008 and the economy plunged. GDP fell 20% from spring 2008 to spring 2009 then leveled off as analysts compared the magnitude of the downturn to the worst years of economic depression during the early 1990s.11

Ukraine is a unitary state composed of 24 oblasts (provinces) one autonomous republic (Crimea) and two cities with special status: Kiev its capital and largest city and Sevastopol which houses the Russian Black Sea Fleet under a leasing agreement. Ukraine is a republic under a semi-presidential system with separate legislative executive and judicial branches. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union Ukraine continues to maintain the second largest military in Europe after that of Russia. The country is home to 46 million people 77.8 percent of whom are ethnic Ukrainians with sizable minorities of Russians (17%) Belarusians and Romanians. The Ukrainian language is the official language in Ukraine. Russian is also widely spoken. The dominant religion in the country is Eastern Orthodox Christianity which has heavily influenced Ukrainian architecture literature and music. Contents 1 History 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Early history 1.3 Golden Age of Kiev 1.4 Foreign domination 1.5 The Ruin 1.6 19th century World War I and revolution 1.7 Inter-war Polish Ukraine 1.8 Inter-war Soviet Ukraine 1.9 World War II 1.10 PostWorld War II 1.11 Independence 1.12 Historical maps of Ukraine 2 Geography 2.1 Regionalism 2.2 Biodiversity 2.3 Climate 3 Politics 3.1 The Constitution of Ukraine 3.2 The President Parliament and the Government of Ukraine 3.3 Courts and law enforcement 3.4 Foreign relations 3.5 Administrative divisions 3.6 Military 4 Economy 4.1 Corporations 4.2 Tourism 4.3 Energy 4.4 Transportation 5 Demographics 5.1 Demographic crisis 5.2 Fertility and natalist policies 5.3 Urbanization 5.4 Religion 5.5 Famines and migration 5.6 Health 5.7 Education 6 Culture 6.1 Language 6.2 Literature 6.3 Architecture 6.4 Music 6.5 Weaving 6.6 Sport 6.7 Cuisine 7 Notes 8 Print sources 8.1 Reference books 8.2 Recent (since 1991) 8.3 Historical 9 References 10 External links 11 See also History Main article: History of Ukraine Etymology Main article: Name of Ukraine

During the period of Romantic nationalism it was popular to trace the origin of the country's name back to an ancient ethnonym. After this pseudo-historical view was discarded two main versions of the etymology emerged. Naturally the versions have different implications from a nationalist point of view and are also based on different possible or certain meanings of the lexeme ukraina as it occurs in historical sources. According to one view the term is taken to mean 'borderland' or simply 'land' (also 'in-land' or 'home-land' 'principality') whilst in the other it is said to be derived from the old slavic word 'kraina' meaning 'country' and therefore according to this understanding of the term 'u-kraina' means 'in-country' or 'my-country'.12 Until the end of the 20th century it was common practice to refer to Ukraine as "the Ukraine" in English13 and such usage is still common14 although not considered to be appropriate.15 Early history

Human settlement in the territory of Ukraine dates back to at least 4500 BCE when the Neolithic Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture flourished in a wide area that included parts of modern Ukraine including Trypillia and the entire Dnieper-Dniester region. During the Iron Age the land was inhabited by Cimmerians Scythians and Sarmatians.16 Between 700 BC and 200 BC it was part of the Scythian Kingdom or Scythia.

Later colonies of Ancient Greece Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire such as Tyras Olbia and Hermonassa were founded beginning in the 6th century BC on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea and thrived well into the 6th century AD. The Goths stayed in the area but came under the sway of the Huns from the 370s AD. In the 7th century AD the territory of eastern Ukraine was the center of Old Great Bulgaria. At the end of the century the majority of Bulgar tribes migrated in different directions and the land fell into the Khazars' hands. Golden Age of Kiev Main article: Kievan Rus' Map of the Kievan Rus' in the 11th century. During the Golden Age of Kiev the lands of Rus' covered modern western central and northern Ukraine Belarus and western Russia. But it did not include modern eastern and southern Ukraine which were inhabited by nomads and had a different history.

The Kievan Rus' were founded by the Rus' people Varangians who first settled around Ladoga and Novgorod then gradually moved southward eventually reaching Kiev about 880. The Kievan Rus' included the western part of modern Ukraine Belarus with larger part of it situated on the territory of modern Russia. According to the Primary Chronicle the Rus' elite initially consisted of Varangians from Scandinavia. The Baptism of Grand Prince Vladimir led to the adoption of Christianity in Kievan Rus'

During the 10th and 11th centuries it became the largest and most powerful state in Europe.5 In the following centuries it laid the foundation for the national identity of Ukrainians and Russians.17 Kiev the capital of modern Ukraine became the most important city of the Rus'. The Varangians later became assimilated into the local Slavic population and became part of the Rus' first dynasty the Rurik Dynasty.17 Kievan Rus' was composed of several principalities ruled by the interrelated Rurikid Princes. The seat of Kiev the most prestigious and influential of all principalities became the subject of many rivalries among Rurikids as the most valuable prize in their quest for power. The Golden Age of Kievan Rus' began with the reign of Vladimir the Great (9801015) who turned Rus' toward Byzantine Christianity. During the reign of his son Yaroslav the Wise (10191054) Kievan Rus' reached the zenith of its cultural development and military power.17 This was followed by the state's increasing fragmentation as the relative importance of regional powers rose again. After a final resurgence under the rule of Vladimir Monomakh (11131125) and his son Mstislav (11251132) Kievan Rus' finally disintegrated into separate principalities following Mstislav's death. In the 11th and 12th centuries constant incursions by nomadic Turkic tribes such as the Pechenegs and the Kipchaks caused a massive migration of Slavic populations to the safer heavily forested regions of the north.18 The 13th century Mongol invasion devastated Kievan Rus'. Kiev was totally destroyed in 1240.19 On the Ukrainian territory the state of Kievan Rus' was succeeded by the principalities of Halych and Volodymyr-Volynskyi which were merged into the state of Galicia-Volhynia. Foreign domination See also: Grand Duchy of Lithuania Crown of the Polish Kingdom Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russian Empire In the centuries following the Mongol invasion much of Ukraine was controlled by Lithuania (from the 14th century on) and since the Union of Lublin (1569) by Poland as seen at this outline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as of 1619. "Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of the Ottoman Empire." Painted by Ilya Repin from 1880 to 1891. In the mid-14th century Galicia-Volhynia was subjugated by Casimir III of Poland while the heartland of Rus' including Kiev fell under the Gediminas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania after the Battle on the Irpen' River. Following the 1386 Union of Krevo a dynastic union between Poland and Lithuania much of what became northern Ukraine was controlled by the increasingly Slavicised local Lithuanian nobles as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. By 1569 the Union of Lublin formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and a significant part of Ukrainian territory was moved from Lithuanian rule to the Polish administration as it was transferred to the Polish Crown. Under the cultural and political pressure of Polonisation much upper class of Polish Ruthenia (another term for the land of Rus) converted to Catholicism and became indistinguishable from the Polish nobility.20 Thus the commoners deprived of their native protectors among Rus nobility turned for protection to the Cossacks who remained fiercely Orthodox at all times and tended to turn to violence against those they perceived as enemies particularly the Polish state and its representatives.21 In the mid-17th century a Cossack military quasi-state the Zaporozhian Host was established by the Dnieper Cossacks and the Ruthenian peasants fleeing Polish serfdom.22 Poland had little real control of this land yet they found the Cossacks to be a useful fighting force against the Turks and Tatars23 and at times the two allied in military campaigns.24 However the continued enserfment of peasantry by the Polish nobility emphasized by the Commonwealth's fierce exploitation of the workforce and most importantly the suppression of the Orthodox Church pushed the allegiances of Cossacks away from Poland.23 The Khanate of Crimea was one of the strongest powers in Eastern Europe until the end of the 17th century. Their aspiration was to have representation in Polish Sejm recognition of Orthodox traditions and the gradual expansion of the Cossack Registry. These were all vehemently denied by the Polish nobility. The Cossacks eventually turned for protection to Orthodox Russia a decision which would later lead towards the downfall of the Polish-Lithuanian state22 and the preservation of the Orthodox Church and in Ukraine.25 Bohdan Khmelnytsky "Hetman of Ukraine"; establish an independent Ukraine after the uprising in 1648 against Poland. In 1648 Bohdan Khmelnytsky led the largest of the Cossack uprisings against the Commonwealth and the Polish king John II Casimir.26 Left-bank Ukraine was eventually integrated into Muscovite Russia as the Cossack Hetmanate following the 1654 Treaty of Pereyaslav and the ensuing Russo-Polish War. After the partitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century by Prussia Habsburg Austria and Russia Western Ukrainian Galicia was taken over by Austria while the rest of Ukraine was progressively incorporated into the Russian Empire. The Crimean Khanate was one of the strongest powers in Eastern Europe until the 18th century; at one point it even succeeded under the Crimean khan Devlet I Giray to devastate Moscow. The Russian population of the borderlands suffered annual Tatar invasions and tens of thousands of soldiers were required to protect the southern boundaries. From the beginning of the 16th century until the end of 17th century the Crimean Tatar raider bands made almost annual forays into agricultural Slavic lands searching for captives to sell as slaves.27 According to Orest Subtelny "...from 1450 to 1586 eighty-six Tatar raids were recorded and from 1600 to 1647 seventy."28 In 1688 Tatars captured a record number of 60000 Ukrainians.29 This was a heavy burden for the state and slowed its social and economic development. Since Crimean Tatars did not permit settlement of Russians to southern regions where the soil is better and the season is long enough Muscovy had to depend on poorer regions and labour intensive agriculture. Poland-Lithuania Moldavia and Wallachia were also subjected to extensive slave raiding. The Crimean Khanate was conquered by the Russian Empire in 1778 bringing an end to Mongol and Tatar rule in Europe. The Ruin In 16571686 came "The Ruin" a devastating 30-year war amongst Russia Poland Turks and Cossacks for control of Ukraine. For three years Khmelnytsky's armies controlled present-day western and central Ukraine but deserted by his Tatar allies he suffered a crushing defeat at Berestechko and turned to the Russian Czar for help. The Battle of Poltava in 1709 as depicted by Denis Martens the Younger 1726 In 1654 Khmelnytsky signed the Treaty of Pereiaslav forming a military and political alliance with Russia that acknowledged loyalty to the Czar. The wars escalated in intensity with hundreds of thousands of deaths. Defeat came in 1686 as the "Eternal Peace" between Russia and Poland gave Kiev and the Cossack lands east of the Dnieper over to Russian rule and the Ukrainian lands west of the Dnieper to Poland. In 1709 Cossack Hetman Ivan Mazepa (16871709) sided with Sweden against Russia in the Great Northern War (17001721). Mazepa a member of the Cossack nobility received an excellent education abroad and proved to be a brilliant political and military leader enjoying good relations with the Romanov dynasty. After Peter the Great became czar Mazepa as hetman gave him more than twenty years of loyal military and diplomatic service and was well rewarded. Kirill Razumovsky the last Hetman of left and right-bank Ukraine 17501764 was in May 1763 the first person to ever declare Ukraine to be a sovereign state Eventually Peter recognized that in order to consolidate and modernize Russia's political and economic power it was necessary to do away with the hetmanate and Ukrainian and Cossack aspirations to autonomy. Mazepa accepted Polish invitations to join the Poles and Swedes against Russia. The move was disastrous for the hetmanate Ukrainian autonomy and Mazepa. He died in exile after fleeing from the Battle of Poltava (1709) where the Swedes and their Cossack allies suffered a catastrophic defeat at the hands of Peter's Russian forces The hetmanate was abolished in 1764; the Zaporizhska Sich abolished in 1775 as centralized Russian control became the norm. With the partitioning of Poland in 1772 1793 and 1795 the Ukrainian lands west of the Dnieper were divided between Russia and Austria. From 1737 to 1834 expansion into the northern Black Sea littoral and the eastern Danube valley was a cornerstone of Russian foreign policy. Lithuanians and Poles controlled vast estates in Ukraine and were a law unto themselves. Judicial rulings from Cracow were routinely flouted. Heavily taxed peasants were practically tied to the land as serfs. Occasionally the landowners battled each other using armies of Ukrainian peasants. The Poles and Lithuanians were Roman Catholics and tried with some success to convert the Orthodox lesser nobility. In 1596 they set up the "Greek-Catholic" or Uniate Church under the authority of the Pope but using Eastern rituals; it dominates western Ukraine to this day. Tensions between the Uniates and the Orthodox were never resolved and the religious differentiation left the Ukrainian Orthodox peasants leaderless as they were reluctant to follow the Ukrainian nobles.30 The Cossack-led uprising called Koliivshchyna that erupted in the Ukrainian borderlands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1768 involved ethnicity as one root cause of Ukrainian violence that killed tens of thousands of Poles and Jews. Religious warfare also broke out between Ukrainian groups. Increasing conflict between Uniate and Orthodox parishes along the newly reinforced Polish-Russian border on the Dnepr River in the time of Catherine II set the stage for the uprising. As Uniate religious practices had become more Latinized Orthodoxy in this region drew even closer into dependence on the Russian Orthodox Church. Confessional tensions also reflected opposing Polish and Russian political allegiances.31 After the annexation of the Crimean Khanate in 1783 the region was settled by migrants from other parts of Ukraine.32 Despite the promises of Ukrainian autonomy given by the Treaty of Pereyaslav the Ukrainian elite and the Cossacks never received the freedoms and the autonomy they were expecting from Imperial Russia. However within the Empire Ukrainians rose to the highest offices of Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church.a At a later period the tsarist regime carried the policy of Russification of Ukrainian lands suppressing the use of the Ukrainian language in print and in public.33 19th century World War I and revolution Symon Petliura led Ukraine's struggle for independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917 he is now recognised as having been the third President of independent Ukraine Main article: Ukrainian War of Independence See also: Ukraine in World War I Russian Civil War and Ukraine after the Russian Revolution In the 19th century Ukraine was a rural area largely ignored by Russia and Austria. With growing urbanization and modernization and a cultural trend toward nationalism inspired by romanticism a Ukrainian intelligentsia committed to national rebirth and social justice emerged. The serf-turned-national-poet Taras Shevchenko (18141861) and the political theorist Mykhailo Drahomanov (18411895) led the growing nationalist movement. Ukrainian People's Republic (19171920) After Ukraine and Crimea became aligned with the Russian Empire Russo-Turkish War (17681774) significant German immigration German Russian Colonies occurred after it was encouraged by Catherine the Great and her immediate successors. Immigration was encouraged into Ukraine and especially the Crimea by Catherine in her proclamation of open migration to the Russian Empire. Immigration was encouraged for Germans and other Europeans to thin the previously dominant Turk population and encourage more complete use of farmland. Beginning in the 19th century there was a continuous migration from Ukraine to settle the distant areas of the Russian Empire. According to the 1897 census there were 223000 ethnic Ukrainians in Siberia and 102000 in Central Asia.34 Between 1896 and 1906 after the construction of the trans-Siberian railway a total of 1.6 million Ukrainians migrated eastward.35 Nationalist and socialist parties developed in the late 19th century. Austrian Galicia which enjoyed substantial political freedom under the relatively lenient rule of the Habsburgs became the center of the nationalist movement. Ukraine entered World War I on the side of both the Central Powers under Austria and the Triple Entente under Russia. 3.5 million Ukrainians fought with the Imperial Russian Army while 250000 fought for the Austro-Hungarian Army.36 During the war Austro-Hungarian authorities established the Ukrainian Legion to fight against the Russian Empire. This legion was the foundation of the Ukrainian Galician Army that fought against the Bolsheviks and Poles in the post World War I period (191923). Those suspected of the Russophile sentiments in Austria were treated harshly. Up to 5000 supporters of the Russian Empire from Galicia were detained and placed in Austrian internment camps in Talerhof Styria and in a fortress at Terezn (now in the Czech Republic).37 Soldiers of the Ukrainian People's Army listening to a blind kobzar bandura player With the collapse of the Russian and Austrian empires following World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917 a Ukrainian national movement for self-determination reemerged. During 191720 several separate Ukrainian states briefly emerged: the Ukrainian People's Republic the Hetmanate the Directorate and the pro-Bolshevik Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (or Soviet Ukraine) successively established territories in the former Russian Empire; while the West Ukrainian People's Republic and the Hutsul Republic emerged briefly in the former Austro-Hungarian territory. In the midst of Civil War an anarchist movement called the Black Army led by Nestor Makhno also developed in Southern Ukraine.38 However with Western Ukraine's defeat in the Polish-Ukrainian War followed by the failure of the further Polish offensive that was repelled by the Bolsheviks. According to the Peace of Riga concluded between the Soviets and Poland western Ukraine was officially incorporated into Poland who in turn recognised the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in March 1919 that later became a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the Soviet Union in December 1922.39 Inter-war Polish Ukraine The war in Ukraine continued for another two years; by 1921 however most of Ukraine had been taken over by the Soviet Union while Galicia and Volhynia were incorporated into independent Poland. A powerful underground Ukrainian nationalist movement rose in Poland in the 1920s and 1930s led by the Ukrainian Military Organization and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). The movement attracted a militant following among students and harassed the Polish authorities. Legal Ukrainian parties the Ukrainian Catholic Church an active press and a business sector also flourished in Poland. Economic conditions improved in the 1920s but the region suffered from the Great Depression in the 1930s. Inter-war Soviet Ukraine Soviet recruitment poster featuring the Ukrainisation theme. The text reads: "Son! Enroll in the school of Red commanders and the defence of Soviet Ukraine will be ensured." The civil war that eventually brought the Soviet government to power devastated Ukraine. It left over 1.5 million people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless. In addition Soviet Ukraine had to face the famine of 1921.40 Seeing the exhausted society the Soviet government remained very flexible during the 1920s.41 Thus under the aegis of the Ukrainization policy pursued by the national Communist leadership of Mykola Skrypnyk Soviet leadership encouraged a national renaissance in literature and the arts. The Ukrainian culture and language enjoyed a revival as Ukrainisation became a local implementation of the Soviet-wide policy of Korenisation (literally indigenisation) policy.39 The Bolsheviks were also committed to introducing universal health care education and social-security benefits as well as the right to work and housing.42 Women's rights were greatly increased through new laws aimed to wipe away centuries-old inequalities.43 Most of these policies were sharply reversed by the early 1930s after Joseph Stalin gradually consolidated power to become the de facto communist party leader. Two future leaders of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev (pre-war CPSU chief in Ukraine) and Leonid Brezhnev (an engineer from Dniprodzerzhynsk) depicted together The communists gave a privileged position to manual labor the largest class in the cities where Russians dominated. The typical worker was more attached to class identity than to ethnicity. Although there were incidents of ethnic friction among workers (in addition to Ukrainians and Russians there were significant numbers of Poles Germans Jews and others in the Ukrainian workforce) industrial laborers had already adopted Russian culture and language to a significant extent. Workers whose ethnicity was Ukrainian were not attracted to campaigns of Ukrainianization or de-Russification in meaningful numbers but remained loyal members of the Soviet working class. There was no significant antagonism between workers identifying themselves as Ukrainian or Russian. Starting from the late 1920s Ukraine was involved in the Soviet industrialisation and the republic's industrial output quadrupled during the 1930s.39 The industrialisation had a heavy cost for the peasantry demographically a backbone of the Ukrainian nation. To satisfy the state's need for increased food supplies and to finance industrialisation Stalin instituted a program of collectivisation of agriculture as the state combined the peasants' lands and animals into collective farms and enforced the policies by the regular troops and secret police.39 Those who resisted were arrested and deported and the increased production quotas were placed on the peasantry. The collectivisation had a devastating effect on agricultural productivity. As the members of the collective farms were not allowed to receive any grain until sometimes unrealistic quotas were met starvation in the Soviet Union became more common. In 193233 millions starved to death in a famine known as Holodomor or "Great Famine".c Scholars are divided as to whether this famine fits the definition of genocide but the Ukrainian parliament and other countries recognise it as such.c DniproHES hydroelectric power plant under construction circa 1930 The famine claimed up to 10 million of Ukrainian lives as peasants' food stocks were forcibly removed by the Soviet government by the NKVD secret police. Some explanations for the causes for the excess deaths in rural areas of Ukraine and Kazakhstan during 193134 has been given by dividing the causes into three groups: objective non-policy-related factors like the drought of 1931 and poor weather in 1932; inadvertent result of policies with other objectives like rapid industrialization socialization of livestock and neglected crop rotation patterns; and deaths caused intentionally by a starvation policy. The Communist leadership perceived famine not as a humanitarian catastrophe but as a means of class struggle and used starvation as a punishment tool to force peasants into collective farms.44 It was largely the same groups of individuals who were responsible for the mass killing operations during the civil war collectivisation and the Great Terror. These groups were associated with Efim Georgievich Evdokimov (18911939) and operated in Ukraine during the civil war in the North Caucasus in the 1920s and in the Secret Operational Division within General State Political Administration (OGPU) in 192931. Evdokimov transferred into Communist Party administration in 1934 when he became Party secretary for North Caucasus Krai. But he appears to have continued advising Joseph Stalin and Nikolai Yezhov on security matters and the latter relied on Evdokimov's former colleagues to carry out the mass killing operations that are known as the Great Terror in 193738.45 With Joseph Stalin's change of course in the late 1920s however Moscow's toleration of Ukrainian national identity came to an end. Systematic state terror of the 1930s destroyed Ukraine's writers artists and intellectuals; the Communist Party of Ukraine was purged of its "nationalist deviationists". Two waves of Stalinist political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union (192934 and 193638) resulted in the killing of some 681692 people; this included four-fifths of the Ukrainian cultural elite and three quarters of all the Red Army's higher-ranking officers.39b World War II See also: Eastern Front (World War II) Kiev suffered significant damage during World War II and was occupied by Nazi Germany from 19 September 1941 until 6 November 1943 Following the Invasion of Poland in September 1939 German and Soviet troops divided the territory of Poland. Thus Eastern Galicia and Volhynia with their Ukrainian population became reunited with the rest of Ukraine. The unification that Ukraine achieved for the first time in its history was a decisive event in the history of the nation.4647 After France surrendered to Germany Romania ceded Bessarabia and northern Bukovina to Soviet demands. The Ukrainian SSR incorporated northern and southern districts of Bessarabia the northern Bukovina and the Soviet-occupied Hertsa region. But it ceded the western part of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic to the newly created Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. All these territorial gains were internationally recognised by the Paris peace treaties of 1947. Soviet soldiers preparing rafts to cross the Dnieper (the sign reads "Give me Kiev!") in the 1943 Battle of the Dnieper German armies invaded the Soviet Union on June 22 1941 thereby initiating four straight years of incessant total war. The Axis allies initially advanced against desperate but unsuccessful efforts of the Red Army. In the encirclement battle of Kiev the city was acclaimed as a "Hero City" for the fierce resistance by the Red Army and by the local population. More than 600000 Soviet soldiers (or one quarter of the Western Front) were killed or taken captive there.4849 Although the wide majority of Ukrainians fought alongside the Red Army and Soviet resistance50 some elements of the Ukrainian nationalist underground created an anti-Soviet nationalist formation in Galicia the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (1942) that at times engaged the Nazi forces and continued to fight the USSR in the years after the war. Using guerilla war tactics the insurgents targeted for assassination and terror those who they perceived as representing or cooperating at any level with the Soviet state.5152 Museum of the Great Patriotic War Kiev At the same time another nationalist movement fought alongside the Nazis. In total the number of ethnic Ukrainians that fought in the ranks of the Soviet Army is estimated from 4.5 million50 to 7 million.53d The pro-Soviet partisan guerilla resistance in Ukraine is estimated to number at 47800 from the start of occupation to 500000 at its peak in 1944; with about 50 percent of them being ethnic Ukrainians.54 Generally the Ukrainian Insurgent Army's figures are very undependable ranging anywhere from 15000 to as much as 100000 fighters.5556 Initially the Germans were even received as liberators by some western Ukrainians who had only joined the Soviet Union in 1939. However brutal German rule in the occupied territories eventually turned its supporters against the occupation. Nazi administrators of conquered Soviet territories made little attempt to exploit the population of Ukrainian territories' dissatisfaction with Stalinist political and economic policies.57 Instead the Nazis preserved the collective-farm system systematically carried out genocidal policies against Jews deported others to work in Germany and began a systematic depopulation of Ukraine to prepare it for German colonisation57 which included a food blockade on Kiev.58 The vast majority of the fighting in World War II took place on the Eastern Front59 and Nazi Germany suffered 93 percent of all its casualties there.60 The total losses inflicted upon the Ukrainian population during the war are estimated between five and eight million6162 including over half a million Jews killed by the Einsatzgruppen sometimes with the help of local collaborators. Of the estimated 8.7 million Soviet troops who fell in battle against the Nazis636465 1.4 million were ethnic Ukrainians.6365de So to this day Victory Day is celebrated as one of ten Ukrainian national holidays.66 PostWorld War II See also: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic History of the Soviet Union (19531985) and History of the Soviet Union (19851991) Sergey Korolyov the head Soviet rocket engineer and designer during the Space Race. The republic was heavily damaged by the war and it required significant efforts to recover. More than 700 cities and towns and 28000 villages were destroyed.67 The situation was worsened by a famine in 194647 caused by the drought and the infrastructure breakdown that took away tens of thousands of lives.68 In 1945 the Ukrainian SSR became one of the founding members of the United Nations organization.9 First Soviet computer MESM was built in Kiev Institute of Electrotechnology and became operational in 1950. According to statistics as of 1 January 1953 Ukrainians were second only to Russians among adult "special deportees" comprising 20% of the total. Apart from Ukrainians over 450000 ethnic Germans from Ukraine and more than 200000 Crimean Tatars were victims of forced deportations.69 Following the death of Stalin in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev became the new leader of the USSR. Being the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Ukrainian SSR in 193849 Khrushchev was intimately familiar with the republic and after taking power union-wide he began to emphasize the friendship between the Ukrainian and Russian nations. In 1954 the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Pereyaslav was widely celebrated and in particular Crimea was transferred from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR.70 Central Kharkiv during the late Soviet era (circa. 1980) Already by 1950 the republic fully surpassed pre-war levels of industry and production.71 During the 19461950 five year plan nearly 20 percent of the Soviet budget was invested in Soviet Ukraine a five percent increase from prewar plans. As a result the Ukrainian workforce rose 33.2 percent from 1940 to 1955 while industrial output grew 2.2 times in that same period. Soviet Ukraine soon became a European leader in industrial production.72 It also became an important center of the Soviet arms industry and high-tech research. Such an important role resulted in a major influence of the local elite. Many members of the Soviet leadership came from Ukraine most notably Leonid Brezhnev who would later oust Khrushchev and become the Soviet leader from 1964 to 1982 as well as many prominent Soviet sportspeople scientists and artists. On April 26 1986 a reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded resulting in the Chernobyl disaster the worst nuclear reactor accident in history.73 At the time of the accident seven million people lived in the contaminated territories including 2.2 million in Ukraine.74 After the accident a new city Slavutych was built outside the exclusion zone to house and support the employees of the plant which was decommissioned in 2000. A report prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency and World Health Organization attributed 56 direct deaths to the accident and estimated that there may have been 4000 extra cancer deaths.75 Independence The first launch of a Ukrainian rocket at the Sea Launch complex On July 16 1990 the new parliament adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine.76 The declaration established the principles of the self-determination of the Ukrainian nation its democracy political and economic independence and the priority of Ukrainian law on the Ukrainian territory over Soviet law. A month earlier a similar declaration was adopted by the parliament of the Russian SFSR. This started a period of confrontation between the central Soviet and new republican authorities. In August 1991 a conservative faction among the Communist leaders of the Soviet Union attempted a coup to remove Mikhail Gorbachev and to restore the Communist party's power. After the attempt failed on August 24 1991 the Ukrainian parliament adopted the Act of Independence in which the parliament declared Ukraine as an independent democratic state.77 A referendum and the first presidential elections took place on December 1 1991. That day more than 90 percent of the Ukrainian people expressed their support for the Act of Independence and they elected the chairman of the parliament Leonid Kravchuk to serve as the first President of the country. At the meeting in Brest Belarus on December 8 followed by Alma Ata meeting on December 21 the leaders of Belarus Russia and Ukraine formally dissolved the Soviet Union and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).78 Orange-clad demonstrators gather in the Independence Square in Kiev on November 22 2004 Although the idea of an independent Ukrainian nation had previously not existed in the 20th century in the minds of international policy makers79 Ukraine was initially viewed as a republic with favorable economic conditions in comparison to the other regions of the Soviet Union.80 However the country experienced deeper economic slowdown than some of the other former Soviet Republics. During the recession Ukraine lost 60 percent of its GDP from 1991 to 19998182 and suffered five-digit inflation rates.83 Dissatisfied with the economic conditions as well as the amounts of crime and corruption Ukrainians protested and organised strikes.84 In the modern era Ukraine has become a much more democratic country The Ukrainian economy stabilized by the end of the 1990s. A new currency the hryvnia was introduced in 1996. Since 2000 the country has enjoyed steady real economic growth averaging about seven percent annually.1085 A new Constitution of Ukraine was adopted under second President Leonid Kuchma in 1996 which turned Ukraine into a semi-presidential republic and established a stable political system. Kuchma was however criticized by opponents for corruption electoral fraud discouraging free speech and concentrating too much of power in his office.86 He also repeatedly transferred public property into the hands of loyal oligarchs. In 2004 Viktor Yanukovych then Prime Minister was declared the winner of the presidential elections which had been largely rigged as the Supreme Court of Ukraine later ruled.87 The results caused a public outcry in support of the opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko who challenged the outcome of the elections. This resulted in the peaceful Orange Revolution bringing Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko to power while casting Viktor Yanukovych in opposition.88 Yanukovych returned to a position of power in 2006 when he became Prime Minister in the Alliance of National Unity89 until snap elections in September 2007 made Tymoshenko Prime Minister again.90 Yanukovych was elected President in 2010.91 Conflicts with Russia over the price of natural gas briefly stopped all gas supplies to Ukraine in 2006 and again in 2009 leading to gas shortages in several other European countries.9293 Historical maps of Ukraine The Ukrainian state has occupied a number of territories since its initial foundation. Most of these territories have been located within Eastern Europe however as depicted in the maps in the gallery below has also at times extended well into Eurasia and South-Eastern Europe. At times there has also been a distinct lack of a Ukrainian state as its territories were on a number of occasions annexed by its more powerful neighbours. Historical Maps of Ukraine and its Predecessors Territory of Slavic peoples (6th century).   Early formation of Kievan Rus' (862-912): Territory of rulers Askold Dyr and Oleh of Novgorod.   Gallery of Historical map of Kievan Rus' at its zenith (980-1054).   Historical map of Kievan Rus' and territory of Ukraine: last 20 years of the state (12201240).   The Kingdom of GaliciaVolhynia or Kingdom of Halych-Volynia (12451349).   Historical map of Grand Duchy of Lithuania Rus' (Ukraine) and Samogitia until 1434.   Historical map of Cossack Hetmanate also known as Hetmanate of Zaporizhian Host or Ukrainian Cossack state (16491653).   PolishLithuanianRuthenian Commonwealth or Commonwealth of Three Nations (1658).   Historical map of Ukrainian Cossack Hetmanate and territory of Zaporozhian Cossacks under rule of Russian Empire (1751).   Historical map of Ukrainian National Republic or Ukrainian People's Republic (19171920).   Geography Main article: Geography of Ukraine The Bay of Laspi on the Crimea's Black Sea coast at sunset The Ai-Petri's peak is located 1200 m above mean sea level At 603700 square kilometres (233100 sq mi) and with a coastline of 2782 kilometres (1729 mi) Ukraine is the world's 44th-largest country (after the Central African Republic before Madagascar). It is the largest wholly European country and the second largest country in Europe (after the European part of Russia before metropolitan France).i5 It lies between latitudes 44 and 53 N and longitudes 22 and 41 E. The Ukrainian landscape consists mostly of fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper (Dnipro) Seversky Donets Dniester and the Southern Buh as they flow south into the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. To the southwest the delta of the Danube forms the border with Romania. Its various regions have diverse geographic features ranging from the highlands to the lowlands. The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west of which the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2061 metres (6762 ft) and the Crimean Mountains on the Crimean peninsula in the extreme south along the coast.94 However Ukraine also has a number of highland regions such as the Volyn-Podillia Upland (in the west) and the Near-Dnipro Upland (on the right bank of Dnieper); to the east there are the south-western spurs of the Central Russian Uplands over which runs the border with Russia. Near the Sea of Azov can be found the Donets Ridge and the Near Azov Upland. The snow melt from the mountains feeds the rivers and natural changes in altitude form a sudden drop in elevation and create many opportunities to form waterfalls of Ukraine. Significant natural resources in Ukraine include iron ore coal manganese natural gas oil salt sulfur graphite titanium magnesium kaolin nickel mercury timber and an abundance of arable land. Despite this the country faces a number of major environmental issues such as inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution and deforestation as well as radiation contamination in the north-east from the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Typical agricultural landscape of Ukraine Kherson Oblast Great White Pelicans are native to south-western Ukraine Regionalism There are not only clear regional differences on questions of identity but historical cleavages remain evident at the level of individual social identification. Attitudes toward the most important political issue relations with Russia differed strongly between Lviv identifying more with Ukrainian nationalism and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Donetsk predominantly Russian orientated and favorable to the Soviet era while in central and southern Ukraine as well as Kiev such divisions were less important and there was less antipathy toward people from other regions (a poll by the Research & Branding Group held March 2010 showed that the attitude of the citizens of Donetsk to the citizens of Lviv was 79% positive and that the attitude of the citizens of Lviv to the citizens of Donetsk was 88% positive95). However all were united by an overarching Ukrainian identity based on shared economic difficulties showing that other attitudes are determined more by culture and politics than by demographic differences.9596 Biodiversity The speckled ground squirrel is a native of the east Ukrainian steppes Lake Synevir is the largest lake in the Ukrainian Carpathians Ukraine is home to a very wide range of living species and is divided into two main zoological areas. One of these areas in the west of the country is made up of the borderlands of Europe where there are species typical of mixed forests the other is located in eastern Ukraine where steppe-dwelling species thrive. In the forested areas of the country it is not uncommon to find lynxes wolves wild boar and martens as well as many other similar species; this is especially true of the Carpathian mountains where a large number of predatory mammals make there home as well as a contingent of brown bears. Around Ukraine's lakes and rivers beavers otters and mink make their home whilst within carp bream and catfish are the most commonly found species of fish. In the central and eastern parts of the country rodents such as hamsters and gophers are found in large numbers. Climate Ukraine has a mostly temperate continental climate although a more Mediterranean climate is found on the southern Crimean coast. Precipitation is disproportionately distributed; it is highest in the west and north and lowest in the east and southeast. Western Ukraine receives around 1200 millimetres (47.2 in) of precipitation annually while Crimea receives around 400 millimetres (15.7 in). Winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland. Average annual temperatures range from 5.5 C (41.9 F)7 C (44.6 F) in the north to 11 C (51.8 F)13 C (55.4 F) in the south.97 Politics Main articles: Politics of Ukraine Government of Ukraine and Elections in Ukraine Ukraine is a republic under a mixed semi-parliamentary semi-presidential system with separate legislative executive and judicial branches. The Constitution of Ukraine Main article: Constitution of Ukraine After the proclamation of "independence of Ukraine" (24.08.1991) the Constitution of Ukraine adopted a June 28 1996 Ukraine became a presidential-parliamentary republic. But on Dec. 8 2004 at the request of "political forces of Prime Minister Yanukovich" (who feared that Yushchenko will come to power) were introduced radical changes to the Constitution (402 deputies voted including the faction of the Party of Regions the Communist Party the Socialist Party) and Ukraine has a parliamentary-presidential republic. During a 2004-2010 "the legitimacy of the Constitution-2004" was never in doubt nor the Constitutional Court98 of Ukraine nor the opposition of Viktor Yanukovych (who has repeatedly spoken out against the alleged intentions of President Yushchenko "to repeal the provisions of the Constitution-2004"). However with the advent of Yanukovych to power of President he has appointed "new judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine" and 30 September 2010 the Constitutional Court decided to abolish the Constitution-2004; and a return to the Constitution-1996 (which transfer control of all branches of power in the hands of Yanukovych.). However such a "cansel of the Constitution-2004" have raised doubts of the public; because the constitution has "an exhaustive list of possible procedures for constitutional amendments"(articles 154-159) but neither the Constitution-1996 nor the Constitution-2004 does not provide the ability to "undo the Constitution amendments to the Constitution" by the decision of the Constitutional Court. In any case the current Constitution can be modified only "vote in Parliament".9899100 5 October 2010 "the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe" asked to the "Venice Commission" to assess the decision of the Constitutional Court "to abolish the Constitution-2004". "Comments of the Venice Commission" : in Europe there is no such practice when Constitutional Court supersedes "the Constitution which operated during six years (2004-2010)". The President Parliament and the Government of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych the president of Ukraine since 2010 The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal head of state.101 Verkhovna Rada the Parliament of Ukraine Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat unicameral parliament the Verkhovna Rada.102 The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the Cabinet of Ministers which is headed by the Prime Minister.103 However the President still retains the authority to nominate the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs and of Defence for parliamentary approval as well as the power to appoint the Prosecutor General and the head of the Security Service. Laws acts of the parliament and the cabinet presidential decrees and acts of the Crimean parliament may be abrogated by the Constitutional Court should they be found to violate the Constitution of Ukraine. Other normative acts are subject to judicial review. The Supreme Court is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction. Local self-government is officially guaranteed. Local councils and city mayors are popularly elected and exercise control over local budgets. The heads of regional and district administrations are appointed by the President in accordance with the proposals of the Prime-Minister. This system virtually requires an agreement between the President and the Prime-Minister and has in the past led to problems such as when President Yushchenko used a legally controversial ways to evade the law by appointing no actual governors or the local leaders but so called 'temporarily acting' officers thus evading the need to seek a compromise with the Prime-Minister. This practice was very controversial and required review by the Constitutional Court. Ukraine has a large number of political parties many of which have tiny memberships and are unknown to the general public. Small parties often join in multi-party coalitions (electoral blocs) for the purpose of participating in parliamentary elections. Courts and law enforcement Main articles: Judicial system of Ukraine and Law enforcement in Ukraine The courts enjoy legal financial and constitutional freedom guaranteed by measures adopted in Ukrainian law in 2002. Judges are largely well protected from dismissal (except in the instance of gross misconduct). Court justices are appointed by presidential decree for an initial period of five years after which Ukraine's Supreme Council confirms their positions for life in an attempt to insulate them from politics. Although there are still problems with the performance of the system it is considered to have been much improved since Ukraine's independence in 1991. The Supreme Court is regarded as being an independent and impartial body and has on several occasions ruled against the Ukrainian government. This has largely come about as a result of a Ukraine-Ohio Rule of Law Program which was established in 1994 and brought together lawyers and judges from the American state of Ohio (including members of the Ohio Supreme Court) with their Ukrainian counterparts. Prosecutors in Ukraine have greater powers than in most European countries and according to the European Commission for Democracy through Law the role and functions of the Prosecutors Office is not in accordance with Council of Europe standards".104 In addition to this from 2005 until 2008 the criminal judicial system maintained a 99.5 percent conviction rate equal to the conviction rate of the Soviet Union with105 suspects often being incarcerated for long periods before trial.106 On March 24 2010 President Viktor Yanukovych formed an expert group to make recommendations how to "clean up the current mess and adopt a law on court organization.106 One day after setting this commission Yanukovych stated We can no longer disgrace our country with such a court system.106 Judicial and penal institutions play a fundamental role in protecting citizens and safeguarding the common good. The criminal judicial system and the prison system of Ukraine remain quite punitive. In contemporary Ukraine prison ministry of chaplains does not exist de jure. Justices of Ukraine's Constitutional Court A uniformed officer of the Highways' Police () Since January 1 2010 it is allowed to hold court proceedings in Russian on mutual consent of parties. Citizens who are unable to speak Ukrainian or Russian are allowed to use their native language or the services of a translator.107 Previously all court proceedings were required to be held in Ukrainian which is the nation's only language with any truly official administrative status. Law enforcement agencies in Ukraine are typically organised under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They consist primarily of the national police force (iii) and various specialised units and agencies such as the State Border Guard and the Coast Guard services. In recent years the law enforcement agencies particularly the police have faced criticism for their heavy handling of the 2004 Orange Revolution this criticism stems from the use by President Kuchma government's contemplated use of Berkut special operations units and internal troops in a plan to put an end to demonstrations on Kiev's Maidan Nezalezhnosti. The actions of the government saw many thousands of police officers mobilised and stationed throughout the capital primarily to dissuade protesters from challenging the state's authority but also to provide a quick reaction force in case of need; most officers were armed and another 10000 were held in reserve nearby.108 Bloodshed was only avoided when Lt. Gen. Sergei Popkov heeded his colleagues' calls to withdraw. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is also responsible for the maintenance of the State Security Service; Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency which has on occasion been accused of acting like a secret police force serving to protect the country's political elite from media criticism. On the other hand however it is widely accepted that members of the service provided vital information about government plans to the leaders of the Orange Revolution in order to prevent the collapse of the movement. Foreign relations Main articles: Foreign relations of Ukraine International membership of Ukraine and Ukraine and the European Union President Yanukovych meets German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin In 19992001 Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Historically Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations in 1945 as one of the original members following a Western compromise with the Soviet Union which had asked for seats for all 15 of its union republics. Ukraine has consistently supported peaceful negotiated settlements to disputes. It has participated in the quadripartite talks on the conflict in Moldova and promoted a peaceful resolution to conflict in the post-Soviet state of Georgia. Ukraine also has made a substantial contribution to UN peacekeeping operations since 1992. Then-president Viktor Yushchenko with then-Polish president Lech Kaczyski at Kiev's Boryspil Airport Ukraine currently considers Euro-Atlantic integration its primary foreign policy objective but in practice balances its relationship with European Union and the United States with strong ties to Russia. The European Union's Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Ukraine went into force on March 1 1998. The European Union (EU) has encouraged Ukraine to implement the PCA fully before discussions begin on an association agreement. The EU Common Strategy toward Ukraine issued at the EU Summit in December 1999 in Helsinki recognizes Ukraine's long-term aspirations but does not discuss association. On January 31 1992 Ukraine joined the then-Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe--OSCE) and on March 10 1992 it became a member of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Ukraine also has a close relationship with NATO and had previously declared interest in eventual membership this however was removed from the government's foreign policy agenda upon election of Viktor Yanukovych to the presidency in 2010. It is the most active member of the Partnership for Peace (PfP). All major political parties in Ukraine support full eventual integration into the European Union. Association Agreement and suspension of visa restrictions with the EU are expected to be signed into effect at the end of 2011. (Ukraine and the European Union). Ukraine maintains peaceful and constructive relations with all its neighbours; it has especially close ties with Russia and Poland although relations with the former are complicated by energy dependence and payment arrears. Administrative divisions Main articles: Ukrainian historical regions and Administrative divisions of Ukraine The system of Ukrainian subdivisions reflects the country's status as a unitary state (as stated in the country's constitution) with unified legal and administrative regimes for each unit. Ukraine is subdivided into twenty-four oblasts (provinces) and one autonomous republic (avtonomna respublika) Crimea. Additionally the cities of Kiev the capital and Sevastopol both have a special legal status. The 24 oblasts and Crimea are subdivided into 490 raions (districts) or second-level administrative units. The average area of a Ukrainian raion is 1200 square kilometres (460 sq mi); the average population of a raion is 52000 people.109 Urban areas (cities) can either be subordinated to the state (as in the case of Kiev and Sevastopol) the oblast or raion administrations depending on their population and socio-economic importance. Lower administrative units include urban-type settlements which are similar to rural communities but are more urbanized including industrial enterprises educational facilities and transport connections and villages. Volyn Rivne Zhytomyr Kiev Khmeln- ytsky Ternopil Ivano- Frankivsk Zakarpattia Chernivtsi Vinnytsia Cherkasy Kirovohrad Mykolaiv Poltava Chernihiv Sumy Kharkiv Dnipropetrovsk Odessa Kherson Zaporizhia Donetsk Crimea Luhansk Kiev Sevastopol Lviv Oblasts Cherkasy Chernihiv Chernivtsi Dnipropetrovsk Donetsk Ivano-Frankivsk Kharkiv Kherson Khmelnytskyi Kiev Kirovohrad Luhansk Lviv Mykolaiv Odessa Poltava Rivne Sumy Ternopil Vinnytsia Volyn Zakarpattia Zaporizhia Zhytomyr Autonomous republic Municipalities Autonomous Republic of Crimea City of Kiev City of Sevastopol Military Main article: Military of Ukraine Ukrainian army soldiers aboard a BTR-80 in Iraq After the dissolution of the Soviet Union Ukraine inherited a 780000 man military force on its territory equipped with the third-largest nuclear weapons arsenal in the world.110111 In May 1992 Ukraine signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in which the country agreed to give up all nuclear weapons to Russia for "disposal" and to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state. Ukraine ratified the treaty in 1994 and by 1996 the country became free of nuclear weapons.110 Ukraine took consistent steps toward reduction of conventional weapons. It signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe which called for reduction of tanks artillery and armoured vehicles (army forces were reduced to 300000). The country plans to convert the current conscript-based military into a professional volunteer military not later than in 2011.112 Officers and MiG-29 fighter planes of the Ukrainian Air Force Ukraine has been playing an increasingly larger role in peacekeeping operations. Ukrainian troops are deployed in Kosovo as part of the Ukrainian-Polish Battalion.113 A Ukrainian unit was deployed in Lebanon as part of UN Interim Force enforcing the mandated ceasefire agreement. There was also a maintenance and training battalion deployed in Sierra Leone. In 200305 a Ukrainian unit was deployed in Iraq as part of the Multinational force in Iraq under Polish command. The total Ukrainian military deployment around the world is 562 servicemen.114 Military units of other states participate in multinational military exercises with Ukrainian forces in Ukraine regularly including U.S. military forces.115 Following independence Ukraine declared itself a neutral state.116 The country has had a limited military partnership with Russia other CIS countries and a partnership with NATO since 1994. In the 2000s the government was leaning towards the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a deeper cooperation with the alliance was set by the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan signed in 2002. It was later agreed that the question of joining NATO should be answered by a national referendum at some point in the future.112 Current President Viktor Yanukovych considers the current level of co-operation between Ukraine and NATO sufficient.117 Yanukovich is against Ukraine joining NATO.118 During the 2008 Bucharest summit NATO declared that Ukraine will become a member of NATO whenever it wants and when it would correspond to the criteria for the accession.117 Economy Main article: Economy of Ukraine Kiev is the economic heart of the country In Soviet times the economy of Ukraine was the second largest in the Soviet Union being an important industrial and agricultural component of the country's planned economy.5 With the dissolution of the Soviet system the country moved from a planned economy to a market economy. The transition process was difficult for the majority of the population which plunged into poverty.119 Ukraine's economy contracted severely following the years after the Soviet dissolution. Day to day life for the average person living in Ukraine was a struggle. A significant number of citizens in rural Ukraine survived by growing their own food often working two or more jobs and buying the basic necessities through the barter economy.120 In 1991 the government liberalized most prices to combat widespread product shortages and was successful in overcoming the problem. At the same time the government continued to subsidize state-run industries and agriculture by uncovered monetary emission. The loose monetary policies of the early 1990s pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels. For the year 1993 Ukraine holds the world record for inflation in one calendar year.121 Those living on fixed incomes suffered the most.39 The building of the National Bank of Ukraine Prices stabilized only after the introduction of new currency the hryvnia in 1996. The country was also slow in implementing structural reforms. Following independence the government formed a legal framework for privatization. However widespread resistance to reforms within the government and from a significant part of the population soon stalled the reform efforts. A large number of state-owned enterprises were exempt from the privatization process. In the meantime by 1999 the GDP had fallen to less than 40 percent of the 1991 level122 but recovered to slightly above the 100 percent mark by the end of 2006.81 In the early 2000s the economy showed strong export-based growth of 5 to 10 percent with industrial production growing more than 10 percent per year.123 Ukraine was hit by the economic crisis of 2008 and in November 2008 the IMF approved a stand-by loan of $16.5 billion for the country.124 The Ukrainian-made Antonov An-225 is the largest aircraft ever built. Ukraine's 2007 GDP (PPP) as calculated by the CIA is ranked 29th in the world and estimated at $359.9 billion.5 Its GDP per capita in 2008 according to the CIA was $7800 (in PPP terms) ranked 83rd in the world.5 Nominal GDP (in U.S. dollars calculated at market exchange rate) was $198 billion ranked 41st in the world.5 By July 2008 the average nominal salary in Ukraine reached 1930 hryvnias per month.125 Despite remaining lower than in neighboring central European countries the salary income growth in 2008 stood at 36.8 percent126 According to the UNDP in 2003 4.9 percent of the Ukrainian population lived under 2 US dollar a day127 and 19.5 percent of the population lived below the national poverty line that same year.128 Ukrainian administrative divisions by monthly salary Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation vehicles and spacecraft. Antonov airplanes and KrAZ trucks are exported to many countries. The majority of Ukrainian exports are marketed to the European Union and CIS.129 Since independence Ukraine has maintained its own space agency the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU). Ukraine became an active participant in scientific space exploration and remote sensing missions. Between 1991 and 2007 Ukraine has launched six self made satellites and 101 launch vehicles and continues to design spacecraft.130131132 Dnipropetrovsk Downtown Business District The country imports most energy supplies especially oil and natural gas and to a large extent depends on Russia as its energy supplier. While 25 percent of the natural gas in Ukraine comes from internal sources about 35 percent comes from Russia and the remaining 40 percent from Central Asia through transit routes that Russia controls. At the same time 85 percent of the Russian gas is delivered to Western Europe through Ukraine.133 The World Bank classifies Ukraine as a middle-income state.134 Significant issues include underdeveloped infrastructure and transportation corruption and bureaucracy. In 2007 the Ukrainian stock market recorded the second highest growth in the world of 130 percent.135 According to the CIA in 2006 the market capitalization of the Ukrainian stock market was $111.8 billion.5 Growing sectors of the Ukrainian economy include the information technology (IT) market which topped all other Central and Eastern European countries in 2007 growing some 40 percent.136 Corporations An industrial robot at work in the ZAZ automobile plant in Zaporizhia Kiev is home to most of Ukraine's largest private businesses Ukraine has a very large heavy-industry base and is one of the largest refiners of metallurgical products in Eastern Europe.137 However the country is also well known for its production of high-technological goods and transport products such as Antonov aircraft and various private and commercial vehicles.138 The country's largest and most competitive firms are components of the PFTS index which is traded on the PFTS Ukraine Stock Exchange. Well known Ukrainian brands include amongst others Antonov Naftogaz Ukrainy AvtoZAZ PrivatBank Roshen Yuzhmash Nemiroff Motor Sich Khortytsa Kyivstar and Aerosvit.139 Ukraine is regarded as being a developing economy with high potential for future success however such a development is thought to be likely only with new all-encompassing economic and legal reforms.140 Although Foreign Direct Investment in Ukraine has remained relatively strong ever since recession of the early 1990s the country has had trouble maintaining stable economic growth. Issues relating to current corporate governance in Ukraine are primarily linked to the large scale monopolisation of traditional heavy industries by wealthy individuals such as Rinat Akhmetov the enduring failure to broaden the nation's economic base and a lack of effective legal protection for investors and their products.141 Despite all this Ukraine's economy is still expected to grow by around 3.5% in 2010.142 This list includes the largest companies by turnover in 2008 but does not include major banks or insurance companies: Rank in 2008143 Name of concern Location of headquarters Revenue (Mln.  UAH) Profit (Mln.  UAH) Employees 1. Naftogaz Ukrainy Kiev 61968.5 11670.3 682 2. EnergoRynok Kiev 40527.2 183.4 26 3. Gaz Ukrainy Kiev 31179.0 128.3 171500 4. Metinvest Holdings Donetsk 30185.2 1410.6 408 5. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih Kryvyi Rih 22102.9 4676.5 42094 6. Ilyich Steel & Iron Works Mariupol 21727.1 1362.1 54945 7. Azovstal Steel Works Mariupol 21235.3 1959.1 20518 8. Alchevsk Steel & Iron Works Alchevsk 15322.1 -350.4 17900 9. TNK-BP Kommers Kiev 14816.9 -484.0 427 10. Lysychansk Petroleum Investment Lysychansk 14485.7 -794.1 3743 11. DTEK (Donbass Energy) Kiev 12968.7 1985.0 290 12. Donetskstal Metallurgy Donetsk 12911.5 -360.1 10966 13. Kyivstar Kiev 12799.3 5559.2 4905 14. ZAZ Automobile Zaporizhia 12753.5 -390.6 14943 15. Donbass Industrial Union Donetsk 12583.5 511.9 519 Tourism The Swallow's Nest; the Crimea hosts many seaside resorts and historic sites Main article: Tourism in Ukraine Ukraine occupies 8th place in the world by the number of tourists visiting according to the World Tourism Organisation rankings.144 Ukraine is a destination on the crossroads between central and eastern Europe between north and south. It borders Russia and is not far from Turkey. It has mountain ranges the Carpathian Mountains suitable for skiing hiking fishing and hunting. The coastline on the Black Sea is a popular summer destination for vacationers. Ukraine has vineyards where they produce native wines ruins of ancient castles historical parks Orthodox and Catholic churches as well as a few mosques and synagogues. Kiev the country's capital city has many unique structures such as Saint Sophia Cathedral and broad boulevards. There are other cities well-known to tourists such as the harbour town Odessa and the old city of Lviv in the west. The Crimea a little "continent" of its own is a popular vacation destination for tourists for swimming or suntaning on the Black Sea with its warm climate rugged mountains plateaus and ancient ruins. Cities there include: Sevastopol and Yalta location of the peace conference at the end of World War II. Visitors can also take cruise tours by ship on Dnieper River from Kiev to the Black Sea coastline. Ukrainian cuisine has a long history and offers a wide variety of original dishes. The Seven Wonders of Ukraine are the seven historical and cultural monuments of Ukraine; the sites were chosen by the general public through an internet-based vote. Energy Main article: Nuclear power in Ukraine Rivne Nuclear Station in Western Ukraine Ukraine is one of Europes largest energy consumers; it consumes almost double the energy of Germany per unit of GDP.145 A great share of energy supply in Ukraine comes from nuclear power with the country receiving most of its nuclear fuel from Russia. The remaining oil and gas is also imported from the former Soviet Union. Ukraine is heavily dependent on its nuclear energy. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is located in Ukraine. In 2006 the government planned to build 11 new reactors by the year 2030 in effect almost doubling the current amount of nuclear power capacity.146 Ukraine's power sector is the twelfth-largest in the world in terms of installed capacity with 54 gigawatts (GW).145 Renewable energy still plays a very modest role in electrical output. In 2007 47.4% of power came from coal and gas (approx 20% gas) 47.5% from nuclear (92.5 TWh) and 5% from hydro.146 Currently the country has four active nuclear power stations located in Kuznetsovsk Zaporizhia Yuzhnoukrainsk and Netishyn. In addition to these active plants a fifth reactor complex had been planned for the Crimea but construction was suspended indefinitely in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster a major nuclear incident which took place at the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station 110 km north of Kiev. All of Ukraine's RBMK reactors (the type involved in the Chernobyl disaster) were located at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. All of the reactors there have been shutdown leaving only VVER reactors operating in the country which are much safer than RBMK units. Three of these new-type reactors were built since 1991 in the independent Ukraine (with the first one in 1995) whilst the other sixteen were inherited from the Soviet Union. Transportation Main articles: Transport in Ukraine and Ukrainian Railways Rail transport is heavily utilised in Ukraine Most of the Ukrainian road system has not been upgraded since the Soviet era and is now outdated. The Ukrainian government has pledged to build some 4500 km (2800 mi) of motorways by 2012.147 In total Ukrainian paved roads stretch for 164732 kilometres (102360 mi).5 The network of major routes marked with the letter 'M' for 'International' (Ukrainian: ) extends nationwide and connects all the major cities of Ukraine as well as providing cross-border routes to the country's neighbours. Currently there are only two true motorway standard highways in Ukraine; a 175 km stretch of motorway from Kharkiv to Dnipropetrovsk and a section of the M03 which extends 18 km (12 miles) from Kiev to Boryspil where the city's international airport is located. Rail transport in Ukraine plays the role of connecting all major urban areas port facilities and industrial centers with neighbouring countries.The heaviest concentration of railroad track is located in the Donbas region of Ukraine. Although the amount of freight transported by rail fell by 7.4 percent in 1995 in comparison with 1994 Ukraine is still one of the world's highest rail users.148 The total amount of railroad track in Ukraine extends for 22473 kilometres (13964 mi) of which 9250 kilometres (5750 mi) is electrified.5 Currently the state has a monopoly on the provision of passenger rail transport and all trains other than those with cooperation of other foreign companies on international routes are operated by its company 'Ukrzaliznytsia'. An Aerosvit Boeing 737 taxis at Varna International Airport Bulgaria The aviation section in Ukraine is developing very quickly having recently established a visa-free program for EU nationals and citizens of a number of other 'Western' nations149 the nation's aviation sector is handling a significantly increased number of travellers. Additionally the granting of the Euro 2012 football tournament to Poland and Ukraine as joint hosts has prompted the government to invest huge amounts of money into transport infrastructure and in particular airports.150 Currently there are three major new airport terminals under construction in Donetsk Lviv and Kiev a new airport has already opened in Kharkiv and Kiev's Boryspil International Airport has recently begun operations at Terminal F151 the first of its two new international terminals. Ukraine has a number of airlines the largest of which are the nation's flag carriers Aerosvit and UIA. Antonov Airlines a subsidiary of the Antonov Aerospace Design Bureau is the only operator of the world's largest fixed wing aircraft the An-225. Maritime transport is mainly riverine with passenger services mainly provided on the Dnieper Danube and Pripyat rivers as well as a number of their tributaries. Most large cities have a river port and cater for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers as well as the loading and unloading of freight and raw materials. International maritime travel is mainly provided through the Port of Odessa from where ferries sail regularly to Istanbul Varna and Haifa. The largest ferry company presently operating these routes is Ukrferry.152 Demographics Ethnic composition of Ukraine Ukrainians   77.8% Russians   17.3% Belarusians   0.6% Moldovans   0.5% Crimean Tatars   0.5% Bulgarians   0.4% Hungarians   0.3% Romanians   0.3% Poles   0.3% Other   1.7% Source: Ethnic composition of the population of Ukraine 2001 Census Main article: Demographics of Ukraine The most numerous ethnic groups in Ukrainian raions (if the data was available) or oblasts in the year 2001 According to the Ukrainian Census of 2001 ethnic Ukrainians make up 77.8% of the population. Other significant ethnic groups are Russians (17.3%) Belarusians (0.6%) Moldovans (0.5%) Crimean Tatars (0.5%) Bulgarians (0.4%) Hungarians (0.3%) Romanians (0.3%) Poles (0.3%) Jews (0.2%) Armenians (0.2%) Greeks (0.2%) and Tatars (0.2%).153 The industrial regions in the east and southeast are the most heavily populated and about 67.2 percent of the population lives in urban areas.154155 Demographic crisis Ethnic Ukrainians in Ukraine (2001) Ukraine has been in a demographic crisis since the 1980s because of its high death rate and a low birth rate. The population is shrinking 150000 a year because of the lowest birth rate in Europe combined with one of the highest death rates in Europe. In 2007 the country's population was declining at the fourth fastest rate in the world.156 Life expectancy is falling. The nation suffers a high mortality rate from environmental pollution poor diets widespread smoking extensive alcoholism and deteriorating medical care.157158 In 2008 more than 500000 children were born in Ukraine 20 percent more than in 2004. Infant mortality rates have also dropped from 10.4 deaths to 8.9 per 1000 children under one year of age. This is still high in comparison however to many other nations.159 According to the United Nations poverty and poor health care are the two biggest problems Ukrainian children face. More than 26 percent of families with one child 42 percent of families with two children and 77 percent of families with four and more children live in poverty according to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.159 In November 2009 Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Nina Karpacheva stated that the lives of many of Ukraines 8.2 million children remain tough.159 Fertility and natalist policies Population of Ukraine (in millions) from 1950 to 2009.160161 The current birth rate in Ukraine is 9.55 births/1000 population and the death rate is 15.93 deaths/1000 population. The phenomenon of lowest-low fertility defined as total fertility below 1.3 is emerging throughout Europe and is attributed by many to postponement of the initiation of childbearing. Ukraine where total fertility (a very low 1.1 in 2001) is one of the world's lowest shows that there is more than one pathway to lowest-low fertility. Although Ukraine has undergone immense political and economic transformations during 19912004 it has maintained a young age at first birth and nearly universal childbearing. Analysis of official national statistics and the Ukrainian Reproductive Health Survey show that fertility declined to very low levels without a transition to a later pattern of childbearing. Findings from focus group interviews suggest explanations of the early fertility pattern. These findings include the persistence of traditional norms for childbearing and the roles of men and women concerns about medical complications and infertility at a later age and the link between early fertility and early marriage.162 To help mitigate the declining population the government continues to increase child support payments. Thus it provides one-time payments of 12250 Hryvnias for the first child 25000 Hryvnias for the second and 50000 Hryvnias for the third and fourth along with monthly payments of 154 Hryvnias per child.126163 The demographic trend is showing signs of improvement as the birth rate has been steadily growing since 2001.164 Net population growth over the first nine months of 2007 was registered in five provinces of the country (out of 24) and population shrinkage was showing signs of stabilising nationwide. In 2007 the highest birth rates were in the Western Oblasts.165 Urbanization Main article: List of cities in Ukraine In total Ukraine has 457 cities 176 of them are labeled oblast-class 279 smaller raion-class cities and two special legal status cities. These are followed by 886 urban-type settlements and 28552 villages.109 Largest municipalities in Ukraine Kiev Kharkiv Dnipropetrovsk Odessa # City Name in Ukrainian Urban Metro Donetsk Zaporizhia Lviv Kryvyi Rih 1 Kiev (Kyiv) 2786518 (2010) 3648000 (2009) 2 Kharkiv 1440676 (2010) 1732400 (2009) 3 Dnipropetrovsk 1006276 (2010) 1859500 (2009) 4 Odessa 1005591 (2010) 1546600 (2009) 5 Donetsk 977257 (2010) 2009700 (2009) 6 Zaporizhia 776918 (2010) 817900 (2009) 7 Lviv 758351 (2010) 1498000 (2009) 8 Kryvyi Rih 670068 (2010) 1010000 (2009) 9 Mykolaiv 499659 (2010) 502700 (2009) 10 Mariupol 489702 (2010) 519000 (2009) 11 Luhansk 470152 (2010) 501200 (2009) 12 Makiivka 398058 (2010) Part of Donetsk metro 13 Vinnytsia 369200 (2010) 664000 (2009) 14 Simferopol 359551 (2010) 385000 (2009) 15 Sevastopol 380301 (2010) 395000 (2009) 16 Kherson 340525 (2010) 567600 (2009) 17 Poltava 298492 (2010) 462400 (2009) 18 Chernihiv 296896 (2010) 305000 (2009) 19 Cherkasy 287591 (2010) 287741 (2009) 20 Sumy 272899 (2010) 283700 (2009) Religion See also: History of Christianity in Ukraine and Wooden churches in Ukraine Religion in Ukraine.166167168 religion percent Ukrainian Orthodox Church Patriarch of Moscow   50% Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate   14.9% Ukrainian Greek Catholic   8% Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church   2.8% Roman Catholic   2.2% Protestant   2.2% Muslim   1.0% Jewish   0.6% Other   2.2% The dominant religion in Ukraine is Eastern Orthodox Christianity which is currently split between three Church bodies: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church autonomous church body under the Patriarch of Moscow the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.169 "What religious group do you belong to". Sociology poll by Razumkov Centre about the religious situation in Ukraine (2006)   Atheist or do not belong to any church   UOC Kiev Patriarchate   UOC Moscow Patriarchate   UAOC   Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church   Roman Catholic Church A distant second by the number of the followers is the Eastern Rite Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church which practices a similar liturgical and spiritual tradition as Eastern Orthodoxy but is in communion with the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church and recognises the primacy of the Pope as head of the Church.170 Additionally there are 863 Latin Rite Catholic communities and 474 clergy members serving some one million Latin Rite Catholics in Ukraine.169 The group forms some 2.19 percent of the population and consists mainly of ethnic Poles and Hungarians who live predominantly in the western regions of the country. The Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev a UNESCO World Heritage Site171 Protestant Christians also form around 2.19 percent of the population. Protestant numbers have grown greatly since Ukrainian independence. The Evangelical Baptist Union of Ukraine is the largest group with more than 150000 members and about 3000 clergy. The second largest Protestant church is the Ukrainian Church of Evangelical faith (Pentecostals) with 110000 members and over 1500 local churches and over 2000 clergy but there also exist other Pentecostal groups and unions and together all Pentecostals are over 300000 with over 3000 local churches. Also there are many Pentecostal high education schools such as the Lviv Theological Seminary and the Kiev Bible Institute. Other groups include Calvinists Jehovah's Witnesses Lutherans Methodists and Seventh-day Adventists. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) is also present.169 There are an estimated 500000 Muslims in Ukraine and about 250000 of them are Crimean Tatars.172 There are 487 registered Muslim communities 368 of them on the Crimean peninsula. In addition some 50000 Muslims live in Kiev; mostly foreign-born.173 The Jewish population is a tiny fraction of what it was before World War II. The largest Jewish communities in 1926 were in Odessa 154000 or 36.5% of the total population; and Kiev 140500 or 27.3%.174 The 2001 census indicated that there are 103600 Jews in Ukraine although community leaders claimed that the population could be as large as 300000. There are no statistics on what share of the Ukrainian Jews are observant but Orthodox Judaism has the strongest presence in Ukraine. Smaller Reform and Conservative Jewish (Masorti) communities exist as well.169 Famines and migration The famines of the 1930s followed by the devastation of World War II comprised a demographic disaster. Life expectancy at birth fell to a level as low as ten years for females and seven for males in 1933 and plateaued around 25 for females and 15 for males in the period 194144.175 According to The Oxford companion to World War II "Over 7 million inhabitants of Ukraine more than one-sixth of the pre-war population were killed during the Second World War."176 Significant migration took place in the first years of Ukrainian independence. More than one million people moved into Ukraine in 19912 mostly from the other former Soviet republics. In total between 1991 and 2004 2.2 million immigrated to Ukraine (among them 2 million came from the other former Soviet Union states) and 2.5 million emigrated from Ukraine (among them 1.9 million moved to other former Soviet Union republics).177 Currently immigrants constitute an estimated 14.7 % of the total population or 6.9 million people; this is the fourth largest figure in the world.178 In 2006 there were an estimated 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry179 giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. Health Main article: Health in Ukraine Building of the state-administered district hospital in Hlukhiv Northern Ukraine Ukraine's healthcare system is state subsidised and freely available to all Ukrainian citizens and registered residents. However it is not compulsory to be treated in a state-run hospital as a number of private medical complexes do exist nationwide.180 The public sector employs most healthcare professionals with those working for private medical centres typically also retaining their state employment as they are mandated to provide care at public health facilities on a regular basis. All the country's medical service providers and hospitals are subordinate to the Ministry of Health which provides oversight and scrutiny of general medical practice as well as being responsible for the day to day administration of the healthcare system. Despite this standards of hygiene and patient-care have fallen.181 Ukraine's population pyramid (2005) Hospitals in Ukraine are organised along the same lines as most European nations according to the regional administrative structure; resultantly most towns have their own hospital ( ) and many also have district hospitals ( ). Larger and more specialised medical complexes tend only to be found in major cities with some even more specialised units located only in the capital Kiev. However all Oblasts have their own network of general hospitals which are able to deal with almost all medical problems and are typically equipped with major trauma centres; such hospitals are called 'regional hospitals' ( ). Ukraine currently faces a number of major public health issues and is considered to be in a demographic crisis due to its high death rate and low birth rate (the current Ukrainian birth rate is 11 births/1000 population and the death rate is 16.3 deaths/1000 population). A factor contributing to the relatively high death is a high mortality rate among working-age males from preventable causes such as alcohol poisoning and smoking.158 In 2008 the country's population was one of the fastest declining in the world at -5% growth.156182 The UN warned that Ukraine's population could fall by as much as 10 million by 2050 if trends did not improve.183 In addition to this obesity systemic high blood pressure and the HIV endemic are all major challenges facing the contemporary Ukrainian healthcare system. As of March 2009 the Ukrainian government to reforming the health care system by the creation of a national network of family doctors and improvements in the medical emergency services.184 former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko put forward (in November 2009) an idea to start introducing a public healthcare system based on health insurance in the spring of 2010.185 Education See also: Education in Ukraine and List of universities in Ukraine The University of Kiev is one of Ukraine's most important educational institutions According to the Ukrainian constitution access to free education is granted to all citizens. Complete general secondary education is compulsory in the state schools which constitute the overwhelming majority. Free higher education in state and communal educational establishments is provided on a competitive basis.186 There is also a small number of accredited private secondary and higher education institutions. Because of the Soviet Union's emphasis on total access of education for all citizens which continues today the literacy rate is an estimated 99.4%.5 Since 2005 an eleven-year school program has been replaced with a twelve-year one: primary education takes four years to complete (starting at age six) middle education (secondary) takes five years to complete; upper secondary then takes three years.187 In the 12th grade students take Government Tests which are also referred to as school-leaving exams. These tests are later used for university admissions. Ukraine produces the fourth largest number of post-secondary graduates in Europe while being ranked seventh in population. The first higher education institutions (HEIs) emerged in Ukraine during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The first Ukrainian higher education institution was the Ostrozka School or Ostrozkiy Greek-Slavic-Latin Collegium similar to Western European higher education institutions of the time. Established in 1576 in the town of Ostrog the Collegium was the first higher education institution in the Eastern Slavic territories. The oldest university was the Kyiv Mohyla Academy first established in 1632 and in 1694 officially recognized by the government of Imperial Russia as a higher education institution. Among the oldest is also the Lviv University founded in 1661. More higher education institutions were set up in the 19th century beginning with universities in Kharkiv (1805) Kiev (1834) Odessa (1865) and Chernivtsi (1875) and a number of professional higher education institutions e.g.: Nizhyn Historical and Philological Institute (originally established as the Gymnasium of Higher Sciences in 1805) a Veterinary Institute (1873) and a Technological Institute (1885) in Kharkiv a Polytechnic Institute in Kiev (1898) and a Higher Mining School (1899) in Katerynoslav. Rapid growth followed in the Soviet period. By 1988 a number of higher education institutions increased to 146 with over 850000 students.188 Most HEIs established after 1990 are those owned by private organizations. The Danylo Halytsky National Medical University in Lviv The Ukrainian higher education system comprises higher educational establishments scientific and methodological facilities under federal municipal and self-governing bodies in charge of education.189 The organisation of higher education in Ukraine is built up in accordance with the structure of education of the world's higher developed countries as is defined by UNESCO and the UN.190 Nowadays higher education is either state funded or private. Students that study at state expense receive a standard scholarship if their average marks at the end-of-term exams and differentiated test is at least 4 (see the 5-point grade system below); this rule may be different in some universities. In the case of all grades being the highest (5) the scholarship is increased by 25%. For most students the level of government subsidy is not sufficient to cover their basic living expenses. Most universities provide subsidized housing for out-of-city students. Also it is common for libraries to supply required books for all registered students. There are two degrees conferred by Ukrainian universities: the Bachelor's Degree (4 years) and the Master's Degree (56th year). These degrees are introduced in accordance with Bologna process in which Ukraine is taking part. Historically Specialist's Degree (usually 5 years) is still also granted; it was the only degree awarded by universities in the Soviet times. Culture See also: Culture of Ukraine A collection of traditional pysanky from Volyn St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kiev an example of Ukrainian architecture. Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced by Christianity which is the dominant religion in the country.169 Gender roles also tend to be more traditional and grandparents play a greater role in raising children than in the West.191 The culture of Ukraine has been also influenced by its eastern and western neighbours which is reflected in its architecture music and art. The Communist era had quite a strong effect on the art and writing of Ukraine.192 In 1932 Stalin made socialist realism state policy in the Soviet Union when he promulgated the decree "On the Reconstruction of Literary and Art Organisations". This greatly stifled creativity. During the 1980s glasnost (openness) was introduced and Soviet artists and writers again became free to express themselves as they wanted.193 The tradition of the Easter egg known as pysanky has long roots in Ukraine. These eggs were drawn on with wax to create a pattern; then the dye was applied to give the eggs their pleasant colours the dye did not affect the previously wax-coated parts of the egg. After the entire egg was dyed the wax was removed leaving only the colourful pattern. This tradition is thousands of years old and precedes the arrival of Christianity to Ukraine.194 In the city of Kolomya near the foothills of the Carpathian mountains in 2000 was built the museum of Pysanka which won a nomination as the monument of modern Ukraine in 2007 part of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine action. Language Percentage of native Ukrainian speakers by subdivision. Percentage of native Russian speakers by subdivision.f Main articles: Ukrainian language Russian language in Ukraine Russian language Languages of Ukraine and Name of Ukraine According to the Constitution the state language of Ukraine is Ukrainian. Russian which was the de facto official language of the Soviet Union is widely spoken especially in eastern and southern Ukraine. According to the 2001 census 67.5 percent of the population declared Ukrainian as their native language and 29.6 percent declared Russian.195 Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a second language. These details result in a significant difference across different survey results as even a small restating of a question switches responses of a significant group of people.f Ukrainian is mainly spoken in western and central Ukraine. In western Ukraine Ukrainian is also the dominant language in cities (such as Lviv). In central Ukraine Ukrainian and Russian are both equally used in cities with Russian being more common in Kievf while Ukrainian is the dominant language in rural communities. In eastern and southern Ukraine Russian is primarily used in cities and Ukrainian is used in rural areas. For a large part of the Soviet era the number of Ukrainian speakers declined from generation to generation and by the mid-1980s the usage of the Ukrainian language in public life had decreased significantly.196 Following independence the government of Ukraine began restoring the image and usage of Ukrainian language through a policy of Ukrainisation.197 Today all foreign films and TV programs including Russian ones are subbed or dubbed in Ukrainian. According to the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Ukrainian is the only state language of the republic. However the republic's constitution specifically recognises Russian as the language of the majority of its population and guarantees its usage 'in all spheres of public life'. Similarly the Crimean Tatar language (the language of 12 percent of population of Crimea)198 is guaranteed a special state protection as well as the 'languages of other ethnicities'. Russian speakers constitute an overwhelming majority of the Crimean population (77 percent) with Ukrainian speakers comprising just 10.1 percent and Crimean Tatar speakers 11.4 percent.199 But in everyday life the majority of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians in Crimea use Russian.200 Literature See also: Ukrainian literature The history of Ukrainian literature dates back to the 11th century following the Christianisation of the Kievan Rus.201 The writings of the time were mainly liturgical and were written in Old Church Slavonic. Historical accounts of the time were referred to as chronicles the most significant of which was the Primary Chronicle.202g Literary activity faced a sudden decline during the Mongol invasion of Rus'.201 Ukrainian literature again began to develop in the 14th century and was advanced significantly in the 16th century with the introduction of print and with the beginning of the Cossack era under both Russian and Polish dominance.201 The Cossacks established an independent society and popularized a new kind of epic poems which marked a high point of Ukrainian oral literature.202 These advances were then set back in the 17th and early 18th centuries when publishing in the Ukrainian language was outlawed and prohibited. Nonetheless by the late 18th century modern literary Ukrainian finally emerged.201 Taras Shevchenko (18141861) Ivan Franko (18561916) Lesya Ukrainka (18711913) Ivan Kotlyarevsky (17691838) Stepan Rudansky (18341873) The 19th century initiated a vernacular period in Ukraine led by Ivan Kotliarevskys work Eneyida the first publication written in modern Ukrainian. By the 1830s Ukrainian romanticism began to develop and the nations most renowned cultural figure romanticist poet-painter Taras Shevchenko emerged. Where Ivan Kotliarevsky is considered to be the father of literature in the Ukrainian vernacular; Shevchenko is the father of a national revival.203 Then in 1863 use of the Ukrainian language in print was effectively prohibited by the Russian Empire.33 This severely curtained literary activity in the area and Ukrainian writers were forced to either publish their works in Russian or release them in Austrian controlled Galicia. The ban was never officially lifted but it became obsolete after the revolution and the Bolsheviks coming to power.202 Ukrainian literature continued to flourish in the early Soviet years when nearly all literary trends were approved. These policies faced a steep decline in the 1930s when Stalin implemented his policy of socialist realism. The doctrine did not necessarily repress the Ukrainian language but it required writers to follow a certain style in their works. Literary activities continued to be somewhat limited under the communist party and it was not until Ukraine gained its independence in 1991 when writers were free to express themselves as they wished.201 Architecture Main article: Ukrainian architecture The various structures of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra date to different time periods and through their styles offer an insight into the History of Ukraine and the rich craftsmanship that was developed in its long period Ukrainian architecture is a term that describes the motifs and styles that are found in structures built in modern Ukraine and by Ukrainians worldwide. These include initial roots which were established in the Eastern Slavic state of Kievan Rus'. After the 12th century the distinct architectural history continued in the principalities of Galicia-Volhynia. During the epoch of the Zaporozhian Cossacks a new style unique to Ukraine was developed under the western influences of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. After the union with the Tsardom of Russia architecture in Ukraine began to develop in different directions with many structures in the larger eastern Russian-ruled area built in the styles of Russian architecture of that period whilst the western Galicia was developed under Austro-Hungarian architectural influences in both cases producing fine examples. Ukrainian national motifs would finally be used during the period of the Soviet Union and in modern independent Ukraine. The great churches of the Rus' built after the adoption of Christianity in 988 were the first examples of monumental architecture in the East Slavic lands. The architectural style of the Kievan state which quickly established itself was strongly influenced by the Byzantine. Early Eastern Orthodox churches were mainly made of wood with the simplest form of church becoming known as a cell church. Major cathedrals often featured scores of small domes which led some art historians to take this as an indication of the appearance of pre-Christian pagan Slavic temples. The Vorontsov Palace nestled at the foot of the Crimean Mountains is an important example of Ukrainian gothic revival architecture Several examples of these churches survive to this day however in the course of the 16-18th centuries many were externally rebuilt in the Ukrainian Baroque style (see below). Examples include the grand St. Sophia of Kiev the year 1017 is the earliest record of foundation laid Church of the Saviour at Berestove built from 1113 to 1125 and St. Cyril's Church circa 12th century. All can still be found in the Ukrainian capital. Several buildings were reconstructed during the late-19th century including the Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynskyi built in 1160 and reconstructed in 18961900 the Paraskevi church in Chernihiv built in 1201 with reconstruction done in the late 1940s and the Golden gates in Kiev built in 1037 and reconstructed in 1982. The latter's reconstruction was dismissed by some art and architecture historians as a revivalist fantasy. Unfortunately little secular or vernacular architecture of Kievan Rus' has survived. Kiev's Maidan Nezalezhnosti is a prime example of the fusion of Stalinist and modern-day architecture in Ukraine As Ukraine became increasingly integrated into the Russian Empire Russian architects had the opportunity to realize their projects in the picturesque landscape that many Ukrainian cities and regions offered. St. Andrew's Church of Kiev (17471754) built by Bartolomeo Rastrelli is a notable example of Baroque architecture and its location on top of the Kievan mountain made it a recognizable monument of the city. An equally notable contribution of Rasetrelli was the Mariyinsky Palace which was built to be a summer residence to Russian Empress Elizabeth. During the reign of the last Hetman of Ukraine Kirill Razumovsky many of the Cossack Hetmanate's towns such as Hlukhiv Baturyn and Koselets had grandiose projects built by the appointed architect of Little Russia Andrey Kvasov. Russia winning successive wars over the Ottoman Empire and its vassal Crimean Khanate eventually annexed the whole south of Ukraine and Crimea. Renamed New Russia these lands were to be colonized and new cities such as the Nikolayev Odessa Kherson and Sevastopol were founded. These would contain notable examples of Imperial Russian architecture. The Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre; the architecture of Western Ukraine has been greatly influenced by its long history as part of Poland In 1934 the capital of Soviet Ukraine moved from Kharkiv to Kiev. During the preceding years the city was seen as only a regional centre and hence received little attention. All of that was to change but at a great price. By this point the first examples of Stalinist architecture were already showing and in light of the official policy a new city was to be built on top of the old one. This meant that priceless examples such as the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery were destroyed. Even the St. Sophia Cathedral was under threat. Following the heavy destruction of the Second World War a new project for the reconstruction of central Kiev was unveiled. This transformed the Khreshchatyk avenue into one of the finest examples of Stalinism in Architecture. Unfortunately by 1955 the new politics of architecture once again promptly stopped the project from fully being realised. Europe mall in Dnipropetrovsk an example of the modern architecture in Ukraine. The task for modern Ukrainian architecture is diverse application of modern aesthetics the search for an architect's own artistic style and inclusion of the existing historico-cultural environment. Good examples of modern Ukrainian architecture include the reconstruction and renewal of the Maidan Nezalezhnosti in central Kiev despite the limit set by narrow space within the plaza the engineers were able to blend together the uneven landscape and also use underground space to set a new shopping centre. The major project that will take up most of the 21st century is the construction of the Kiev City-Centre on the Rybalskyi Peninsula which when finished will include a dense skyscraper park amid the picturesque landscape of the Dnieper.204 Music Main article: Music of Ukraine Mykola Lysenko (photo before 1912) is widely believed to be the father of Ukrainian classical music Music is a major part of Ukrainian culture with a long history and many influences. From traditional folk music to classical and modern rock Ukraine has produced a long list of internationally recognized musical talent including Tchaikovsky and Okean Elzy. Elements from traditional Ukrainian folk music made their way into Western music and even into modern Jazz. Ukraine found itself at the crossroads of Asia and Europe and this is reflected within the music in a perplexing mix of exotic melismatic singing with chordal harmony which does not always easily fit the rules of traditional Western European harmony. The most striking general characteristic of authentic ethnic Ukrainian folk music is the wide use of minor modes or keys which incorporate augmented 2nd intervals. This is an indication that the major-minor system developed in Western European music did not become as entrenched or as sophisticated in Ukraine. However during the Baroque period music was an important discipline for those that had received a higher education in Ukraine. It had a place of considerable importance in the curriculum of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Much of the nobility was well versed in music with many Ukrainian Cossack leaders such as (Mazepa Paliy Holovatyj Sirko) being accomplished players of the kobza bandura or torban. In the course of the 18th century in the Russian Empire court musicians were typically trained at the music academy in Hlukhiv and largely came from Ukraine. Notable performers of the era include Tymofiy Bilohradsky who later studied lute under Sylvius Leopold Weiss in Dresden his daughter Yelyzaveta who was a famous operatic soprano and Oleksiy Rozumovsky a court bandurist and the morganatic husband of Empress Elizabeth. The first dedicated musical academy was set up in Hlukhiv Ukraine in 1738 and students were taught to sing play violin and bandura from manuscripts. As a result many of the earliest composers and performers within the Russian empire were ethnically Ukrainian having been born or educated in Hlukhiv or had been closely associated with this music school. See: Dmytro Bortniansky Maksym Berezovsky Artemiy Vedel. Ukrainian classical music falls into three distinct categories defined by whether the composer was of Ukrainian ethnicity living in Ukraine a composer of non-Ukrainian ethnicity who was born or at some time was a citizen of Ukraine or an ethnic Ukrainian living outside of Ukraine within the Ukrainian diaspora. The music of these three groups differs considerably as do the audiences for whom they cater. Okean Elzy is one of the most popular modern-day Ukrainian rock bands The first category is closely tied with the Ukrainian national school of music spearheaded by Mykola Lysenko. It includes such composers as Kyrylo Stetsenko Mykola Leontovych Levko Revutsky. Most of their music contains Ukrainian folk figures and are composed to Ukrainian texts. On the other hand the second category is of particular importance and international visibility because of the large percentage of ethnic minorities in urban Ukraine. This category includes such composers as Franz Xavier Mozart Isaak Dunayevsky Rheinhold Gliere Yuliy Meitus and Sergei Prokofiev performers Volodymyr Horovyts David Oistrakh Sviatoslav Richter and Isaac Stern. The music of these composers rarely contains Ukrainian folk motives and more often is written to the texts of Russian or Polish poets. Whilst the third category includes a number of prominent individuals who are often not part of the mainstream Ukrainian culture but who have made a significant impact on music in Ukraine while living outside of its borders. These include historic individuals such as: Bortniansky Berezovsky Vedel Tuptalo and Titov. It also contains "Soviet" composers such as Mykola Roslavets Isaak Dunayevsky who were born in Ukraine but who moved to other cultural centres within the Soviet Union. In North America we have Mykola Fomenko Yuriy Oliynyk Zinoviy Lavryshyn and Wasyl Sydorenko. Since the mid 1960s Western influenced pop music in its various forms that has been growing in popularity in Ukraine. One of the most important and truly original musicians to come out of Ukraine in recent years is the ultra-avantgarde folk singer and harmonium player Mariana Sadovska. Ukrainian pop and folk music arose with the international popularity of groups like Vopli Vidoplyasova Viy6 and Okean Elzy. A selection of classical and contemporary Ukrainian music Dyuakuyu tobi ( ) by Okean Elzy Weaving Artisanal textile making is an important element of Ukrainian culture.205 National dress is traditionally woven or embroidered and adorned with black red or blue motifs. Weaving with the help of handmade looms is today still practised in the village of Krupove situated in Rivne Oblast. The village is furthermore the birth place of two famous personalities in the scene of national crafts fabrication. Nina Myhailivna206 and Uliana Petrivna207 have won several awards and national as well as international recognition for their crafts. In order to preserve this traditional knowledge the village is now planning to open a local weaving centre which will include a museum and weaving school. Sport See also: Sport in Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko Ukrainian football player Donetsk's Donbass Arena opened in 2009 Ukraine greatly benefited from the Soviet emphasis on physical education. Such policies left Ukraine with hundreds of stadia swimming pools gymnasia and many other athletic facilities.208 The most popular sport is football. The top professional league is the Vyscha Liha also known as the Ukrainian Premier League. The two most successful teams in the Vyscha Liha are rivals FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Although Shakhtar is the reigning champion of the Vyscha Liha Dynamo Kyiv has been much more successful historically winning two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups one UEFA Super Cup a record 13 USSR Championships and a record 12 Ukrainian Championships; while Shakhtar only won six Ukrainian championships and one and last UEFA Cup.209 Ukraine will host the Euro 2012 alongside Poland. Some of the world's greatest athletes were Ukrainians such as the legend Sergey Bubka whose holding the record in the Pole vault; with a great strength speed and gymnastic abilities he is repeatedly voted the world's best athlete.210211 Many Ukrainians also played for the Soviet national football team most notably Igor Belanov and Oleg Blokhin winners of the prestigious Golden Ball Award for the best football player of the year. This award was only presented to one Ukrainian after the dissolution of the Soviet Union Andriy Shevchenko the current captain of the Ukrainian national football team. The national team made its debut in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Italy. Ukrainians also fared well in boxing where the brothers Vitaliy Klychko and Volodymyr Klychko have held world heavyweight championships. Ukraine made its Olympic debut at the 1994 Winter Olympics. So far Ukraine has been much more successful in Summer Olympics (96 medals in four appearances) than in the Winter Olympics (five medals in four appearances). Ukraine is currently ranked 35th by number of gold medals won in the All-time Olympic Games medal count with every country above it except for Russia having more appearances. Cuisine A traditional Zaporizhian Cossack meat dish Ukrainian typical dessert the Varenyky Main article: Cuisine of Ukraine The traditional Ukrainian diet includes chicken pork beef fish and mushrooms. Ukrainians also tend to eat a lot of potatoes grains fresh and pickled vegetables. Popular traditional dishes include varenyky (boiled dumplings with mushrooms potatoes sauerkraut cottage cheese or cherries) borscht (soup made of beets cabbage and mushrooms or meat) and holubtsy (stuffed cabbage rolls filled with rice carrots and meat). Ukrainian specialties also include Chicken Kiev and Kiev Cake. Ukrainians drink stewed fruit juices milk buttermilk (they make cottage cheese from this) mineral water tea and coffee beer wine and horilka.212 Notes a. Among the Ukrainians that rose to the highest offices in the Russian Empire were Aleksey Razumovsky Alexander Bezborodko Ivan Paskevich. Among the Ukrainians who greatly influenced the Russian Orthodox Church in this period were Stephen Yavorsky Feofan Prokopovich Dimitry of Rostov. b. See the Great Purge article for details. c.1 2 Estimates on the number of deaths vary. Official Soviet data is not available because the Soviet government denied the existence of the famine. See the Holodomor article for details. Sources differ on interpreting various statements from different branches of different governments as to whether they amount to the official recognition of the Famine as Genocide by the country. For example after the statement issued by the Latvian Sejm on March 13 2008 the total number of countries is given as 19 (according to Ukrainian BBC: " ") 16 (according to Korrespondent Russian edition: " ") "more than 10" (according to Korrespondent Ukrainian edition: " 193233 . ") Retrieved on 2008-01-27. d.1 2 These figures are likely to be much higher as they do not include Ukrainians from nations or Ukrainian Jews but instead only ethnic Ukrainians from the Ukrainian SSR. e. This figure excludes POW deaths. f.1 2 3 According to the official 2001 census data (by nationalitydead link; by languagedead link) about 75 percent of Kiev's population responded 'Ukrainian' to the native language (ridna mova) census question and roughly 25 percent responded 'Russian'. On the other hand when the question 'What language do you use in everyday life' was asked in the 2003 sociological survey the Kievans' answers were distributed as follows: 'mostly Russian': 52 percent 'both Russian and Ukrainian in equal measure': 32 percent 'mostly Ukrainian': 14 percent 'exclusively Ukrainian': 4.3 percent. "What language is spoken in Ukraine". Welcome to Ukraine. 2003/2. http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/index2.phpparampgs20032/72. Retrieved 2008-07-11.  g. Such writings were also the base for Russian and Belarusian literature. h. Without the city of Inhulets. i. Russia and Khazakstan are the first and second largest but both these figures include European and Asian territories. Russia is the only country possessing European territories larger than Ukraine. 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Ukraine: State and Nation Building Routledge 1998 online edition Shamshur O. V. Ishevskaya T. I. Multilingual education as a factor of inter-ethnic relations: the case of the Ukraine in Language Education for Intercultural Communication By D. E. Ager George Muskens Sue Wright Multilingual Matters 1993 ISBN 1-85359-204-8 Shen Raphael (1996). Ukraine's Economic Reform: Obstacles Errors Lessons. Praeger/Greenwood. ISBN 0275952401.  Whitmore Sarah. ''State Building in Ukraine: The Ukrainian Parliament 19902003 Routledge 2004 online edition Wilson Andrew Ukraine's Orange Revolution (2005) Wilson Andrew The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation 2nd ed. 2002; online excerpts at Amazon Wilson Andrew Ukrainian Nationalism in the 1990s: A Minority Faith Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-57457-9 Zon Hans van. The Political Economy of Independent Ukraine. 2000 online edition Historical Boshyk Yuri (1986). Ukraine During World War II: History and Its Aftermath. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. 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Norton & Company 2004 ISBN 0-393-02030-4 Piotrowski Tadeusz Poland's Holocaust: Ethnic Strife Collaboration with Occupying Forces and Genocide in the Second Republic 19181947 McFarland & Company 1998 ISBN 0-7864-0371-3 Redlich Shimon. Together and Apart in Brzezany: Poles Jews and Ukrainians 19191945. Indiana U. Press 2002. 202 pp. Reid Anna. Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine (2003) online edition Roberts Geoffrey (2006). Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War 19391953. Yale University Press. ISBN 0920862373.  Subtelny Orest. Ukraine: A History 1st edition. Toronto: University of Toronto Press 1988. ISBN 0-8020-8390-0. Weiner Amir Making Sense of War: The Second World War and the Fate of the Bolshevik Revolution Princeton University Press ISBN 0-691-09543-4 Part II Weinberg Gerhard L (1995). A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521558794.  Zabarko Boris ed. 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Retrieved 2007-08-10.  External links Find more about Ukraine on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Government The President of Ukraine Government Portal of Ukraine The Parliament of Ukraine Chief of State and Cabinet Members General information Ukraine entry at The World Factbook Website Ukraine-CityGuide Ukraine information from the United States Department of State Ukraine travel guide from Wikitravel Portals to the World from the United States Library of Congress Ukraine at UCB Libraries GovPubs Ukraine at the Open Directory Project Wikimedia Atlas of Ukraine Ukraine travel guide from Wikitravel Ukrainian culture Ukrainian art. 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