AREA and LOCATION
Ukraine, (Україна, transliterated: Ukrayina)) is the second largest country in Eastern Europe, a former Soviet state. It borders with Russian Federation, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
BORDERING COUNTRIES
Russian Federation (1,576 km), Belarus (891 km), Poland (428 km), Slovakia (90 km), Hungary (103 km), Romania (176 km), Moldova (940 km)
THE CAPITAL CITY and MAJOR CITIES
Kiev is the country’s capital as well as the largest city with approximately 2,847,200 inhabitants. Other large cities include Kharkov (1,470,902 inhabitants), Dnipropetrovsk (1,065,008 inhabitants), Odessa (1,029,049 inhabitants).
CLIMATE
Ukraine has a primarily temperate continental climate, towards the south a more Mediterranean climate can be found (on the southern Crimean coast). Precipitation is highest in the west and north, and lowest in the east and southeast. Winters vary – cool along the Black Sea and cold 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.
AREA CODE
+380
CURRENCY
Hryvnia (UAH)
DISTANCES
Kiev is situated 404 km from Chisinau, Moldova; 428 km from Minsk, Belarus; 442 km from Odessa, Ukraine and 689 km from Warsaw, Poland.
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
General emergency line 03 or 103
Police 02
Ambulance 03
Fire Service 01
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
Cherkasy International Airport, Chernivtsi International Airport, Donetsk International Airport, Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport, Izmail International Airport, Kharkiv International Airport, Khmelnitsky International Airport, Kryvyi Rih International Airport, Boryspil International Airport, Kiev International Airport (Zhuliany), Luhansk International Airport, Lviv International Airport, Mariupol International Airport, Odessa International Airport, Rivne International Airport, “Belbek” Sevastopol International Airport, Sieverodonetsk Airport, Simferopol International Airport, Uzhhorod International Airport, Zaporizhia International Airport
LANGUAGE
Ukrainian is the official state language of Ukraine according to the Constitution. Russian is widely spoken – particularly 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. Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a second language.
MOBILE OPERATORS
Kyivstar GSM, MTC (former UMC), Djuice, Jeans, Beeline, Life :), U’TEL, Mobilych, UNI
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2010)
1 Jan New Year’s Day, 7 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day, 8 Mar International Women’s Day, 2 Apr – 5 Apr Orthodox Easter, 1 May – 2 May Labour Days. 9 May Victory Day, 24 May Orthodox Pentecost, 28 Jun Constitution Day, 24 Aug Ukrainian Independence Day.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Unitary semi-presidential republic
POPULATION
45,000,300 (2016)
POWER NETWORK
220 V/50 Hz, Europlug, Schuko
PRESIDENT
Volodymyr Zelenskyj
RAIL TRANSPORT
Ukrainian Railways
http://www.uz.gov.ua/?lng=uk
ROAD TRANSPORT
BUS:
Autolux
http://www.autolux.ua/english/
RENT A CAR:
Sixt
http://www.sixt.com/car-rental/ukraine/
SMOKING
The Ukrainian parliament introduced a law that requires catering establishments such as bars, cafés and restaurants to provide non-smoking areas.
TAXIS
There are two types of taxis in Ukraine – official taxis which have lights or signs on the car roof and private drivers [chastnik — Rus.; pryvatnyk — Ukr.]. Cars can be ordered over the phone or picked up in the street next to bus stops or in busy locations. Wherever possible, it is best to arrange on a price beforehand. The minimum cost of a taxi ride is 15-20 UAH ($3-4 USD) in Kiev and less in regional centers.
TIME
Standard time zone: Easter European Time (EET), UTC/GMT + 2 hours, Summer (DST) – EEST (UTC + 3)