Ukraine is a nation in Eastern Europe. It is the second largest country in Europe after Russia, which surrounds it to the east as well as north-east. Ukraine additionally shares boundaries with Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, as well as Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the south; and has a shoreline along the Sea of Azov as well as the Black Sea.

It covers about 600,000 km2 (230,000 sq mi), with a population of regarding 40 million. The nation’s resources as well as biggest city is Kyiv (Київ; previously Kiev). The authorities and national language is Ukrainian, and the majority of people are likewise well-versed in Russian. Ukraine has actually been independent from Russia given that 1991, with the separate of the Soviet Union, and also its current president is Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The territory of modern-day Ukraine has actually been populated because 32,000 BC. Throughout the Center Ages, the location was a vital centre of East Slavic society under Kievan Rus’, which was ultimately destroyed by the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.

Over the following 600 years, the location was objected to, separated, and also ruled by exterior powers, including the Gloss– Lithuanian Republic, the Austrian Empire, the Footrest Empire, as well as the Tsardom of Russia. The Cossack Hetmanate arised in Central Ukraine in the 17th century yet was partitioned in between Russia and Poland, and also ultimately totally absorbed by the Russian Empire.

The 19th century saw the development of Ukrainian nationalism, particularly in Galicia, then part of Austria-Hungary. In the consequences of the Russian Transformation a Ukrainian nationwide activity reappeared, as well as the Ukrainian People’s Republic was developed in 1917.

This short-term state was forcibly reconstituted into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, which came to be a starting member of the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1922. From 1932 to 1933 the Holodomor killed countless Ukrainians. In 1939, Western Ukraine was linked from Poland by the USSR. Ukraine was the most populous and also industrialised republic after the Russian Soviet Republic.

Ukraine regained its independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Considering that its freedom, Ukraine has been governed as a unitary republic under a semi-presidential system. It stated itself a neutral state, creating a minimal military collaboration with Russia and various other CIS countries while also developing a partnership with NATO in 1994. In 2013, mass demonstrations as well as demonstrations referred to as the Euromaidan erupted, rising into the Revolution of Dignity that brought about the establishment of a new government.

These occasions led to Russia linking Crimea and a war in Donbas versus Russian-backed separatists, culminating in a Russian invasion in February 2022. Ukraine has actually proceeded looking for more detailed financial, political, and also army ties with the West (particularly NATO) amid ongoing battle with Russia.

Ukraine is among the poorest countries in Europe and experiences prevalent corruption. Nevertheless, as a result of its considerable fertile land, pre-war Ukraine was among the biggest grain exporters worldwide. It belongs to the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the GUAM organization, the Organization Triad, and also the Lublin Triangle.