In late 1991 the Soviet Union rapidly fell apart. Each of the republics was determined to go its own way. Citizens of Ukraine voted overwhelmingly for independence. The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic became simply Ukraine. For the first time in centuries the Ukrainian people were out from under the Russian or Soviet control and free to plan and direct their own national destiny.

By voting for independence, Ukraine immediately became the largest country entirely within Europe and one of its most populous. Ukraine means "borderland." It is bounded by Belarus on the north; by Russia on the north and east; by the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, Moldova and Romania on the south; and by Poland, Slovakia and Hungary on the west. Its capital is the ancient city of Kiev.

      

Geographically part of the vast East European Plain, Ukraine has only two mountainous areas: the Carpathians in the west and the Crimean Mountains in the south. The steppe, or grasslands, zone in southern Ukraine is part of the great Eurasian Steppe, the world's largest flat grassland. The Ukrainian section, constituting about 40 percent of Ukraine, is covered with chemozems, or black soils, some of the most fertile soils in the world. More than three quarters of the steppe zone is under cultivation.

No nation in Europe has more abundant natural resources than Ukraine. Its most valuable resource is its exceptionally fertile soil, which for many years made it the breadbasket of the Soviet Union. Ukraine is also the world's largest producer of manganese ore and the second largest producer of iron ore. It is also the world's fourth largest producer of bituminous coal (soft coal).

There are more than 100 different nationality groups in Ukraine. Ukrainians make up about 71 percent of the population of the republic. Most Ukrainians are members of the Eastern Orthodox church, though there is a sizable Roman Catholic population. Serious religious divisions have become a problem for Ukrainians since independence. Russians make up the second largest ethnic group, followed by Belorussians, Poles, and other Slavs. There is a tiny Jewish minority, and there are also Greeks, Romanians, Armenians, Gypsies, Hungarians, Tatars, Lithuanians, Chuvash, Bashkirs, and Kazakhs. There are two major languages spoken in Ukraine, Ukrainian (the official language) and Russian.

Pysanky (beautifull Ukrainian Easter eggs)

Ukraine is well know for their many handiworks, Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs), delicate embroidery*, stained glass, just to name a few.

Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs) were believed to Possess magic powers to protect from evil, thunder or fire. They were also proof of friendship, devotion and thought to have healing powers.

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