Ukraine is one of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe, It borders with 7 countries (Byelorussia, Russian Federation, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Rumania, and Moldavia) and in the south it is washed by the Black Sea and Azov Sea.Ukraine is one of the biggest countries in Europe. The total area of Ukraine is 603,7 sq. km. In Europe only Russia is bigger than Ukraine. The population of Ukraine is about 50 million.
The longest river of Ukraine is the Dnepr. The largest mountain system in Ukraine is the Carpathian Mountains that has extent more than 270 km and are 100-110 km in the width. The highest mount is Hoverla (2061 m).Since ancient time the territory of Ukraine was crossed by trade ways from the North to the East (from ”the Varagians to the Greeks”) and from the East to West (a branch of Great Silk Way).
The climate of Ukraine is moderate and mainly continental and on the Southern coast of Crimea is subtropical. The average temperatures in January are: from -7 to -8 C to + 2-4 C in the South (from 17,6 F to 35.6 F);in July - from +18+19 C in the Northwestern parts to + 23+24 C in the Northeast parts (from 62.6 F to 77 F).
Ukrainian became the official language only in 1990, replacing Russian. Most of the population in eastern Ukraine and Kiev speak Russian as the first language, while Ukrainian is the first language in western Ukraine. Although Ukrainians use both languages in political world and local media, now all the official documents are in Ukrainian.
The national currency of Ukraine is Hryvnia. You can easily change your dollars or other currency for Hryvnias in major banks and special exchange points. Changing US dollars for Ukrainian Hryvnias or another currency is legal only at banks or its subsidiaries, currency exchange desks at hotels and at licensed exchange points. There are a lot of such exchange desks throughout the city. Beware of changing money on the streets or with private individuals: it is illegal and it can be dangerous.
220 volts, 50 Hz is the standard electrical voltage throughout Ukraine. To use electrical appliances you will need a converter as well as an Eastern-European plug adapter.
Now in territory of Ukraine such operators of mobile communication give mobile service: КYIVSTAR GSM, UMC (standard GSM and NMT), DJUICE, JEANS, GOLDEN TELECOM GSM, LIFE (standard GSM, WELLCOM (standard GSM), and BEELINE.