Last week the war in Ukraine began. Since then, developments in the war and political negotiations have been constantly in the news. But Ukraine is much more than that. Here are some data to help you get to know this Eastern European country better.
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Its population is 41 732 779 (36th in the world, 6th in Europe).
It has an area of 603 628 km2 (45th in the world, 2nd in Europe).
Its territory is organised as a unitary state consisting of twenty-four oblasts (regions), the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and two cities with special status: Kiev and Sevastopol.
Kiev is the capital and most populous city in the country.
The official language is Ukrainian and the predominant religion is Orthodox Christianity.
The official currency is the hryvna.
One of its most characteristic symbols is the sunflower.
Some History
The history of Ukraine begins in 882 with the establishment of Kievan Rus', a federation of several East Slavic tribes, in which the territory of Ukraine was at the centre. It soon became the largest and most powerful state in Europe. However, in 1256 it was invaded by the Mongols, so little is known about it today.
After its disintegration from Kievan Rus, one of the principalities, Galicia-Volhynia, became the Kingdom of Ruthenia. In 1349, it was united with Lithuania to form the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Ruthenian and Aukštaitija. Two centuries later, this territory was incorporated into the Republic of the Two Nations, joining present-day Poland and Lithuania; in 1648, following the Khmelnitsky rebellion, Cossack Ukraine was formed, which lasted until the mid-18th century, when it disappeared after years of progressive division. The majority of Ukrainian territory remained within the Russian Empire created in 1721.
In the picture
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Fortress, a 13th century monument in the Odessa region of south-western Ukraine.
In 1917, following the February Revolution, the Ukrainian War of Independence took place, which ended in 1921 with the territory divided between Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic. The Ukrainian territory was attached to the Soviet Union until 1991, when it became an independent state.
In 2014, after a few months of internal crisis after the then president Yanukovych rejected the agreement of association with the European Union, Russia took the opportunity to occupy and annex the strategically important Crimean peninsula, opening a conflict that has never been closed.
Culture and interests
Ukrainian culture is very rich and diverse. Ukrainian traditions are hundreds of years old and most of them stem from Orthodox Christianity, which is the dominant religion in the country.
One of the most typical Ukrainian customs is Easter eggs, known as pýsankys, which at this time of year are covered with wax and then painted with bright colours. This tradition goes back thousands of years.
The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine. Brought from North America, it is known as sunyashniki, and for the Slavic peoples it represented the power of the Sun. These days it is becoming a symbol of the Ukrainian people's resistance.
To be informed
Last year, Our Time reported the story of a marriagewho survives on the war front. Now it has become even more relevant.
The conflict is ongoing and intensifying in some areas. We recommend that you consume information from valid sources, such as reliable newspapers, television and radio. If you want to learn more about the phenomenon of disinformation, you can consult this article.
Finally, to better understand the origin of the conflict, a few days ago we recorded Professor Sánchez Tapia explaining Russian-Ukrainian relations. You can watch it in this video:
Some History
The history of Ukraine begins in 882 with the establishment of Kievan Rus', a federation of several East Slavic tribes, in which the territory of Ukraine was at the centre. It soon became the largest and most powerful state in Europe. However, in 1256 it was invaded by the Mongols, so little is known about it today.
After its disintegration from Kievan Rus, one of the principalities, Galicia-Volhynia, became the Kingdom of Ruthenia. In 1349, it was united with Lithuania to form the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Ruthenian and Aukštaitija. Two centuries later, this territory was incorporated into the Republic of the Two Nations, joining present-day Poland and Lithuania; in 1648, following the Khmelnitsky rebellion, Cossack Ukraine was formed, which lasted until the mid-18th century, when it disappeared after years of progressive division. The majority of Ukrainian territory remained within the Russian Empire created in 1721.
