Portal:Ukraine
The Ukraine Portal - Портал України
Ukraine Україна (Ukrainian) | |
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ISO 3166 code | UA |
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast. It also borders Belarus to the north; Poland and Slovakia to the west; Hungary, Romania and Moldova to the southwest; with a coastline along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south and southeast. Kyiv is the nation's capital and largest city, followed by Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa. Ukraine's official language is Ukrainian.
During the Middle Ages, Ukraine was the site of early Slavic expansion and the area later became a key centre of East Slavic culture under the state of Kievan Rus', which emerged in the 9th century. The state eventually disintegrated into rival regional powers and was destroyed by the Mongol invasions of the 13th century. The area was then contested, divided, and ruled by a variety of external powers for the next 600 years, including the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Austrian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Tsardom of Russia. The Cossack Hetmanate emerged in central Ukraine in the 17th century, but was partitioned between Russia and Poland, and absorbed by the Russian Empire. Ukrainian nationalism developed and, following the Russian Revolution in 1917, the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic was formed. The Bolsheviks consolidated control over much of the former empire and established the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union when it was formed in 1922. In the early 1930s, millions of Ukrainians died in the Holodomor, a human-made famine. The German occupation during World War II in Ukraine was devastating, with 7 million Ukrainian civilians killed, including most Ukrainian Jews.
Ukraine gained independence in 1991 as the Soviet Union dissolved, and declared itself neutral. A new constitution was adopted in 1996. A series of mass demonstrations, known as the Euromaidan, led to the establishment of a new government in 2014 after a revolution. Russia then unilaterally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and pro-Russian unrest culminated in a war in the Donbas between Russian-backed separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since the outbreak of war with Russia, Ukraine has continued to seek closer ties with the United States, European Union, and NATO.
Ukraine is a unitary state and its system of government is a semi-presidential republic. A developing country, it is the poorest country in Europe by nominal GDP per capita and corruption remains a significant issue. However, due to its extensive fertile land, pre-war Ukraine was one of the largest grain exporters in the world. Ukraine is considered a middle power in global affairs, and the Ukrainian Armed Force is the fifth largest armed force in the world in terms of both active personnel as well as total number of personnel with the eighth largest defence budget in the world. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also operates one of the largest and most diverse drone fleets in the world. It is a founding member of the United Nations, as well as a member of the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, and the OSCE. It is in the process of joining the European Union and has applied to join NATO. (Full article...)
In the news
- 18 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea–Ukraine relations
- The South Korean National Intelligence Service says that North Korea has started sending troops to fight with Russia in Ukraine. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol calls for a security meeting and says the international community must respond with "all available means". (BBC)
- 16 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea–Ukraine relations
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that North Korea has now become directly involved in the war in Ukraine, with a senior Ukrainian intelligence official saying that around 3,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia and are training for deployment to Russian-occupied territories. (Politico)
- United States and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- U.S. President Joe Biden announces a new $425 million military aid package for Ukraine, containing long-range weaponry. (The Kyiv Independent)
- 15 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Eastern Ukraine campaign
- Governor of Kharkiv Oblast Oleh Syniehubov orders the mandatory evacuation of all civilians from Kupiansk and Borova in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Reuters)
- 15 October 2024 – Iran–European Union relations
- The European Union sanctions fourteen Iranian individuals and firms, including Iran Air and several high-ranking members of the Quds Force, for allegedly transferring missiles and drones to Moscow in order to help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. (Al Jazeera)
- 14 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Southern Ukraine campaign
Featured pictures
Did you know (auto-generated)
- ... that one of Ukraine's largest power plants was mostly destroyed by Russians in March 2024?
- ... that the founder of the Guide to the Free World, helping people leave Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, said she was told: "It's good that you get out of Russia, but a pity that you won't be shot"?
- ... that following the energy price shock caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Turkish government intervened to have the country's renewable energy subsidise coal and gas?
- ... that the Malyuk rifle was originally developed as a private venture under a contract with the Security Service of Ukraine?
- ... that Inna Derusova was the first woman to be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine?
- ... that Mali and Niger broke off diplomatic relations with Ukraine over the country's alleged support for rebel groups in the Battle of Tinzaouaten?
More did you know -
- ... that the neo-classical Verkhovna Rada building in Kyiv features a hundred-tonne glass dome over the chamber where the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine convenes to enact legislation?
- ... that the Khreschatyk is the main street of Ukrainian capital Kyiv on which Orange Revolution and other historical events mainly took place?
- ... that among many historic landmarks at the Andrew's Descent in Kyiv, there is a medieval Gothic style castle that locals call the "Castle of Richard the Lion Heart" due to the legend the 12th century King of England had visited the building?
- ... that the longest of the Kiev bridges, the 1,543 metres long Paton Bridge over the Dnieper River, constructed in 1953 was the first fully welded steel construction of such length at that time?
- ... that Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych (pictured), known for the "Carol of the Bells", was nicknamed "Ukrainian Bach" in France?
- ... that the Privat Group is one of the few Ukrainian companies that own industries in the United States?
Selected article -
The politics of Ukraine take place in a framework of a semi-presidential republic and a multi-party system. A Cabinet of Ministers exercises executive power (jointly with the president until 1996). Legislative power is vested in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian: Верховна Рада, lit. 'Supreme Council').
As part of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic until 1991, the political system featured a single-party socialist-republic framework characterized by the superior role of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU), the sole-governing party then permitted by the Ukrainian SSR's constitution. In 1996, the current constitution replaced the previous constitution that was introduced in 1978. (Full article...)
In the news
- 18 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea–Ukraine relations
- The South Korean National Intelligence Service says that North Korea has started sending troops to fight with Russia in Ukraine. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol calls for a security meeting and says the international community must respond with "all available means". (BBC)
- 16 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea–Ukraine relations
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that North Korea has now become directly involved in the war in Ukraine, with a senior Ukrainian intelligence official saying that around 3,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia and are training for deployment to Russian-occupied territories. (Politico)
- United States and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- U.S. President Joe Biden announces a new $425 million military aid package for Ukraine, containing long-range weaponry. (The Kyiv Independent)
- 15 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Eastern Ukraine campaign
- Governor of Kharkiv Oblast Oleh Syniehubov orders the mandatory evacuation of all civilians from Kupiansk and Borova in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Reuters)
- 15 October 2024 – Iran–European Union relations
- The European Union sanctions fourteen Iranian individuals and firms, including Iran Air and several high-ranking members of the Quds Force, for allegedly transferring missiles and drones to Moscow in order to help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. (Al Jazeera)
- 14 October 2024 – Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Southern Ukraine campaign
Selected anniversaries for October
- October 4, 2006 — Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 crashed over the Black Sea en route from Tel Aviv (Israel) to Novosibirsk (Russia).
- October 25, 1854 — Battle of Balaclava was fought during the Crimean War, fought between the allied forces of the United Kingdom, French Empire and the Ottoman Empire on one side and Russia on the other.
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