About Ukraine
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe (about the size of Texas or France). It has a fairly large population (48 million). There are two dominant languages Ukrainian and Russian. Both are spoken about equally. Ukrainian is the official state language. Most Ukrainians today consider themselves Christians, with major religions being Orthodoxy and Catholicism.
The capital of Ukraine is Kiev (or Kyiv) with over 3 million people. Other large cities are Kharkov (or Kharkiv), Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk (or Dnipropetrovsk), Odessa (or Odesa), and Lviv. The English spelling of these cities can differ depending on whether the names have been translated from Ukrainian or Russian.
Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, or USSR, until its breakup in 1991. Ukraine maintains close economic, political, cultural, and linguistic ties to Russia, but is a separate country with its own political system and geopolitical strategy. Other countries that border Ukraine are: Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.
Ukrainians are known for their hospitality and enjoyment of conversations, eating, and drinking. It is quite easy to make friends in Ukraine. Many foreigners come to Ukraine for romance as well. Much of Ukraine is rural, open, and farmland. People in villages often live in old-fashioned houses and ride horse carts around. Cell phones and electronic devices have become very popular in Ukraine. Automobiles sales are on the rise as well.
