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About Ukraine

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| The national flag is two equal
horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow representing grain fields
under a blue sky. |
The national symbol and official
coat of arms of Ukraine is a gold trident on an azure background. It is
called the "tryzub". |
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Fast Facts |
Background Ukraine was
the center of the first Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th
and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe.
Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was
incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of
Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through
subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was
established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the
Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to
remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the
18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the
Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine
was able to bring about a short-lived period of independence (1917-1920),
but was re-conquered and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that
engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8
million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible
for some 7 million more deaths. Although independence was achieved in 1991
with the dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive as many of
the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at economic
reform, privatization, and civil liberties.
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| President:
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Viktor Yushchenko
(2004) |
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| Prime Minister:
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Mr. Yukonurov
(2006) |
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| Independence: |
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August 24, 1991
(from the Soviet Union) |
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| Population (2002
est.): |
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48,396,470 (growth
rate: –0.7%) |
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0-14 years: 16.8%
(male 4,147,344; female 3,970,343)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 15,881,821; female 17,366,172)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 2,341,885; female 4,688,905) (2002 est.)
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| Area: |
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233,089 sq mi;
603,740 sq km (slightly smaller than Texas) |
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| Climate: |
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temperate
continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast;
precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north,
lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea
to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the
country, hot in the south |
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Economy After Russia,
the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic
component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the
output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more
than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided
substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other
republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique
equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to
industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions
of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially
natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements. Shortly
after independence in late 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most
prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread
resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon
stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had
fallen to less than 40% the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed
inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence
on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural
reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Now
in his second term, President KUCHMA has pledged to reduce the number of
government agencies, streamline the regulatory process, create a legal
environment to encourage entrepreneurs, and enact a comprehensive tax
overhaul. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas of structural
reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outside institutions -
particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and
scope of reforms and have threatened to withdraw financial support. GDP in
2000 showed strong export-based growth of 6% - the first growth since
independence - and industrial production grew 12.9%. The economy continued
to expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and industrial output grew by over
14%. Growth was under girded by strong domestic demand and growing
consumer and investor confidence. |
| Terrain: |
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The majority of
Ukraine is covered by its famous fertile steppes. There are two mountain
ranges, the Carpathians in the west and the Crimean on the Crimean peninsula. |
| Capital: |
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Kyiv (Kiev)
2,637,000 |
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| Nationality: |
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Ukrainian(s) -
noun |
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Ukrainian -
adjective |
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| Ethnic Groups: |
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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% (2001) |
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| Religion: |
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Orthodox 76%,
Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate) 13.5%, Jewish 2.3%, Baptist, Mennonite,
Protestant, and Muslim 8.2% |
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| Literacy Rate: |
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98% (1989) |
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| GDP: |
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$205 billion,
$4,200 per capita (2001 est.) |
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| GDP -
Composition by Sector: |
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agriculture: 13%
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industry: 40%
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services: 47%
(2000 est.) |
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| Population Below
Poverty Line: |
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29% (2001 est.)
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| Inflation Rate: |
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12% (2001 est.)
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| Industries: |
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coal, electric
power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, food processing (especially sugar) |
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| Agricultural
Products: |
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grain, sugar
beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk |
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| Natural
Resources: |
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iron ore, coal,
manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium,
kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land. |
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| Monetary Unit: |
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Hryvna (UAH) |
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| Major Trading
Partners: |
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Russia, Europe,
U.S. |
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| Exchange Rates: |
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hryvnia per US
dollar - 5.24 (2005) , 5.3126 (January 2002), 5.3722 (2001), 5.4402 (2000), 4.1304
(1999), 2.4495 (1998), 1.8617 (1997) |
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source:
CIA World
Factbook 2002
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