Ukraine is the second largest country in Eastern Europe. Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine.Ukraine occupies the south-western part of the East-Europian Plain and includes a part of the Carpathian and Crimian Mountains. Ukraine’s territory stretches from the north to the south for 893 km and from the west to the east 1316 km. Ukraine has outlets to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The length of the sea borders of Ukraine is 7590 km. Ukraine borders with the Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Belarus and Russian Federation. Ukraine is a unitary state composed of 24 oblasts (provinces), one autonomous republic (Crimea), and two cities with special status (Kyiv, its capital and Sevastopol). In March 2014 Russia purported to annex the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, including the city of Sevastopol. On 27 March a majority in the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine which emphasised that Russia’s purported annexation had no validity. Ukraine became an independent, democratic state following the Ukrainian Parliament’s (Verkhovna Rada) passing of the Act of Declaration of Independence on 24 August 1991 and a subsequent referendum held on 1 December 1991 in which approximately 90 per cent of voters expressed support for the Act. Ukraine’s population of 44.3 million (2014 estimate) celebrates 24 August as the country’s national day.

The most famous river is Dnipro what is flows from north to south to Black Sea. It has 2285 km and only 1121 km by the territory of Ukraine. Is is the 3-rd longest river after Volga and Dunabe in Europe. The highest Mountain is Hoverla 2061 meters in Carpathian Mountain.

Climate

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 climate of Ukraine is characterized by considerable variations due to the great range from north to south and from west to east, stretching from the areas under the influence of the north-western Atlantic to the interior of the continent. This means that the air temperature decreases not only from north to south but also from west to east. The characteristic features of the climate are higher summer temperatures, lower winter temperatures, and rare rainfalls.The Ukrainian climate has considerable fluctuation in weather conditions from year to year. Alongside very wet years there can be droughts, and alongside cold years there are warm years.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. The southern coast of Crimea is subtropical. Crimean mountains obstruct the movement of cold Arctic air to the coast and create conditions for one of the best resort areas in Ukraine. The average yearly temperature in Ukraine varies between 5.. 7 C in the north and 11.. 13 C in the south. January is the coldest month and July is the hottest one. In general Ukraine can be divided into four different climatic regions: cool snow forest climate, steppe climate, Mediterranean climate and mountain tundra climate.

Currency

The national currency of Ukraine is hryvna (Hr, UAH). Ukrainian money is based on the decimal system; there are 100 kopecks in a hryvna, with 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 kopecks and 1 Hr coins. All payments are done only in hryvna. Foreign currency can be exchanged at numerous exchange booths all over Kyiv: airport, train terminal, hotels and banks. Credit Cards Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. Cash machines ATM are on the streets or in the banks and shops.

Custom rules Ukraine

Import regulations. Free import: 1 litre of spirits and 2 litres of wine; 200 cigarettes (50 cigars) or 250 grammes of tobacco products for passengers above 18 years; goods for personal use (e.g. clothing, jewelry, video and audio, etc.) which are temporary imported to Ukraine, provided holding proof of their export or imported under conditions of transit; items up to a value of EUR 200.- (or equivalent) and total weight is max. 50 kg. Prohibited: items, which can be harmful and dangerous to the health of population or animals, or which can have influence on destruction of the environment; products, containing propaganda of war, racism and race discrimination, genocide or others and pornography, which are contradicting to the Constitution of the Ukraine; goods and personal things not containing the permits of other state authorities (cultural values, guns, medicines); agricultural production in any volume (with the exception of domestic animals and food in the abovementioned volume). Currency Import regulations: Local currency (Ukrainian Hryvnia-UAH) and foreign currencies: up to EUR 10,000.-, or equivalent in other foreign currency (at the official exchange rate of the National Bank of Ukraine). Passengers must fill in customs declaration upon entry if holding exceeding amounts. The document on the withdrawal of cash from the banking account (financial establishments) is required as well. Failure to comply will result in legal consequences.

Export regulations. Free export: goods not exceeding EUR 200; goods, which were imported to Ukraine temporarily under obligation on their reverse export and holding the relevant documents; goods, purchased by non-resident citizens in Ukraine, not exceeding the sum of foreign currency imported by these citizens to Ukraine and holding the relevant documents. Additional information: The export of precious metals and stones require a written declaration. If the value of these products exceeds EUR 200, then they are exported by citizens in agreement with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. The export of the cultural values is carried out under the certificate on the cultural values export law. Prohibited: row hides (cattle, horsy family, pigs, sheep or lambs), unworked feathers suitable for packing and unworked down, raw metals (ferrous, nonferrous, precious and rare-earth), their alloys, waste and scrap, cermets, timber, brassware. Currency Export regulations: Local currency (Ukrainian Hryvnia-UAH and foreign currencies: up to EUR 10,000.- or equivalent in other foreign currency (at the official exchange rate of the National Bank of Ukraine) without the written declaration for customs authorities. If the sum exceeds EUR 10,000.- the customs declaration is required as well as the document on the withdrawal of cash from the banking account (financial establishments). It is also allowed to export the banking metals by weight not exceeding 500 g, in the shape of ingots and coins with a written declaration for the customs authorities. If the weight exceeds 500 g in the shape of ingots and coins, on the basis of individual licenses for the banking metals export out of the border of Ukraine. The customs declaration is grounds for export (import) of mentioned currency in it within one year from the time of the registration of this declaration.

Credit card

There are three main credit cards accepted in Ukraine in major restaurants, stores, hotels and othe venues. These are VISA, MasterCard and Eurocard. If you are coming to Ukraine and planning to use your credit or debit card extensively it can be helpful to know your card's PIN number (code). A PIN number is a 4 digit combination that might be required if you decide to withdraw cash at an ATM. A PIN cado also sometimes required when you are using your card to pay your groceries or meal at the restaurant or hotel services and shopping. As sush if your card is supplemented by a PIN code make sure you have it on hand before boarding Ukraine. If you have some local store credit cards, it's better to leave them at home, as you will not need such cards in Ukraine. It's a good idea to have a different credit card as a backup. With a different card you will have access to more machines. And if you have for example AMEX card, take Visa or MasterCard as an alternative, as American Express and Diner are less popular in Ukraine than those ones. Commissions fees for the transmissions should be checked in your Bank.

Visa

Visa to Ukraine is not required for the most countries. List of the countries you can found there. Citizens of many countries do not need Visa to enter Ukraine or transit through the its territory for the period of time of up to 90 days with a valid travel Passport. Visa is still required for the citizens who enter Ukraine with the purpose of the employment, permanent residency, study and work at the diplomatick missions in Ukraine or with any others purpose if they are going to Stay in Ukraine for more then 90 days. For our tourists we provide the Visa Support to Ukraine. More information you can found on web: mfa.gov.ua