Facts Geography History The Empire of Kiev: 9th - 13th Century Galicia Wolhynien: 13th - 14th Century Poland Lithuania: 13th - 18th Century The Cossaks and the Rebellion of Chmel'nyc'kyj: 15th - 18th Century Habsburger Empire, Russian Tsar Empire: 19th Century The Soviet Ukraine: 20th Century Force Division Political Parties Political Personalities Economy Travel Informations
"Some curiosity is needed to travel the Ukraine."
The mood is tarnished in general sooner. Older people seem to regret the Communist system. The people seem to be busy, sometimes also impersonally until unkindly. In contrast to other former east bloc states, like Poland or the Czech Republic, in the service sector of the Ukraine the same behavior is still to be noticed like the people in 'Russia' have a reputation for. The service at the customer doesn't rank above any things. So it can already happen, that you have to interrupt the conversation of two salespersons in order to be served. You will rarely hear the obligatory 'Request and Thank's', even more rarely at ticket counters or at exchange bureaus. Friendliness, considerateness, friendly greetings - is no casualness! You cannot always expect to look into a friendly face or to be served obligingly. Some reaction can astonish. So it is absolutely possible that you get no map at the railway station kiosk, at which there are many newspapers. To the pressing question, where I could acquire such a guide, I got only an uncomprehending shrug of shoulders. Really you get in bookstores and in souvenir shops city maps. Kiosks sell no city maps generally. At established businesses - like central department stores, exchange bureaus and so on - usually you will have rather the feeling to have just disturbed than have been a customer. The reason is probably, that nobody at Communist times was accustomed to serve other people. Therefore much understanding is necessary, if one don't want to spoil one's pleaseure for reason of misunderstanding or of lack of insight into people's nature. However that are perfunctory impressions! One must not generalize this and must not it understand as personal hurt. The Ukraine is a country in the change and the deficiencies which happen to one, belongs to the charm of this country. And helpfulness - above all to strangers - is lived everywhere!
History - Upper Town - Podil - Pecers'k - Chrescatyk - Pan'kivscyna - At the railwaystation - Gastronomy
The Empire of Kiev: 9th - 13th Century
During the Slavic traveling movements East Slavs came to areas of the present day Russia and the present day Ukraine. Kiev, a convenient base of the long distance trade, was the center of the Slavic empire which was emerged in the 9. century.
Jaroslav The Wise introduced the seniorat, a succession order. Nevertheless there was disputes again and again, first between the brothers - then between uncles and nephews. In the 13. century disintegrated the Kiever empire finally.
The fragmentation into several principalities, strengthened the power of the principalities Vladimir-Suzdal in the northeast and Halyc-Volin in the southwest.
Galicia Wolhynien: 13th - 14th Century
In the year 1199 the union of Wolhynien and Galicia introduced through the Wolhynian prince Roman Mstislavic took place shortly before his death. Being efforts was continued by his son Danylo Romanovyc, which was born 1201.
In the following century new cities were established, under them L'viv in the year 1256. In the cities settled besides German merchants and craftspersons also Ostslawen, Jews and Armenians. These were fetched from the eastern areas near the steppe area into the country by Danylo Romanovyc and his successors.
In the year 1240 the Tartars conquered the southern areas of the Rus'.
The Mongolian Tatarian reign was not just loose, it afforded to Galicia Wolhynien also protection opposite Poland and Hungary which claims areas of the principality again and again.
There one feared another advancing of the Mongolians to Middle and Western Europe.
The establishing Bojar class (members of the not princely aristocracy) became considerably and a competition for the princely aristocracy.
Together with other Russian princes the Bojars was jointly responsible for the political disintegration Galicia Wolhyniens from the end of the 13. century.
1340 Wolhynien was occupied by Lithuania. At the latest 1370 the entire Wolhynien and East Podolien pass over to Lithuania. The remaining countries of Galicia Wolhynien became Polish at 1387.
In the year 1772 Galicia became a part of the Habsburger Monarchy.
Poland Lithuania: 13th - 18th Century
The principality Lithuania originated in the first half of the 13. century. In the 14. century was Lithuania the strongest power in Eastern Europe. It reached from the Baltic Sea up to the Black Sea.
It was a multi ethnic empire where the bulk of the population were orthodox East Slavs, whose faith was tolerated of the heathen Lithuanians.
After that parts of the Principality Galicia Wolhynien passed to the Kingdom Poland in the 14. century, for the moment in Poland one was endeavoured to the retention of the social and legality structures as well as the orthodox faith.
However only Catholics could reach into the pleasure of noble privileges. Therefore in the 15. century almost the entire aristocracy Galicias had changed over to the Roman Catholic faith. Same happened in the principality Lithuania.
1569 the Union Contract of Lublin between Lithuania and Poland originated, through which Lithuania had lost the biggest part of its independence, and the Ukrainian areas were subordinated to the Kingdom Poland directly.
The social gap between the Catholic and the Orthodox population extended. While the Catholic aristocracy was privileged, the Orthodox lower class was restricted in their liberty and property rights.
Towards the end of the 16. century many farmers escaped into the north stepe area of the Black Sea and formed an alliance with there living Cossaks.
Polish great land owner was lent wide estates in the Ukraine. The repressed orthodox farmers had to pay depositing, which were collected by Jews in the name of the Polish king. This dependence stirred up the hate against the Jews.
From 1717 the Kingdom Poland Lithuania was under Russian protectorate. 1795 the areas north and east of Galicias became connected to Russia. Poland has ceased to exist at this time.
The Cossaks and the Rebellion of Chmel'nyc'kyj: 15th - 18th Century
The Tartars, which lived in the steppes north of the Black Sea, was free warriors. They filled defense tasks for different sovereigns in the areas at the edge of the steppe.
In return for this, they were exempted from taxes, were entitled to hold country and to produce spirits.
At the end of the 16. century besides Ukrainian and Russian farmers also city dwellers and members of the low aristocracy agreed with this 'independent warriers' (= Cossaks).
After the Union of Lublin in the border area the life had changed. The easy social structures were replaced by manorial structures. The usufruct at ground was replaced by the absolute title.
From this time, Mercenary Cossaks and Register Cossaks exist also besides the free Cossaks. The Register Cossaks served constantly and enjoyed privileges, while the Mercenary Cossaks served only on time.
The decline of the Polish Empire as East European Great Power was introduced by the rebellion of the Cossaks in the year 1648.
Occasion to it was the fate of Bohdan Chmel'nyc'kyj. Chmel'nyc'kyj was a loyal follower of the Polish king, moreover well informed and Catholic educated.
Afterwards its complaint regarding a robbery was been unheard by the king, he retreated into the steppe and rally rounded unsatisfied Cossaks. The people of the border area affiliated with the rebellious Cossaks.
The Cossaks itself allied with the Crimea Tartares and inflicted heavy losses to the Polish troops. The Jew pogroms which at this time took place, were at variance to the traditional tolerance of the Cossaks.
1648 became Chmel'nyc'kyj in Kiev as 'liberator' celebrated. 1649 declared the Tartars the alliance as dissolved. 1654 signed the Cossaks the Contract Of Perejaslav and affiliated with Russia.
1667 afterwards the Peace Of Andrusovo, became the East Ukraine affiliated to the Polish Kingdom and the West Ukraine to the Russian Tsar Empire.
In the 18. century the autonomy of the Cossaks became step by step restricted and vanished 1783, as the Cossak army was disbanded, finally.
The control over the steppe areas north of the Black Sea had now taken on Russia. In the years 1781 until 1783 the left-bank-sided Ukraine (to the east of the Dnepr) became russified under cooperation with the cossakian top layer, which had gotten privileges for that.
The Russian form of the serfdom, which continued until 1861, was introduced and meant for the farmers, that they haven't the right to leave their residential and workplace.
Habsburger Empire, Russian Tsar Empire: 19th Century
Galicia became member of the Habsburger Monarchy at 1772. The areas to the north and to the east of Galicias were connected to Russia at 1795. Up to the year 1918 the Ukrainian areas were subjugated these two empires. The life of the Ukrainian population growed differently:
While in the year 1876 the politics of Russia against Ukrainians led to the prohibition of the Ukrainian writing language, the theater and the literature, the Ukrainian of Galicia were equated other nationalities of the Habsburger Empire.
The Soviet Ukraine: 20th Century
In June 1920 the Bolschewiki took on the power in Kiev. In March 1921 Poland accepted the Soviet Ukraine in international law in the framework of the Peace contract Of Riga.
In December 1922 the Ukrainian Soviet Republic became joined together with the Russian, the White-Russian and the Trans-Caucasus-Republic to the Union Of The Soviet Republics. For the moment was Charkiv the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic.
Whereas in the twenties of the last century the Ukrainian language and culture were promoted, cadre positions with natives occupied and the Ukrainian language became official style, it behaved contrary in the thirties.
From 1933 on became the Ukraine russified. Almost the entire political, economic and cultural elite of the Ukraine was murdered or in criminal camp deported. The substitute formed Russians.
From 1938 on became the Russian language the compulsory subject at the schools and universities. Under the reign of Chruschtschow the entire state and party leadership became, partially more times, replaced, like throughout in the Soviet Union, on command of Stalin.
On June 30, 1941 the German troops occupied the Ukraine. Until end of 1944 the red army recaptured all occupied areas.
In June 1941 the Ukrainian nationalists in L'viv under leadership of Stepan Bandera exclaimed the independence of the Ukraine, the 'Republic of Lemberg', lasted only few days.
In the years 1944-46 became the in Poland living Ukrainians and in the Ukraine living Poles 'interchanged' in the course of ethnic cleanings.
At the same time Stalin ordered - because of alleged collaboration with the German - to deport all minorities, Armenians, Bulgarians, Greeks, German and others, from the peninsula Crimea to Asia.
In the year 1954 the 1921 founded Autonomous Socialistic Soviet Republic Crimea became connected to the Ukrainian Soviet Republic.
The end of the Soviet Ukraine came about, as the Ukraine explained its independence on August 24, 1991, afterwards a putsch attempt against president Gorbatschow was undertaken in Moscow.
On December 15, 2000 becomes the nuclear power plant Chernobyl, in which at April 26, 1986 the reactor block IV exploded, finally shut down. Until then died, according to official statements, approximately 3.000 of over 80.000 for protection works assigned 'Liquidators', at the radiation consequences.
Force Division
The Ukraine is a presidential democracy with separation of powers. They still becomes - with structures inherited from the Soviet Union - centralist reigns.
The country is apportioned into 24 districts, whose governors are nominated of the president. The cities Kiev and Sewastopol have a special status.
Whereas the West Ukraine, with L'viv in the center, tries to open itself for the west, so the east and south of the Ukraine still seek the proximity to Russia.
This division of the Ukraine is a product of its history. Centuries long the east was affiliated to the Russian Empire, whereas the west was subordinated to the Kingdom Poland and later to the Habsburger Empire.
The discrepancy is especially clear to see at the Peninsula of Crimea. 1954, on the occasion of the 300-year-jubilee of the Contract Of Perejaslav - the reunification of the Ukraine with Russia - the peninsula Crimea was transferred from Russia to the Ukraine.
Although in the year 1992 the Ukraine conceded extensive autonomy to the peninsula, many of there living 1,6 million Russians still strove for the connection to Russia.
After bloody confrontations between the Russian and the Ukrainian minority the autonomy was abandoned meanwhile.
Today the peninsula Crimea is provided with an Ukrainian conforming constitution, with an autonomy status, with an individual parliament and an individual government.
The Tartars whose coming back to the peninsula Crimea today, which were deported from Stalin after 1944, have to to fight with the defense stand of many Russians and Ukrainians.
Political Parties
The Most Important Parties
| Name | Party | Political Line | Foundation |
|---|---|---|---|
| People-Movement Ruch | Ruch | democratic, nationally | 1989 |
| Members Of The Greens Party | PSU | green, ecologically | 1990 |
| Social Democratic Party Of The Ukraine | SDPU | social-democratic | 1990 |
| Socialistic Progress Party | PSP | communist | 1991 |
| Communistic Party Of The Ukraine | KPU | communist, subsequent party of Soviet-era | 1993 |
| Agrarian Party | APU | communist, farmer party | 1993 |
| Democratic People Party | NDPU | democratic, centrically | 1998 |
Political Personalities
Heads of State And Government Heads in the 20th Century
First Republic, 1918 - 21 in Kiev
| Administration | Name | Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1918 | Mychailo Hruschewsky | Chairman of the Central Committee |
| 1918 | Pawlo Skoropadsky | Hetman |
| 1918 - 19 | Wolodymyr Wynnytschenko | Chairman of the Board |
| 1919 - 21 | Symon Petljura | Chairman of the Board |
Ukrainian State: West-Ukraine, 1918-19 in L'viv (Lemberg)
| Administration | Name | Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1918 - 19 | Jewgen Petruschewytsch | Chairman of the National Council |
Ukrainian Soviet-Republic, 1918-22 in Charkov
| Administration | Name | Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1918 | Juchim Medwedjew | Chairman of the Central Executive Committee |
| 1918 | Wolodymyr Satonsky | Chairman of the Central Executive Committee |
| 1918 - 19 | Andri Bubnow | Chairman of the Central Executive Committee |
| 1919 - 38 | Grigori Petrowski | Chairman of the Central Executive Committee |
1922 - 91: Constituent Republic of the Sovietunion
Second Republic, since 1991
| Administration | Name | Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 - 94 | Leonid Krawtschuk | President |
| since 1994 | Leonid Kutschma | President |
Facts
 |
Area | 603.700 qkm |
| Population | ~50.700.000 | |
| Capital | Kiev | |
| Offical Language | Ukrainian | |
| Further Languages | Russian | |
| Currency | 1 Hrywna = 100 Kopeken | |
| Density Of Population |
84 / qkm | |
| Composition Of Population |
Ukrainians 73%, Russians 22%, White Russians 0,9%, Others (altogether over 100 nationalities) 4,1% | |
| Religions | Ukrainian Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Jewish communities |
Geography
The most important river of the Ukraine is the Dnepr (ukr. Dnipro). It divides the country. It is distinguished between the left-bank-sided and the right-bank-sided Ukraine.
Five regions arose in the course of the time: the East Ukraine - also Sloboda Ukraine, the West Ukraine subdivided in Galicia, North Bucovina and West Podolien, the southwestern situated Carpathian Ukraine, the central area about Kiev which is divided of the Dnepr and last but not least the Southern Ukraine with its steppe area north of the Black Sea Coast.
Surrounded becomes the Ukraine in the northwest from Poland, in the west from Romania, in the southwest from Moldavia (before World War II Romanian), in the north of White Russia and in the east and northeast from Russia. In the south forms, separated from the peninsula Crimea, the Black Sea and the Asowsche Sea the natural border.
Economy
Beside of the agriculture, are the coal mining and the steel industry the most important branches of industry. Important are airplane construction and rocketry moreover. The Ukraine has over a well developed, but renewal needy infrastructure for gas, stream, traffic and aeronautics.
The country reform with the dissolution of the inefficient large concerns, the creation of no-agriculture jobs in rural areas, as well as the creation of a free ground market, will be, like the finance reform, the denationalization process and the damming of the corruption, one of the most important topics of the coming years.
Travel Informations
Hotels
Travel agencies offer rooms under € 100.- hardly, these represent the standard. This means renovated, but no comfort - what would to be expect with this price absolutely. For a room with the corresponding equipment - like a € 100.- room in other countries - you must calculate € 200.- per person and night, incl. breakfast. These are the official prices which become charged on the internet and through travel agencies. Fact is, that there are much more hotels available than on internet or through travel agencies. However, also to mention, is that - at least earlier - not each hotel was allowed to receive foreigners. I think, that such hotels are visited of track- or flight-travelers hardly, if this regulation should be still valid. In a short therefore exists 3 possibilities:- To pay the full price, through travel agencies: € 100.- to € 200.-
- To look for favorable hotels on the spot, - rooms are always available: € 30.- to € 100.-
- Private appartments: from approximately € 30.- upwards