Main information which every tourist should know before visiting Ukraine.

Why to visit Ukraine?  

Ukraine is a very vivid country, rich in culture and history. There is much to offer tourists, many lovely sights, traditional sounds, decadent flavor and unique smells. A wide variety of attractions in     Ukraine capture the interest of tourists from the world over. One such Ukrainian attraction is St. Sophia Cathedral and Monastery, built during the 11th century. Also located in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, are attractions such as The Golden Gate, Cathedral of St. Vladimir, Museum of Ukrainian Art, Andreyev Hill, the Opera House and the Historical Museum of Ukraine. Take a walk through time in the historical city of Lviv. In addition to the amazing architecture, visitors can explore great Ukrainian attractions including the National Museum, Antique Armory, Pharmaceutical Museum, Museum of Ethnography and Crafts, Museum of History and the Opera House of Ivan Franko. The city of Odessa is well-known for the Potemkin Stairway with its 192 steps. Odessa also boasts a beautifully decorated opera house, a statue of the Duke of Richelieu, the Archaeological Museum and the Vorontsov Palace. This is just a small sampling of the many fascinating attractions in Ukraine. Visit this wonderful country and you will soon find there is always more to discover.

Climate of Ukraine.

The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical location. Ukraine’s territory lies in the temperate belt and its climate is temperately continental, only the southern coast of the Crimea is subtropical. The Black and the Azov seas have small influence on the climate and it’s felt only in coastal areas. The warmest region is nearby the Black Sea, the coldest — in the north-east and in the mountains. 

Political system of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the sole body of the legislative power in Ukraine. It consists of 450 peoples’ deputies who are elected for a term of 4 years on the basis of direct universal and equal voting through a secret ballot. The Verkhovna Rada`s main function is adopting laws, while the law drafting work is performed by its Committees. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is the highest body of the executive power in Ukraine. Responsible to the President and accountable to the Verkhovna Rada, it carries out domestic and foreign policy of the State. 

Religion in Ukraine.

Despite changes over the past 1000 years, Ukrainian Orthodox Christianity remains the main religion of Ukraine today, with some 70% of Ukrainians still claiming to belong to this faith. However, there are a number of other religions in Ukraine. The introduction of Orthodox Christianity to Ukraine came at a time when understanding of the scriptures was limited. People were and still are guarded. They accepted the god of Christianity but still clung to many of their pagan traditions. As a result, there was a sort of merging of the two – as is seen with the Easter celebrations still practised today. One of the most outstanding accomplishments of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians was that they converted scripture and the liturgy into Slavonic which made it more accessible to the people. Today many Ukrainians own a Bible which they may have read from time to time, but many still struggle to understand it since few have taken the time to explain what is written in its pages. In addition to the lack of understanding, Communist atheism has had a strong effect of the people of Ukraine – causing them to feel that though there is a god, he is more readily found in other religious circles than their own. For this reason, many have taken it upon themselves to attempt to teach their own religious wonderings to the people of Ukraine.

Ukrainian cuisine.

Ukrainian cuisine has a rich history and offers a wide variety of dishes. Ukrainian cuisine is rich in taste and nutritional value. Ukrainian dishes show a sophisticated simplicity based on pleasing combinations of fresh, pickled, and smoked ingredients. While cooking techniques are not complicated, dishes may contain a great number of ingredients and unusual combinations, such as shuba salad which combines pickled herring and beets. Food is neither highly spiced nor bland, but skillfully seasoned to perfection. Bread, is of course the mainstay of the Ukrainian diet. The country’s reputation as the Breadbasket of Europe is well deserved. The French writer Honore de Balzac, who lived in Ukraine for four years, counted 77 different ways of preparing bread. It is such a central part of the diet here that there is a custom to give honored guests and departing or arriving travelers the gift of a loaf of bread and salt. This tradition is still used in welcoming ceremonies for dignitaries and other important persons.

Borsch is certainly the national dish of Ukraine, even making its appearance on the menus of Chinese and Italian restaurants in Kiev. This uniquely Ukrainian soup has been adopted by other countries in the region, but as recently as 45 years ago it could not even be found in restaurants in other Soviet republics. The many versions of borsch served throughout the country reflect the individuality of Ukrainians as well as their ingenuity. The beet-based soup can contain as many as 20 different ingredients, depending on the season, region, and of course, personal preference of the cook. It can be meatless or prepared from a rich meat stock and contain either beef or smoked pork.