Home » Our Work » Where We Work » Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine
Ministries in Ukraine
Projects in Ukraine
Feeding Fertile MindsView project info »
Equipping The Next Generation Of Christian LeadersView project info »
Vehicles For Eastern EuropeView project info »
Leadership SupportView project info »
+
+
+
Background
Richly endowed in natural resources, Ukraine has been fought over and subjugated for centuries; its 20th-century struggle for liberty is not yet complete. A short-lived independence from Russia (1917-1920) was followed by brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died, and World War II, in which German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 million more deaths. Although independence was attained in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive as many of the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civic liberties.
Location
Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia
Area
603,700 sq km
Land Boundaries
Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia
Natural Resources
Iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land
Population
47 million (2011 est.)
Ethnic Groups
Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, other 5% [2001 census]
Religions
Orthodox 63%, Greek Catholicism 11%, Evangelicals 3.5%
Languages
Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
Capital
Kiev
Industries
Coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing (especially sugar) Agriculture Grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk.
Currency
1 hryvna = 100 kopiykas