Sport

Ukraine greatly benefited from the Soviet emphasis on physical education. Such policies left Ukraine with hundreds of stadia, swimming pools, gymnasia, and many other athletic facilities. The most popular sport is football. The top professional league is the Vyscha Liha, also known as the Ukrainian Premier League. The two most successful teams in the Vyscha Liha are rivals FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Although Shakhtar is the reigning champion of the Vyscha Liha, Dynamo Kyiv has been much more successful historically, winning two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups, one UEFA Super Cup, a record 13 USSR Championships and a record 12 Ukrainian Championships; while Shakhtar only won four Ukrainian championships. Many Ukrainians also played for the Soviet national football team, most notably Igor Belanov and Oleg Blokhin, winners of the prestigious Golden Ball Award for the best football player of the year. This award was only presented to one Ukrainian after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Andriy Shevchenko, the current captain of the Ukrainian national football team. The national team made its debut in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions, Italy. Ukrainians also fared well in boxing, where the brothers Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko have held world heavyweight championships.

Ukraine made its Olympic debut at the 1994 Winter Olympics. So far, Ukraine has been much more successful in Summer Olympics (96 medals in four appearances) than in the Winter Olympics (five medals in four appearances). Ukraine is currently ranked 35th by number of gold medals won in the All-time Olympic Games medal count, with every country above it, except for Russia, having more appearances. The new step of Ukraine in the world sport is to place a bid to host 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Ukrainian government bid Bukovel – the youngest Ukrainian ski resortto be the host in 2018. The winning bid will be announced in 2011 at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa.

Economy of Ukraine

The economy of Ukraine is an emerging free market, with a gross domestic product that has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Ukraine’s economy is ranked 45th in the world according to 2008 GDP (nominal) with the total nominal GDP of 179,725 Millions USD, and 3920 USD GDP per capita. Formerly a major component of the economy of the Soviet Union (both in industry and agriculture), country’s economy experienced major recession during the 1990s, including hyperinflation and drastic falls in economic output; GDP growth was first registered in 2000, and reforms are continuing. In 2007 the economy continued to grow and posted real GDP growth of 7%.

However Ukraine was greatly affected by the economic crisis of 2008 and as a result the World Bank expects Ukraine`s economy is to shrink 9% in 2009 with inflation being 16.4%^[7]. The Ukrainian government predicts GDP growth of 0.4% in 2009 and a slowdown in inflation to 9.5% (also in 2009), although the overwhelming majority of economists consider this forecast to be excessively optimistic. In 2008 the hryvnia (Ukraine’s currency) has dropped 38% against the US dollar, eclipsed only by the Icelandic krona and the Seychelles rupee.According to a forecast by the State Employment Center unemployment in Ukraine will triple to 9% in 2009 (there was 3% unemployment at the end of 2008), which would mean about 3 million people will apply for employment services.

Sumy Oblast

Sumy Oblast (Ukrainian: Сумська область, translit. Sums’ka oblast’; also referred to as Sumshchyna – Ukrainian: Сумщина) is an oblast (province) in the northeastern part of Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Sumy.

Other important cities within the oblast include Konotop, Okhtyrka, Romny, and Shostka.

As of 2004-05-01, the population is 1,255,866, which includes 886,100 city/town-dwellers, and 483,700 villagers.

Sumy Oblast

Sumy Oblast is an oblast (province) in the northeastern part of Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Sumy.

Other important cities within the oblast include Konotop, Okhtyrka, Romny, and Shostka.

As of 2004-05-01, the population is 1,255,866, which includes 886,100 city/town-dwellers, and 483,700 villagers.

Macroeconomic statistics

* The average wage in March 2008 amounted to the equivalent of about U.S. $ 344 (1702 HRN). The largest salaries are in the circuits of Kiev, Donetsk and dniepropietrowskim.
* The growth of industrial production by 15,8% in 2003 – compared with siedmioprocentowym growth in 2002)
* High dynamics of trade with foreign countries – in 2003, exports of goods recorded an increase by 28.5% and imports – by 35.6%.
* High dynamics of domestic demand – 2003 recorded an increase in national income by about 13.7%, and real wages – about 15%
* Stable hrywny rate: about 4,85-5,05 JPY / USD
* The recovery in investment activity – the increase in investment in 2003 by more than 20%, mainly in construction and infrastructure business.

Agriculture

Agriculture Ukraine supplied food many areas of the former Soviet Union. In 1990 Ukraine supplied 24% of cereals, 55% of sugar beet and more than 30% of sunflower seeds from 100% manufactured in the former Soviet Union and the Ukraine to satisfy the needs of the former Soviet Union primarily in terms of fossil fuels – particularly fuel, raw materials of metal (iron and manganese), construction materials. Ukraine’s participation in coal mining ogólnoradzieckim was 22.5%, iron ore – 46%, production of pig iron and iron – 41%, steel – 34% and cement – 17%. Ukraine’s economy is composed of a series of interrelated chapters and branches of production material and services. In the structure of the economy of Ukraine, the most important role played by the industry for material such as manufacturing and construction, agriculture and transport cargo. However, in the structure of this review is a clear transformation.

Geography

Ukraine is bordered to the north of Belarus, in the north and east of the Russian Federation, on the west by Poland, the Slovak Republic and Hungary and in the southwest to Romania and Moldova. The north is very heavily forested, in other parts of the country outweigh the forest-steppe (beech and oak) and treeless steppe. The most important is the Dnipro River, which flows into the Black Sea. The until 1956 belonging to Russia in the Crimean peninsula south of the country has become the bone of contention between Ukraine and Russia has become. Since 1992 she is an autonomous republic.

Etymology

“Ukraine” is from Old East Slavic ukraina meaning “borderland”. It derives from u (“by, at”) and the Slavic root kraj (“edge; region”).

The territory was so named because it was the borderland or “frontier zone” of medieval Russia at the time of the Tatar invasion in the 13th century.It was also known as “Little Russia”, in contrast to “Great Russia”, when its medieval principality became separated from “mainstream” tsarist Russia as a result of the Mongol invasion. In the Ukrainian language, krayina simply means “country.” In English, the country is referred to without the definite article, conforming to the usual English grammar rules for names of countries.Before the country’s independence in 1991, the country was often referred to as The Ukraine. The term Ukraine rather than The Ukraine is now predominant in diplomacyand journalism.

Carpathian National Natural Park

At 503 sq km (5414 sq ft), this is Ukraine’s largest national park. Despite its status, industrial logging still takes place, and only about 25% of the park area is protected. Founded in 1980, the CNNP shelters wolves, brown bears, lynx, bison and deer. Hutsuls still live in the park, and the country’s highest peak, Mt Hoverla (2061m/6761ft), is here as well.

When to Go

The best time to go to Ukraine is in spring (late April to early June), when perfumed chestnut trees bloom and people the country over rejoice in throwing off heavy winter coats. The Orthodox rituals surrounding Easter are fabulous, plus there’s a sense of reawakening as cafes begin to set out outdoor seating again and hikers retake the heights of the Carpathian and Crimean Mountains. Attractions are less crowded and rainfall is lighter than in summer.

During the sometimes stiflingly hot summer (July-August), things get relatively busy as locals head en masse for Crimea, the Black Sea Coast and the Carpathians. Everything is focused on the great outdoors and most theatres close. Autumn is almost as inviting as spring, as the crowds dissipate and the mercury drops to a more comfortable level.

In December and January it’s bitingly cold inland, particularly in the east. But this is a good time to head to the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine’s skiing district. Travellers should be prepared to don thick wool sweaters and eat their vegetables pickled. It’s wise to book ahead during the public holidays in the first weeks of January and May.