UA – Ukraine Trip

I was in Kiev (Kyiv in Ukrainian) last week. Some details about the country:

Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, with the breakup of the former Soviet Union.

All of Russia’s former republics then formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with headquarters in Minsk, Belarus.

Rich in natural resources, Ukraine was once called the “Breadbasket of Europe,” because of its fertile soil and beneficial climate conditions.

Sadly, the tragic 1986 Chornobyl nuclear accident (just north of Kiev) still lingers, and dangerous land contamination and radioactivity concerns are viable problems.

Quick Facts and Figures
Official Name: Ukraine
Capital City: Kiev
Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, others
Official Currency: Hryvna
Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox, others
Population: 49,506,000
Land Area: 603,700 sq km