Ukraine Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central Eastern Europe.

Area
603,700 sq km (233,090 sq miles).

Population
46.4 million (2008 estimate).

Population Density
79.2 per sq km.

Capital
Kyiv.
Population: 2.7 million (official estimate 2007).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Language
Ukrainian is the sole official state language. It is still widely spoken in western and central Ukraine, although Russian is spoken by virtually everyone. Russian is the main language spoken in Kyiv, eastern Ukraine and Crimea.

Religion
There are about 35 million Ukrainian Orthodox faithful, although the church is divided into a traditional pro-Moscow and a breakaway pro-Kyiv faction. Five million Eastern-rite (Uniate) Catholics, subservient to Rome, are concentrated in western Ukraine. There are also Protestant and Muslim minorities.

Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko since 2007.

Head of State
President Viktor Yushchenko since 2005.

Recent History
Since being swept to power by the Orange Revolution in 2005, Viktor Yushchenko’s presidency has been far from smooth thanks to economic woes and a fractious coalition, which has lead to frequent bouts of parliamentary and government paralysis. The linguistic split of Ukraine (Ukrainian is primarily spoken in the west, Russian in the east) has also complicated matters, with Yushchenko being forced to back his arch rival Viktor Yanukovych, popular in the eastern and southern parts of the country, for prime minister in 2006.  However in 2007 Yulia Tymoshenko, a Yushchenko ally, became Ukraine’s prime minister and is popularly tipped as a future president, favoring NATO membership over traditional ties to neighboring Russia.

Telephone
Country code: 380. You can buy telephone cards for public payphones in post offices.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies.

Internet
Internet cafes are available in all cities and towns.

Media
A free media is one of the very tangible benefits of the Orange Revolution. Until 2004 there was very limited press freedom, with independent journalists being intimidated, and, in one famous case, murdered, when not toeing the government line. Since Viktor Yushchenko became president in 2005, a free press has flourished and lively debate has been encouraged.

Post
Services are erratic. Letters to Western Europe can take two weeks or more. The main post office in Kyiv is located at Khreshchatik 22 and is open 24 hours. You can make telephone calls and send faxes here.

Post office hours: Generally 0800-1700.

Press
• The most widely read newspapers include the daily Fakty i Kommentarii, Segodnya, Ukryina Moloda and Den.
• The Russian press is also widely available.
• The Kyiv Post is a daily English-language newspaper.
• Western newspapers are available in Kyiv.

Radio
• The state-run National Radio Company of Ukraine operates three networks. 
• Commercial stations include Europa Plus, Hit FM, Nashe FM and Russkoye Radio.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day.
8 Mar International Women's Day. 
17-20 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1-2 May Labor Days.
9 May Victory Day. 
8 Jun Orthodox Pentecost.
28 Jun Constitution Day.
24 Aug Ukrainian Independence Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day.
8 Mar International Women's Day. 
2-5 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1-2 May Labor Days.
9 May Victory Day. 
24 May Orthodox Pentecost.
28 Jun Constitution Day.
24 Aug Ukrainian Independence Day.

Note
If a holiday falls on Thursday, then Friday and Saturday may also be holidays. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then Monday is considered a holiday as well.

Contact Information:

Embassy of Ukraine in the UK
60 Holland Park, London W11 3SJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7727 6312.
Website: www.ukremb.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1300, 1400-1800; Fri 0900-1300, 1400-1715.
Not open to personal callers.
Consular section: Ground Floor, 78 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PL, UK
Tel: (020) 7243 8923.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 (last admission 1230).

Embassy of Ukraine in the USA
3350 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 333 0606.  Consular matters: (202) 349 3379.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800.
Website: www.mfa.gov.ua/usa


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