Ukraine Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central Eastern Europe.

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

Population
47.8 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
79.2 per sq km.

Capital
Kyiv.
Population: 2.67 million (official estimate 2005).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Recent history: Following the elections in late 2004 when he lost to the candidate backed by outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, Mr Yushchenko and his supporters took to the streets to protest that the vote had been rigged. After 10 days of peaceful but dramatic demonstrations dubbed the ’Orange Revolution’, a rerun was ordered and Mr Yushchenko won. Viktor Yushchenko’s time in government has been far from smooth however. The heady days of the Orange Revolution have faded, no thanks to a slowing economy and rising prices. Yushchenko struggled to form a working government after the March 2006 general elections in which no party won a majority. After four months of wrangling, he agreed to back his arch rival ViktorYanukovych for prime minister.

Language
Ukrainian is the sole official state language. A member of the eastern Slav languages and similar to Russian, it was discouraged for centuries by Tsarist and Soviet authorities. 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. The present Government uses every opportunity to promote the revival of Ukrainian, particularly in schools. There are 12 million ethnic Russians in Ukraine, 500,000 Jews and more than 250,000 Crimean Tatars.

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. 5 million Eastern-rite (Uniate) Catholics, subservient to Rome, are concentrated in western Ukraine and it is now several years since a Stalin-era ban on their church was lifted. There are also Protestant and Muslim minorities. Mass emigration has reduced the numbers of Jews, concentrated in Kyiv, Lviv and Odessa.

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 Viktor Yanukovych since 2006.

Head of State
President Viktor Yushchenko since 2005.


Telephone
Ukraine has reliable communications with the West, and most major cities provide IDD facilities and can be dialed from abroad. Country code: 380. Telephone cards for public payphones can be bought in post offices.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to main urban areas.

Internet
Internet cafes are available in major cities.

Media
Prior to the November 2004 Presidential elections, state-run TV tended to toe the Government line. However, during the dispute that followed the election, balanced reports were broadcast for the first time in years. Following his election, Viktor Yushchenko declared his belief in press freedom, in contrast to his predecessor, who suppressed the opposition press. Under President Kuchma, several opposition newspapers were closed and a number of journalists investigating high-profile crimes died in mysterious circumstances. The most famous of these was Georgiy Gongadze, who disappeared in 2000 and whose body was found a year later. A Parliamentary commission investigating the case believes Kuchma to be one of the organizers of the abduction, an allegation which he denies.

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. Telephone calls can be made here and faxes can be sent. Post office hours: Generally 0800-1700.

Press
The most widely read include the daily Fakty i Kommentarii, Kievskiye Vedomosti, Silski Visti and Vecherniye Vesti. The Russian press is also widely available. The Kyiv Post is a daily English-language newspaper. Western newspapers are available in Kyiv.

Radio
Three networks are operated by the state-run National Radio Company of Ukraine, while commercial stations include Europa Plus, Hit FM, Nashe FM and Russkoye Radio.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day.
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
8-9 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1-2 May Labor Days.
9 May Victory Day.
27-28 May Orthodox Pentecost.
28 Jun Constitution Day.
24 Aug Ukrainian Independence Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas Day.
8 Mar International Women’s Day. 
27-28 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1-2 May Labor Days.
9 May Victory Day. 
15-16 Jun 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 or 0906 550 8955 (information line).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 (last admission 1230).

Intourist Travel Ltd in the UK
7 Princedale Road, Holland Park, London W11 4NW, UK
Tel: (020) 7792 5240 or 0870 112 1232 (general enquiries).
Website: www.intouristuk.com

Embassy of Ukraine in the USA
3350 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 333 0606.
Website: www.ukraineinfo.us

Consulate General of Ukraine in the USA
240 East 49 Street, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 371 5690.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1500-1800.
Website: www.ukrconsul.org


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