About The Country
Ukraine is a Country in Eastern Europe. It bounds on Belarus, the Russian Federation, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. Its southern frontiers are washed by the Black Sea and The Sea of Azov. The length of Ukraine's coastline is 1,758 km. Total area of Ukraine is 603,700 sq km. It is divided into 24 regions and an Autonomous Republic of Crimea. There are two mountainous regions in country: the Carpathians in the West and the Crimean Mountains in the South.

Capital
The capital of Ukraine is Kiev with a population of 2.6 million.
Political system
Presidential – Parliamentary Republic

Population
The population of Ukraine is about 47 million. The majority of people (68%) live in urban areas and 32% live in countryside.

Religion
The official religion is Orthodox. Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate 19%, Orthodox (no particular jurisdiction) 16%, Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 9%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 1.7%, Protestant, Jewish, none 38%.

Language
The official language is Ukrainian. Russian language is frequently used as well. However younger population typically can speak English.

Time
Ukraine is in the Eastern European Time Zone. Eastern European Standard Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Like most countries in Europe, Daylight-Saving Time is observed in Ukraine, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour - 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Electrical devices
The main voltage – 220V, frequency – 50Hz. An adapter may be needed for electrical devices, which made for US and Japan electrical system.

Lost Personal items
It is quite difficult to find a lost personal item in such a big city as Kiev. You can call to Lost and Found Office at (+38044) 229-78-44. If you loose something in the subway or forgot something in the carriage, please call (+38044) 226-38-09. For information about lost items in trolleys and trams please call (+38044) 291-04-06. If the lost item is insured, please contact nearest police reinforcement agency (militia) immediately. The insurance company will require a confirmation letter before refunding the value of the lost items.

Youth tourism
University students, postgraduates, and students at age 12 and older, who have the international students ID ISIC, which is distributed in 90 countries of the world, can get discounts at some stores and pharmacies (5%), bars and restaurants (10-15%), night clubs and discos (10-50%). You can find detailed information about discounts at http://www.isic.org/.


Money
The Hrivna is the monetary unit of Ukraine and it is marked by letters UAH. One hrivna consist of 100 kopiyok.
Notes of 1, 2, 5,10,20,50,100,200 UAH are now current. Coins range from 1 kopiyka to 50 kopiyok. Hrivna can't be taken out of the country.

Banks
Banks in Ukraine are generally open from 9am till 6pm from Monday to Friday. Cash machines accept all major credit cards.

Currency exchange
Currency can be converted at major banks. A great number of currency exchange booths is scattered through out the city. You can also find currency exchange at the airport, railway station, hotels and major shopping centers. Russian rubles, American dollars and Euros are most popular currencies in Ukraine, so if you have another currency – please visit nearest bank.

Credit cards
Establishments, connected to tourism or recreation industries, shops and restaurants are accepting all major credit cards. You will see the corresponding signs at the cashier's office. Cash is preferred. Personal checks do not accepted in Ukraine.

Traveller’s checks
Traveler’s checks can be converted to cash in some banks and at hotels.

Post Office
Around the city you can see yellow boxes with the emblem of “Ukrpost” – the company that carries out postal services in Ukraine. Central post office located at 22, Kreschatik St. Operating hours Monday to Sunday from 8am to 9pm. District post offices are open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturdays – from 9am to 5pm. There you can buy stamps, cards, newspapers, lottery tickets, phone card; send a letter, telegram or fax; make a photocopy; book international intercity calls.

Telephone
7-digits numbers are used in Kiev, except emergency numbers, information services, etc. Local telephone network operated by “Ukrtelekom” Telephone boxes can be found on the streets, on the (bus, railway) stations, and in restaurants. You can pay using coins or phone cards for Public phone usage. Phone Cards you can purchase at any post office or at the newsagents. Utel is the main service provider for International phone calls.

Mobile
There are five GSM standard mobile communication operators in Ukraine: Life:) GSM 1800; Kyivstar GSM 900; UMC GSM 900; Welcome GSM; Golden telecom GSM.

Emergency numbers:
Fire Service - 01
Police - 02
Ambulance - 03
Rescue service - 295-2447
The telephone information service (in six languages) - 059

Internet
Many hotels now offer Internet access. Internet cafes can be found in most cities and towns of Ukraine.


Transport

Public transport
In addition to three subway lines Kiev has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. Subway (Metro) plastic tokens can be purchased at any subway station. One way token costs 50 kopiyok.
Bus, tram, trolley tickets can be purchased at the stops and on board. One-way ticket is 50 kopiyok. Weekly and monthly passes are also available. In addition, there are private minibus companies that serve practically on the same routes.
Public transportation is available from 5 am to 12:30 pm. There is no night service.

Taxi
The metropolitan taxi – All cars are different models, classes, and taxi companies. You can recognize them by the orange sign on the roof. To hire a cab, you can simply put out your hand, and the car will stop. Private cars, driven by locals who sometimes act as taxi drivers, cost significantly less than official taxis. Most drivers do not speak English. Central dispatcher station dials 0-58.

Travelling by Air
There are two airports that available for the capital of Ukraine: “Boryspol” and “Kyiv” (Zhulyany).
“Boryspol” international airport is located 40km away from downtown. The shuttle bus goes from Pobyedy Sq.
Buses run every half an hour and service is not operating from midnight util 4 a.m.
The airport “Kyiv” (Zhulyany) is within the city limits. Mostly it handles domestic flights. You can get there by trolley from St. Vladimir Cathedral or Pobyedy Sq.

Travailing by Train
The exit from M. “Vokzal'naya” will lead you to Privokzal'naya Square: to the suburban and central railway station. To get to the Southern station, use the moving staircase to get to the ground floor of Central station building and walk straight to the end of the gallery. You will need your passport to buy a ticket.

Entertainment
There is a wide choice of restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes, night clubs, casinos, etc. in Kiev.

Shopping
Stores are open from 10am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday. Most big and attractive stores are located in the city centre: Kreschtik St., Maydan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Sq.), Basseynaya St., Lva Tolstogo Sq., Bolshaya Vaselkovskaya St., etc.


National cuisine
Ukrainian national cookery has hundreds of receipts. Some dishes have multi-century “seniority”, like the famous Ukrainian borshch or Kiev chicken, Varenyky (pierogi), stuffed cabbage and sweet pepper, etc.