7. The c7. The culture of Ukraine ulture of Ukraine in in the the ХХ – ХХ – thethe beginning of ХХ beginning of ХХI I

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The The opposition candidate was candidate was Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the , leader of the Our Ukraine faction in the faction in the Ukrainian parliament, also a former Prime , also a former Prime Minister (1999–2001).Minister (1999–2001).

The election was held in a highly charged The election was held in a highly charged atmosphere, with the Yanukovych team atmosphere, with the Yanukovych team using their control of the government for using their control of the government for intimidation of Yushchenko and his intimidation of Yushchenko and his supporters.supporters.

In September 2004, Yushchenko suffered In September 2004, Yushchenko suffered dioxin poisoning under mysterious poisoning under mysterious circumstances.circumstances.

Viktor Yanukovych was declared the was declared the winner of the winner of the presidential elections..

The results caused a public outcry in The results caused a public outcry in support of the opposition candidate, support of the opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, who challenged the , who challenged the results and led the peaceful results and led the peaceful Orange Revolution..

Beginning on Beginning on November 22, , 2004, , massive protests started in cities across massive protests started in cities across Ukraine: the largest, in Kiev's Ukraine: the largest, in Kiev's Maidan Nezalezhnosti, attracted an , attracted an estimated 500,000 participants.estimated 500,000 participants.

At the same time, local officials in Eastern At the same time, local officials in Eastern and Southern Ukraine, the stronghold of and Southern Ukraine, the stronghold of Viktor Yanukovych, started a series of , started a series of actions alluding to the possibility of the actions alluding to the possibility of the breakup of Ukraine or an extra-breakup of Ukraine or an extra-constitutional constitutional federalization of the country, of the country, should their candidate's claimed victory should their candidate's claimed victory not be recognized.not be recognized.

On On December 3, , 2004, , Ukraine's Supreme Court ordered a revote ordered a revote of the run-off to be held on of the run-off to be held on December 26, , 2004..

The December 26 revote was held under The December 26 revote was held under intense scrutiny of local and international intense scrutiny of local and international observers.observers.

The preliminary results, announced by the The preliminary results, announced by the Central Election Commission on on December 28, gave Yushchenko and December 28, gave Yushchenko and Yanukovych 51.99% and 44.20% of the Yanukovych 51.99% and 44.20% of the total vote, respectively.total vote, respectively.

This Election Commission announcementThis Election Commission announcement

cleared the way for Yushchenko's cleared the way for Yushchenko's inauguration as the as the President of Ukraine. .

In March 2006, the In March 2006, the Verkhovna Rada elections took place and three months took place and three months later the official government was formed later the official government was formed by the "by the "Anti-Crisis Coalition" among the " among the Party of Regions, , Communist, and , and Socialist parties. parties.

The new coalition nominated Viktor The new coalition nominated Viktor Yanukovych for the post of Prime Minister.Yanukovych for the post of Prime Minister.

On April 3, 2007On April 3, 2007, President Yushchenko , President Yushchenko dissolved the Supreme Rada and called dissolved the Supreme Rada and called for preterm elections.for preterm elections.

The new coalition nominated Yuliya The new coalition nominated Yuliya Tymoshenko as Prime Minister; she was Tymoshenko as Prime Minister; she was confirmed December 18, 2007.confirmed December 18, 2007.

So far, Prime Minister Tymoshenko and So far, Prime Minister Tymoshenko and President Yushchenko are cooperating President Yushchenko are cooperating more constructively than they did in 2005 more constructively than they did in 2005 as they tackle an ambitious agenda of as they tackle an ambitious agenda of reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration. reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Ukraine's stated national policy is Euro-Ukraine's stated national policy is Euro-Atlantic integration, including with both Atlantic integration, including with both NATO and the European Union (EU). NATO and the European Union (EU).

Orange-clad demonstrators gather in the Independence Square in Kiev on 22 November, 2004. On some days, the number of protesters in the center of Kiev reached hundreds of thousands (one million by some estimates)

Protesters at Independence Square on the first day of the Orange Revolution.

Blue-clad miners rally in support of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev.

An orange ribbon, a symbol of the Ukrainian Orange Revolution. Ribbons are common symbols of non-violent protest.

Government and politicsGovernment and politics Ukraine is a Ukraine is a republic under a mixed semi- under a mixed semi-

parliamentary parliamentary semi-presidential system with separate with separate legislative, , executive, and , and judicial branches. branches.

The The President is elected by popular vote is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal for a five-year term and is the formal head of state..

Ukraine's legislative branch includes the Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat 450-seat unicameral parliament, the parliament, the Verkhovna Rada..

The parliament is primarily responsible for The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the formation of the executive branch and the the Cabinet of Ministers, which is headed , which is headed by the by the Prime Minister..

The The Supreme Court is the main body in is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction.the system of courts of general jurisdiction.

The The European Union offered an offered an Association Agreement with Ukraine in with Ukraine in September, 2008. The country is a September, 2008. The country is a potential candidate for potential candidate for future enlargement of the European Union..

Verkhovna Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine

Administrative divisionsAdministrative divisions Ukraine is subdivided into twenty-four Ukraine is subdivided into twenty-four

oblasts ( (provinces) and one ) and one autonomous republic, , Crimea. .

The 24 oblasts and The 24 oblasts and Crimea are subdivided are subdivided into 490 into 490 raions ( (districts), or second-level ), or second-level administrative units.administrative units.

n total, Ukraine has 457 cities, 176 of them n total, Ukraine has 457 cities, 176 of them are labeled oblast-class, 279 smaller raion-are labeled oblast-class, 279 smaller raion-class cities, and two special legal status class cities, and two special legal status cities. These are followed by 886 urban-cities. These are followed by 886 urban-type settlements and 28,552 villages.type settlements and 28,552 villages.

GeographyGeography At 603,700 kilometres² (233,074 At 603,700 kilometres² (233,074 sq mi) )

and with a coastline of 2,782 kilometres and with a coastline of 2,782 kilometres (1,729 mi), Ukraine is the world's (1,729 mi), Ukraine is the world's 44th-largest country (after the (after the Central African Republic, before , before Madagascar).).

It is the It is the second largest country in Europe in Europe (after the European part of Russia, before (after the European part of Russia, before metropolitan France).).

The Ukrainian landscape consists mostly of The Ukrainian landscape consists mostly of fertile plains (or fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, ) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper ((DniproDnipro), ), Seversky Donets, , Dniester and and the the Southern Buh as they flow south into as they flow south into the the Black Sea and the smaller and the smaller Sea of Azov. .

The country's only mountains are the The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which in the west, of which the highest is the the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 m at 2,061 m (6,762 (6,762 ft), and ), and those on the on the Crimean peninsula, in the extreme south along the peninsula, in the extreme south along the coast.coast.

View of Yalta from the coast of the Black Sea.

Azov sea coast near Kerch.

The Dnieper River seen atop a hill in Kiev, Ukraine.

Tiraspol and the Dniester river

EconomyEconomy With the collapse of the Soviet system, the country With the collapse of the Soviet system, the country

moved from a moved from a planned economy to a to a market economy. .

Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation vehicles and vehicles and spacecraft..

The country imports most energy supplies, especially The country imports most energy supplies, especially oil and and natural gas, and to a large extent depends on , and to a large extent depends on Russia as its energy supplier. Russia as its energy supplier.

While 25 percent of the natural gas in Ukraine comes While 25 percent of the natural gas in Ukraine comes from internal sources, about 35 percent comes from from internal sources, about 35 percent comes from Russia and the remaining 40 percent from Russia and the remaining 40 percent from Central Asia through transit routes that Russia through transit routes that Russia controls. controls.

The The World Bank classifies Ukraine as a classifies Ukraine as a middle-income state.middle-income state.[

By July 2008 the average nominal salary in By July 2008 the average nominal salary in Ukraine reached 1,930  hryvnias per month.Ukraine reached 1,930  hryvnias per month.[92

Significant issues include underdeveloped Significant issues include underdeveloped infrastructure and transportation, corruption infrastructure and transportation, corruption and bureaucracy.and bureaucracy.

Ukraine produces nearly all types of Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation vehicles and transportation vehicles and spacecraft..

Ukraine is recognised as a world leader in Ukraine is recognised as a world leader in producing missiles and missile related producing missiles and missile related technology.technology.

The building of the National Bank of Ukraine

Ukrainian oblasts (provinces) by monthly salary

CultureCulture Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced

by by Christianity, which is the dominant , which is the dominant religion in the country. religion in the country.

The tradition of the The tradition of the Easter egg, known as , known as pysanky, has long roots in Ukraine., has long roots in Ukraine.

In the city of Kolomya near the foothills of In the city of Kolomya near the foothills of the the Carpathian mountains in 2000 was in 2000 was built the museum of Pysanka which won a built the museum of Pysanka which won a nomination as the monument of modern nomination as the monument of modern Ukraine in 2007, part of the Ukraine in 2007, part of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine action. action.

Popular traditional dishes include Popular traditional dishes include varenyky varenyky (boiled dumplings with mushrooms, (boiled dumplings with mushrooms, potatoes, sauerkraut, cottage cheese or potatoes, sauerkraut, cottage cheese or cherries), cherries), borschborsch (soup made of beets, (soup made of beets, cabbage and mushrooms or meat) and cabbage and mushrooms or meat) and holubtsy (stuffed cabbage rolls filled with (stuffed cabbage rolls filled with rice, carrots and meat).rice, carrots and meat).

A collection of traditional pysanky from Volyn

The Pysanka Museum, Kolomiya, Ukraine

1. Sofiyivsky Park in Uman, Cherkasy Oblast

It was founded in 1796 by Count Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki, a noble Polish szlahtich. The park is named after his Greek wife Sofia and was built in 1802. It's one of the world famous garden-park art creations. There are many scenic areas in the park including waterfalls, fountains, ponds and a stone garden. It is one of the most famous examples of late 17th or early 18th century European landscape garden design that has been preserved to the present time.

2. Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) in Kiev

Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1015 the Lavra has been a prominent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint-Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Currently, the jurisdiction over the site is divided between the state museum, National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Preserve, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the site of the chief monastery of that Church and the residence of its leader, Metropolitan Volodymyr.

3. Kamianets-Podilskyi Historical Complex inKamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast

An old street in Kamianets-Podilskyi's old town quarter.

The Stephen Báthory Gate is part of the city's old fortification complex.

4. Khortytsia[8] in Zaporizhia, Zaporizhia Oblast

Nowadays, Khortysia is designated a national museum. The rural landscape of the island features the Zaporizhian Cossack Museum and a Cossack horse show. The museum building is modern, nestling low in the landscape with dramatic views of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station to the north.The museum contains exhibits dating from the Stone Age through the Scythian period (c.750 - 250 BC) down to the 20th century, including a model of the Pecheneg ambush which claimed the life of Svyatoslav in 972 and a panorama representing the Battle for Zaporizhia, fought during World War II on October 14, 1943.

5. Chersonesos[9] in Sevastopol

Chersonesos was an ancient Greek colony founded approximately 2500 years ago in the southwestern part of Crimea, known then as Taurica. The colony was established in the 6th century BC. Chersonesos' ancient ruins are presently located in one of Sevastopol's suburbs. The buildings mix influences of Greek, Roman and Byzantine culture. The defensive wall is hundreds of meters long. Buildings include Roman amphitheatre and a Greek temple.

6. Saint Sophia Cathedral[10] in Kiev

7. Khotyn Fortress[11] in Khotyn, Chernivtsi Oblast

The Khotyn Fortress is a fortification complex located on the shores of the Dniester River in Khotyn, Chernivtsi Oblast of western Ukraine. Construction on the current fortress was started in 1325, while major improvements were made in the 1380s and in the 1460s.The fortress is a large tourist attraction for the area and Ukraine. It is also a National Ukrainian Architectural Preserve as of 2000.

LanguageLanguage According to the According to the Constitution, the , the state language of of

Ukraine is Ukraine is UkrainianUkrainian.. According to the 2001 census, According to the 2001 census, 67.5 percent 67.5 percent of the of the

population declared population declared UkrainianUkrainian as their as their native language native language and and 29.6 percent 29.6 percent declared declared RussianRussian..

Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a second language.second language.

Ukrainian is mainly spoken in Ukrainian is mainly spoken in western and central western and central Ukraine. Ukraine.

In central Ukraine, Ukrainian and Russian are both In central Ukraine, Ukrainian and Russian are both equally used equally used

In In eastern and southern eastern and southern Ukraine, Russian is primarily Ukraine, Russian is primarily used in cities, and used in cities, and surzhyksurzhyk is used in rural areas. is used in rural areas.

Percentage of native Ukrainian speakers by subdivision

DemographicsDemographics According to the According to the

Ukrainian Census of 2001, ethnic , ethnic Ukrainians make up 77.8% of the make up 77.8% of the population.population.

Other significant ethnic groups are Other significant ethnic groups are Russians (17.3%), (17.3%), Belarusians (0.6%), (0.6%), Moldovans (0.5%), (0.5%), Crimean Tatars (0.5%), (0.5%), Bulgarians (0.4%), (0.4%), Hungarians (0.3%), (0.3%), Romanians (0.3%), (0.3%), Poles (0.3%), (0.3%), Jews (0.2%), (0.2%), Armenians (0.2%), (0.2%), Greeks (0.2%) and (0.2%) and Tatars (0.2%). (0.2%).

The industrial regions in the east and The industrial regions in the east and southeast are the most heavily populated, southeast are the most heavily populated, and about 67.2 percent of the population and about 67.2 percent of the population lives in urban areas.lives in urban areas.

Ukraine is considered to be in a Ukraine is considered to be in a demographic crisis due to its high death demographic crisis due to its high death rate and a low birth rate. rate and a low birth rate.

A factor contributing to the relatively high A factor contributing to the relatively high death is a high death is a high mortality rate among among working-age males from preventable working-age males from preventable causes such as causes such as alcohol poisoning and and smoking..

To help mitigate these trends, the To help mitigate these trends, the government continues to increase child government continues to increase child support payments. Thus it provides one-support payments. Thus it provides one-time payments of 12,250time payments of 12,250 h hryvnias for the for the first child, 25,000 hryvnias for the second first child, 25,000 hryvnias for the second and 50,000 hryvnias for the third and and 50,000 hryvnias for the third and fourth, along with monthly payments of fourth, along with monthly payments of 154 hryvnias per child.154 hryvnias per child.

Lilacs in the Central Botanical Garden, with Vydubychi Monastery and the Left Bank of Kiev in the background.

E40, the longest of all European routes, going through Kiev.

General view of the Andriyivskyy Descent with the Castle of Richard Lionheart on the left and the St Andrew's Church in the background.

This ensemble of authentic windmills is the centrepiece of a 1.5 square kilometres (0.58 sq mi) open air Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine

Fire safety is a significant concern as most of the museum's structures are wooden, and many houses have thatched roofs.

View of the historic Old Town of Lviv.

A Lviv tram on a small cobblestone sidestreet in the Old Town.

The Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre, an important cultural centre for residents and visitors.

Lychakivskiy Cemetery, 2007

Kharkiv's Freedom Square.

ReligionReligion The dominant religion in Ukraine is The dominant religion in Ukraine is

Eastern Orthodox Christianity A distant second by the number of the followers A distant second by the number of the followers

is the is the Eastern Rite Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Additionally, there are 863 Additionally, there are 863 Roman Catholic Protestant Christians also form around also form around

2.19 percent of the population.2.19 percent of the population. Other groups include Other groups include Calvinists, , Lutherans, ,

Methodists and and Seventh-day Adventists. . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ((Mormon Church) is also present. Church) is also present.

The ruins of an ancient Greek theatre. Chersonesus, Sevastopol.

Ruins of Panticapaeum. 6th century BC (Kerch)

Yenikale fortress. Built by the Turks in the 18th (Kerch)

The Massandra Palace near Yalta is one of the official residences of Ukraine.

                        

Swallow's Nest, a symbol of Crimea, one of the best-known, romantic castles near Yalta. It was built in 1912 in the Neo-Gothic style by the order of the German Baron Stengel.

The Hansaray, succession home of the Crimean Khans, in Bakhchisaray.

The Greek colony of Chersonesos, Sevastopol.

Genoese fortress of Caffa in Feodosia

View of the Sevastopol port.

Bay of Sudak.

View of Yalta and the surrounding Crimean Mountains, as seen from the "Tsar's Path".

The front façade of the Livadia Palace, located in the town of Livadiya, used for the Yalta Conference during World War II.