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About Ukraine

Ukraine is situated in Eastern Europe and lies in the Dnipro River basin. Neighboring Ukraine are the countries of Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. In the South, Ukraine is washed by the Black and Azov Seas. The area of Ukraine is 603,700 sq.km, the population is 46,728,400. Kiev (Kyiv, in Ukrainian spelling), Capital of Ukraine, occupies a territory over 790 sq. Km and is situated on the banks of the Dnipro River which divides it in two parts – the left and right ones. About 3 million people live in Kiev.

Approximately 85% of the Ukrainian population are Orthodox Christians; 10% are Catholics of the Byzantine rite; 3% are Protestant (mainly Baptists); 1.3% are of the Jewish faith.

The territory of Ukraine is mostly a level, treeless plain, calls "steppe". There are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean peninsula and the Carpathians in the West. Mixed forests of pine and fir-trees, beeches, limes, oaks and elms cover the mountains, but the thickest woods can still be found in the northern part of the republic, in Volyn. Kiev and Cherkassy lie in the midst of Ukrainian southernmost pine forest. The main Ukrainian river is the Dnieper. It is one of the longest European rivers and one of the country's main source of hydroelectric power. The Dnieper had been the cradle of the Ukrainian and Russian people in time immemorial!

Climate in Ukraine is temperate-continental, but for the Crimea where there is a subtropical climate of mediterrainian type. Winters are long, snowy and cool, average temperature in January is - 6°C (21° F). The coolest month is February. Summer is short, not very hot, average temperature in July is +19°C (67° F). In July and August the thermometer gauge can raise to +35-40° C, but more often it stays at + 25, 30°C. Change of seasons is very distinct in Ukraine, snowy winter, flowering warm springtime, hot summer and gilded autumn.

Ukraine is a cash economy. Use of credit cards is limited to the better hotels, Western-style restaurants, international airlines and select stores. Customs regulations prohibit sending cash, traveler's checks, personal checks, credit cards or passports through the international mail system to Ukraine. These items are regularly confiscated as contraband by customs authorities.

Official state currency since 1996 is Hryvna (UAH). We have money bills by nominal values 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100,200 and 500 hryvnas and small change coins by nominal values 1,2,5,10,25,50 kopecks and one hryvna.

Payments on the territory of Ukraine are realized only in national currency only. You may change hard currency for hryvnas at exchange posts scatterred all over the city and at banks. In order to avoid fraud and troubles, do not use services of street changers. You can get cash for your travellers checks in hotels and some banks. Credit cards are taken for payment only in large hotels, restaurants and shops. Changing any currency for Ukrainian currency or another currency is legal only at banks, currency exchange desks, at hotels and at licensed exchange booths. Changing money with black-market traders is illegal and can be dangerous. For many years one US Dollars costs five hryvnas, one Euro - a bit less than seven hryvnas.

Ukraine is a cash economy. Use of credit cards is limited to the better hotels, Western-style restaurants, international airlines and select stores in big cities. Only MasterCard/EuroCard and Visa are accepted commonly. A passport is required whenever a credit card is used. Customs regulations prohibit sending cash, traveler's checks, personal checks, credit cards or passports through the mail system to Ukraine. These items are regularly confiscated as contraband by customs authorities. However you can use legal services of international money transfer companies.

Official state language in Ukraine since 1990 is Ukrainian, but alongside with it Russian is broadly used. In big cities, Russian is mostly used (particularly in Eastern part, where you will hardly hear Ukrainian speech), and in small towns and villages - Ukrainian. All official documents are exercised in Ukrainian, mass media (excepting the press) use Ukrainian. Hotels, restaurants, excvisite shops hire people who know English. But do not hope to hear English in food shops, kiosks, or town transportation.