Ukraine, Eastern European country between Russia and Poland
This country lies in Eastern Europe and borders Belarus to the north, Russia to the east, the Black Sea to the south, and Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the west. The landscape ranges from flat plains in the center to forested mountain ranges like the Carpathians in the west and coastal strips along the Black Sea.
The region formed the center of Kyivan Rus during medieval times before Tatar invasions and later Polish-Lithuanian rule shaped the area. After divisions between different empires, the territory gained its current form as an independent state in the 20th century.
Embroidered shirts with geometric patterns appear at festivals and celebrations, and local markets offer handmade ceramics with floral motifs from rural workshops. Choirs sing polyphonic melodies in churches and at gatherings, while the bagpipe and bandura still sound in some regions today.
Train connections run across border crossings to Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, while airports are located in several major cities. Travelers should check current entry requirements, as these differ depending on country of origin.
The city of Lviv shows a street grid from the Austro-Hungarian period, while Odesa holds catacombs that rank among the longest underground tunnel systems in the world. Chornobyl remains a closed zone with limited access for guided visits that show the reactor site and abandoned settlements.
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