Ukraine : Country overview

Geography

• Full country name: Ukraine
• Population: 45.4 million
• Border countries: Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovakia.
• Climate: the weather is dependent on the part of the country. Summers are hottest in the south and winters are coldest farther inland.
• Terrain: mostly flat except for the mountainous areas in the far south (Crimean Penninsula) and the west (the Carpathians).

Living in Ukraine

• Cost of living: the cost of living is cheaper than many other European cities. The Edu-Ukraine website has details of living costs. It predicts you would need around $1,200 to $1,500 per year as a student. See Ukraine living costs  for further information.
• Utilities: supplies of gas, electricity and water are fairly reliable.
• Internet domain: .ua
• Health: healthcare in Ukraine consists of a hybrid of state-run and private provision. The healthcare provided by state-run establishments is free or low cost, while the healthcare at private clinics is of a better standard but more expensive. It is strongly advised to get health insurance before going to Ukraine.
• Laws and customs: penalties for drug possession are severe. Homosexuality is tolerated.

Economy and finance

• Currency: Ukrainian hryvnian (UAH)
• Type of economy: market economy, still emerging from the socialist economy imposed during the Soviet period.
• Health of economy: Ukraine suffered quite badly in the economic crisis and as a result its economy contracted more than 14% in 2009. Ukraine is waiting for IMF assistance of $16.4billion but the Ukrainian government’s lack of progress in introducing reforms has delayed the release of funds. The recovery of the economy is expected to be slow.
• Unemployment rate: 8.8% (The World Factbook, 2009).
• Main exports: ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, fuel and petroleum products, food products.

Culture

• People: ethnic groups in the Ukraine are estimated to be: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8%.
• Major religion: Ukrainian Orthodox Christianity. Other religions include various other forms of Christianity and a small proportion of the population are Jewish.
• History: for an overview of the history of Ukraine, see BBC Timeline: Ukraine.
• Local etiquette: it is polite to bring a gift e.g. flowers, a cake, or a bottle of wine (as well as chocolate, fruit or a souvenir for any children), if you are invited for dinner in someone’s home. You should also leave your shoes at the door.

Politics

• Type of government: republic
• Major political parties: Our Ukraine-People’s self-defence Bloc, Bloc Yuliya Tymoshenko, Communist Party of Ukraine, Party of Regions, Lytvyn Bloc.

Travel advice

Find the latest travel advice and a traveller’s checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.