Ukraine

As Europe’s second largest country the semi-presidential republic of Ukraine is a land of wide, fertile agricultural plains (steppes), plateaus, gorges and with the Carpathian mountains in the west. Its highest point is 2061 metres and has nearly 2800 kilometres of coastline along the Black Sea. Approximately 3000 rivers flow through the country of which two of the biggest major river systems are the Dnipro and Dnister. Ukraine translated means borderland and it does border Belarus, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia.

Ukraine has strategic geographical importance as it lies at the crossroads between Europe and Asia.

From around the 9th century Ukraine was the centre of the eastern Slavic civilisation which disappeared about the 12th century. After an unsettled period the country was divided and ruled by regional powers until by the 19th century it became part of the Russian Empire. The country suffered badly during World War 2 with 7 - 8 million deaths. It finally gained independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR. In 2004 a peaceful mass protest called the Orange Revolution brought about political reform. While Ukraine and Russia share common historical origins, the west of the country has close ties with its European neighbours, particularly Poland. Ukraine depends on Russia for its gas supplies and forms an important part of the pipeline transit route for Russian gas exports to Europe.

Ukraine is dealing with fighting a war with Russia who has invaded and causing widespread devastation and occupancy. The whole country is defending its sovereignty. At present most of the fighting is in its eastern region with other regions suffering from shelling, bombing and missile attacks. Ukraine continues to ask for military and humanitarian support. 

The Ukrainian economy dependence on steel exports made it particularly vulnerable to the effects of the global financial crisis of 2008 and in October of that year the country was offered a $16.5bn (£10.4bn) loan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ukraine has made clear its aspiration towards EU membership; 2015 has been mooted as a possible target entry date. This has caused internal conflict with demonstrations and the split of Crimea from Ukraine to become part of Russia. There is also considerable unrest in eastern Ukraine. 

 Population: 46.2 million (UN,   2007)
 Capital: Kiev
 Area: 603,700 sq km (233,090   sq miles)
 Major languages: Ukrainian   (official), Russian
 Major religion: Christianity
 Life expectancy: 62 years   (men), 74 years (women) (UN)
 Monetary unit: 1 hryvnya =   100 kopiykas
 
 Main exports: Military equipment, metals, pipes, machinery, petroleum   products, textiles, agricultural products
 GNI per capita: US $2,550   (World Bank, 2007)
 
 Internet domain: .ua
 International dialling code: +380

 The climate is mostly temperate with warm summers and cold winters.
 Rainfall is predominantly in the west and north, with the southern Crimean   region
 experiencing a Mediterranean climate  becoming hot in the summers. T
 There can be considerable melt water flooding in the   Carpathian  mountains.
 There is notable contamination in the north east of the country resultant   from the  Chernobyl nuclear accident. In 2009 our charity started to bring   children from northern Ukraine to the UK for recuperative care holidays.

 Due to the war in Ukraine there are no children visits.

The Children of Northern Ukraine need your help

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Chernobyl Children's Lifeline,
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