Information
Here you can find out basic information about Ukraine and why it just may be a great place for real estate investment, business start up or simply a place to visit. Click on the respective cities, Kiev & Odessa to find our more information about them.
About Ukraine Page:
General
Location
Language
Geography
Climate
Economy
Religion
Culture
Political System
Cost of Living
Transportation
Currency
Visa System
Safety
Communications
Medical Care
General
Ukraine is an exciting tourist destination that is largely undiscovered - mainly due to its many years being hidden behind the ‘iron curtain’. Now European, American, Australian and other tourists alike are discovering what wonderful hidden gem Ukraine is – in some cases right next door to their native countries. Ukraine occupies 8th place in the world by the number of tourists visiting (according to World Tourism Organization), with the total number of tourists per year increasing every year.
Every year Ukraine’s tourism infrastructure continues to improve, with more flights being added and quality of service improving to align itself closer with ‘Western Standards’.
Location
Ukraine is the second largest country by size in Europe. It is home to roughly 47 million people. The country is diverse, with about 78% of population being ethnic Ukrainians and large minorities of Russians, Belarusians and Romanians.
Language
The Ukrainian language is the only official language in Ukraine, however, in Kiev and Southeastern region Ukraine, Russian is commonly spoken and in many cases on a wider basis than Ukrainian. Russian and Ukrainian languages are similar and those who speak Russian can often understand Ukrainian without having studied it previously. Certain cities, particularly in Southeastern region of Ukraine such as Odessa, Sevastopol, Simferopol, and Yalta – Russian language is spoken almost exclusively.
Geography
The Ukrainian landscape consists primarily of plains and plateaus, crossed by rives such as Dnieper, which flow south into the Black Sea and the small Sea of Azov. Visitors are often amazed with diverse terrain that Ukraine has to offer ranging from Carpathian Mountains to steppes in the middle of the country. Another interesting aspect is that a short drive of typically no more of 20 minutes away from any city center gets you into almost complete wilderness filled with forests and lakes. This is in great contrast from North American or rest of Europe where even far outside of city centers there have already been many developments built.
Climate
Ukraine has a mostly warm continental climate, although a more Mediterranean style climate is found on the southern Crimean coast. Temperature averages vary greatly depending on the region, and while Kiev may have some very cold days in the winter, cities in the south part of Ukraine rarely see negative temperatures. Yalta for instance almost never sees snow or freezing weather. Summers are pleasant, with average temperatures around 25 Celsius and low humidity. South region of Ukraine with its Mediterranean style is also known for its lack of rain, with an average of about 250 rain free days per year.
Economy
Ukraine is classified as middle income state. Ukraine’s GDP ranks 29th in the world (as of 2008). GDP per capita in 2008 according to CIA was $7,800, ranked 83rd in the world. However, the figure is somewhat deceiving as a large portion of Ukrainian business is done on the black or gray market, thus not allowing official statistics to track it. While cosmopolitan centers of cities such as Kiev or Odessa can seem luxurious and ultra expensive, areas outside of the center still face undeveloped infrastructure and often are plagued with issues stemming from little or no maintenance. While slowly improving, Ukraine still has a significant corruption and bureaucracy problem. Growing sectors of the Ukrainian economy include tourism, information technology and exports of natural resources.
Religion
The dominant religion in Ukraine is Eastern Orthodox Christianity with roughly 80% of the population. Ukraine Greek Catholic denomination is the second highest with 8%, predominantly residing in the Western region. The remainder is made up of Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim religions.
Culture
Customs in Ukraine are heavily influenced by Christianity which is the dominant religion in the country. Gender roles tend to be much more traditional than in the West. One of the things that is often most noticed by men visiting Ukraine for the first time is that majority of women take pride in being feminine and usually display this through wearing dresses or wearing makeup on regular occasions. Mentality and attitude of Ukrainian women is typically less career focused than in the West and is geared towards traditional values which includes taking care of the husband and raising children. Other interesting nuances are the roles that grandparents play in Ukraine which is typically a more active role in raising children than those in the West.
Ukrainians frequently can be found sitting in city squares and parks hanging with their friends versus visiting cafes or restaurants. Drinking alcohol in public is common and legal and remains one of the favorite activities of teenagers who are often seen sitting on city benches and enjoying beer with their friends. Smoking remains very common in Ukraine, particularly amongst young people. Smoking indoors in most commercial places is banned and non-smoking areas in restaurants or cafes are seldom. Unlike in the West, hitchhiking is very common. Travelers can indicate a destination and agree on a rate that is typically much cheaper than official taxi. Much more information about customs and Ukrainian culture can be found at Ukrainian Culture Guide.
Political System
Ukraine is a republic under a parliamentary system. The president is elected by a popular vote for five year terms. The legislative branch includes a 450 seat parliament called “Verrkhovna Rada”. Ukraine currently has two major political parties and unfortunately since the 2004 Orange revolution has been plagued in various bitter political rivalries.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Ukraine will vary widely depending on the region and even parts of the city. Naturally, centers in cosmopolitan cities such as Kiev and Odessa tend to be expensive, although considerably cheaper than Western Europe or North America. This has been even more highlighted by the Hryvnia depreciation of about 40% in late 2008. City suburbs are dramatically cheaper than city centers, particularly property rental prices. Kiev is Ukraine’s most expensive city naturally (because it is a capital), followed by Odessa and Lvov. Cities such as Sevastopol, Donetsk, Kharkov, Kherson and Dnepropetrovsk are substantially cheaper. However, as of 2009 due to currency drop as an example using one of Kiev’s top tier restaurants a dinner for two with three course meal and wine would run roughly at around $80 USD. Similar service in Western Europe or North America would cost up to three or more times higher. For more information on cost of living in Ukraine you can visit Escape Artist or Go 2 Kiev websites.
Transportation
Ukraine has a well developed railway system and constantly expanding Air Transportation. Below are brief summaries of various forms of transportation available in Ukraine.
Roads vary from well developed and newly built (such as the newly completed interstate connecting Kiev with Odessa) to poorly maintained and poorly lit in areas outside major urban centers. Visitors are advised to drive defensively at all times as many drivers in Ukraine are aggressive and not experienced (many obtained cars only in recent years). For more information on Roads in Ukraine visit Roads in Ukraine Wikipedia page.
Rail transportation plays a big role in connecting Ukraine’s urban centers and is commonly used by the locals, must more so than Air transportation which is typically much more expensive. Largest railroad centers are in Kiev, Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk. Since the government subsidizes the rail industry, tickets are very cheap in contrast to the West. Tickets can be purchased at any train station or at various scatted railway ticket offices around the cities. They can also be purchased over the phone by dialing 050 (Russian speakers only). In depth article on train travel in Ukraine can be found at Ukraine Train Travel information page. Schedules and prices for CIS train travel can be found at CIS Railway Schedule.
Air Transportation as a whole in Ukraine is well developed, although some Airports seem small and underdeveloped in contrast to their counterparts in the West. Even the main Airport in Kiev – Borispol (KBP) is smaller than many regional Airports in Western Europe. However, Borispol Airport is currently being expanded in preparation for the UEFA Europe Cup 2012 which will be hosted in Ukraine. Domestic and International flights depart mainly from Boristpol Airport , although some domestic flights originate from Zhulany Airport (IEV). Other relatively large Airports in Ukraine with international flights include Odessa (ODS) and Lvov (LWO). Recently, a low cost Airline has been granted rights to enter Ukrainian market (Wizzair) and others are looking to enter shortly. The main Airline of Ukraine is Aerosvit Airlines which services a variety of international and domestic destinations. Because Ukraine does not see the type of Air traffic that many Airports in the West see, flights are rarely delayed. Full schedule of flights in Kiev can be found at official website of Kiev Borispol Airport.
Seaports in Ukraine are well developed and the country has 12 large ports serving international and coastal trades. The largest port in Ukraine is located in Odessa. The ports provide a convenient way to travel to nearby cities and some international destinations typically in Turkey. Many cruise companies now include Odessa as a stop on their cruises.
Taxis are common in Ukraine and typically are much cheaper compared to the West. Taxis in large cities can be hailed or called in advance. Numerous taxi companies exist in each city, although very few provide English speaking service. Hitchhiking is common, but not usually recommended for non Russian speakers. Prices are cheaper than official taxi companies and should be agreed in advance.
Metro systems in Ukraine are well developed, convenient and cheap. For example, as recently as 2007, the price of admission to Kiev metro system was about 6 cents as it was heavily subsidized by the government. Prices were raised in 2008 to about 22 cents per ride. Kiev’s metro system in English can be seen here.
Currency
Ukraine’s official currency is Hryvnia (UAH). Notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 are available. Coins are also used although not as common. In late 2008, Ukraine’s currency suffered a sharp devaluation with a drop of about 40% against most other currencies. Ukraine is the last country in Europe that pegs its currency to US Dollar, thus making it extremely attractive from a cost standpoint for European travelers who use Euros or Sterling and currently have unprecedented purchasing power in Ukraine. US dollar is often used to name prices, especially for large items such as real estate and autos. Euro is the second most commonly used foreign currency. US dollar can often be used for every day purchases or payments in restaurants; however, it is not advisable as almost always the exchange rate used is lower than the market. Foreign currencies such as USD and Euros can easily be exchanged at many locations in every part of the cities. Kiosks or official banks provide exchange services with exchange rate varying widely. Western visitors can also use their ATM cards to withdraw either USD in some cases or UAH directly from bank machines. To check the latest exchange rates you can visit Finance UA website.
Visa System
Visa is not required for travelers from European Union countries, Canada, United States, Turkey, Cyprus, Switzerland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania Romania and Japan. Other countries may require invitation letters or have other visa requirements so be sure to check with your local Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate. Visitors from the aforementioned countries can remain in Ukraine for up to 90 days without visa. Business visa and other visa instruments are available for those that seek to remain in the country for more than 90 days in a row.
Safety
Violent crime is less prevalent in Ukraine than in most Western countries; however, petty crime such as pick pocketing and late night muggings on easy (typically drunken) patrons exists. These dangers are easily minimized by not appearing drunk late at night alone and staying away from poorly lit areas. Street scams are sometimes orchestrated similarly to many other European capitals. For more information regarding safety in Ukraine you can read Safety in Ukraine Article.
Communication
Mobile phones are an essential accessory in Ukraine and are used on a wider basis than in the West. There are numerous mobile service providers with various packages and pricing plans. Anyone with a tri band unlocked phone can purchase a starter package for roughly $3 and start using their mobile phone. Minutes can be added as needed through purchase at one of many locations. Most land line phones can not dial to mobile phones yet all mobile phones can call both mobile and land lines.
Internet is a widely used form of communication and city centers have numerous Internet cafes some of which are open 24/7.
Medical Care
Prescription medication should be brought along on your trip as some medicine may not be available. At the same time, lots of medical drugs that require prescription in the West are sold without required prescription in Ukraine’s pharmacies. Medical care is technically free in Ukraine, however, small fees are customary when visiting doctors in order to assure highest quality care. There are also many private clinics available, some of which cater towards expat community an example being American Medical Center located in Kiev or Into-Sana in Odessa
