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Country Profile: Ukraine

 

Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and is bidding to consolidate its European credentials. Russia keeps a watchful eye on that process.

Western Ukraine has close historical ties with Europe, particularly Poland. Both Orthodoxy and the Uniate (Greek Catholic) faith have many followers there. Ukrainian nationalist sentiment is traditionally strongest in the westernmost parts of the country which became part of Ukraine only when the Soviet Union expanded after World War II.

A significant minority of the population of Ukraine are Russians or use Russian as their first language. Russian influence is particularly strong in the industrialised east of the country, where the Orthodox religion is predominant, as well as in Crimea, an autonomous republic on the Black Sea which was part of Russia until 1954. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has its base there.

Crimea is also the homeland of the Crimean Tatars whom Stalin accused of collaborating with the Nazis and deported to Central Asia in 1944. Over 250,000 have returned since the late 1980s.

In 1932-1933 Stalin's programme of enforced agricultural collectivisation brought famine and death to millions in Ukraine, the bread basket of the USSR. Not until the twilight years of the Soviet Union did details of the extent of the suffering begin fully to emerge.

News of another Soviet-era calamity, the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, rang alarm bells around the world immediately. About 8% of Ukraine's territory was contaminated as were large areas in neighbouring Belarus. Millions have suffered as a result.

Independence

The country's first president after independence, former Communist Party official Leonid Kravchuk, presided over a period of economic decline and runaway inflation.

Although the amount of trade with EU countries overall now exceeds that with Russia, Russia remains the country's largest individual trading partner. Ukraine is heavily dependent on Russia for its gas supplies and forms an important part of the pipeline transit route for Russian gas exports to Europe.

A dispute over price rises prompted Russia briefly to cut supplies for use by Ukraine in January 2006 and raised concerns across Europe too. The gas was switched back on only after Ukraine agreed to pay almost twice the former price which rose sharply again for 2007.

Since Viktor Yushchenko became president, Ukraine has made clear its aspiration towards EU membership. Foreign Minister Tarasyuk has mentioned 2015 as a possible target entry date.

In May 2002 Ukraine announced the intention to seek Nato membership. There were Ukrainian peacekeepers in the stabilisation force in Iraq and the country also contributed troops to peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.

 

Facts

  • Population: 47.8 million (UN, 2005)
  • Capital: Kiev
  • Area: 603,700 sq km (233,090 sq miles)
  • Major languages: Ukrainian (official), Russian
  • Major religion: Christianity
  • Life expectancy: 65 years (men), 75 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 $1,520 (World Bank, 2006)
  • Internet domain: .ua
  • International dialling code: +380