Area Total | 603,550 sq km |
Climate | temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south |
Natural Resources | iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land |
Imports | Russia 14.5%, China 11.3%, Germany 11.2%, Poland 7%, Belarus 6.7%, US 5.1% (2017) – energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals |
Government | semi-presidential republic |
Capital | Kyiv (Kiev) |
Population | 43,952,299 (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 est.) |
Language | Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes small Crimean Tatar-, Moldovan/Romanian-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 2.9% (2001 est.) |
Exports | Russia 9.2%, Poland 6.5%, Turkey 5.6%, India 5.5%, Italy 5.2%, China 4.6%, Germany 4.3% (2017) – ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs |
News about Ukraine
- Ukraine war briefing: US hits China with sanctions over war supplies to Russiaby Warren Murray and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on May 2, 2024
Nearly 300 entities targeted in US sanctions to ‘further disrupt and degrade Russia’s war efforts’; Russians using banned chemical weapons on battlefield, says state department. What we know on day 799See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageChina has been hit with sanctions by the US for supplying “critical inputs to Russia’s military-industrial […]
- Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow claims it has hit Ukraine’s southern army HQ – as it happenedby Sammy Gecsoyler (now); Yohannes Lowe (earlier) (Ukraine | The Guardian) on May 1, 2024
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereThe Russian military has attacked the command headquarters of the Ukrainian army’s southern grouping, using missiles and artillery, Russia’s defence ministry said. The claims are yet to be independently verified.Ukraine’s special services claimed responsibility for a drone […]
- From Colombia to Syria justice is possible for survivors of sexual violence in war – but we need the right ‘ecosystem’ | Clara Sandovalby Clara Sandoval (Ukraine | The Guardian) on May 1, 2024
For the first time Ukraine had the right conditions to make reparations to those subjected to crimes such as rape and sexual slavery. What would it take to replicate this globally?Across the world, women and girls continue to be plagued by gross human rights violations. One that is specifically targeted at them is conflict-related sexual violence. Living in […]
- Ukraine war briefing: Kharkiv residents suffer as Russia intensifies attacksby Warren Murray and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on May 1, 2024
Ukraine’s second-largest city has suffered ‘extensive damage’ to civilian infrastructure and a sharp increase in casualties; woman, 98, walks out of besieged city on her own. What we know on day 798See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...
- Ukrainian woman, 98, walks six miles alone to escape Russian-held territoryby Associated Press in Kyiv (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 30, 2024
Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska reunited with family days after fleeing frontline town in her slippers and using a caneA 98-year-old woman who escaped Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine by using a cane to walk six miles in a pair of slippers has been reunited with her family, days after they were separated while escaping to safety.Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska […]
- Russia-Ukraine war: Odesa’s ‘Harry Potter castle’ hit in Russian missile attack that killed five – as it happenedby Yohannes Lowe (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 30, 2024
Four-year-old child and pregnant woman among those in a serious condition after strike on seafront park in Black Sea port cityThis live blog has been paused. For the latest coverage on Russia’s war in Ukraine, please visit our dedicated page.To keep up to date quickly with the latest in Ukraine, read our Ukraine war briefing here. Continue reading...
- Ukraine war briefing: Russia making gains from slow western aid, says Nato chiefby Warren Murray and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 30, 2024
Jens Stoltenberg says lack of ammunition has allowed Russia to push forward; Odesa missile strike kills at least four people. What we know on day 797See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...
- Drone footage shows Ukraine's 'Harry Potter castle’ in flames after Russian missile attack - videoby (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 30, 2024
Firefighters in the Ukrainian southern port city of Odesa battled a blaze in a private law academy after a Russian attack. The missile strike killed at least four people and injured 32 others after residential buildings and 'civil infrastructure' were hit. The law academy was in a Gothic-style building on the seafront and was known as the Harry Potter […]
- Debris from North Korean missile found in Kharkiv, say UN sanctions monitorsby Reuters at the United Nations (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
Report to United Nations security council says remnants of Hwasong-11 violate arms export embargo on Russian ally The debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on 2 January was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, UN sanctions monitors told a security council committee in a report seen by Reuters.In the 32-page […]
- Russia-Ukraine war: killing of two Ukrainians by Russian in southern Germany investigated for political motive, say prosecutors – as it happenedby Amy Sedghi (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
Two Ukrainian soldiers in Germany for medical rehabilitation killed and 57-year-old Russian suspect arrested, says public prosecutor’s officePolish farmers stopped protesting at the last blocked border crossing with Ukraine on Monday, Kyiv and Warsaw said, suspending a blockade that has dragged on for months and soured bilateral relations, writes […]
- Red Cross decides against suspending Russian branch despite links to Kremlin war machineby Shaun Walker in Warsaw (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
RRC appears to defy neutrality principle, as Ukrainian officials criticise ‘weak response’ and accuse Red Cross of being advocate for Russian aggressionThe International Red Cross movement has decided not to suspend membership of the Russian Red Cross (RRC), despite potential breaches of neutrality regulations brought to light by an investigation by a […]
- Norway foreign minister accuses west of double standards on Gaza at World Economic Forum – videoby (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
Norway's foreign minister has criticised some western countries for their inconsistent responses to violations of international law in Gaza and Ukraine. Speaking on the second day of the World Economic Forum special meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Espen Barth Eide said: 'Many western countries ... hesitated to use the same type of language against […]
- ‘My example can change minds’: Roma fighting for place in postwar Ukraineby Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspondent (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
Campaigners across Europe call on Kyiv to recognise contribution of marginalised communityUkraine war – live updatesGrowing up in Ukraine, Arsen Mednik often found himself singled out – at school children would point at him, calling him “gypsy”, while employers were often reluctant to hire him when they learned he was Roma.But in early 2022, as […]
- Infinity According to Florian review - mission to save Ukraine’s extraordinary modernist masterpieceby Phuong Le (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
Oleksiy Radynski chronicles the visionary architect Florian Yuriev’s drive to rescue Kyiv’s Institute of Information from destruction after he was given weeks to live The extraordinary mind of Florian Yuriev, a visionary Ukrainian architect and artist, visualises an astonishingly holistic view of the world. His abstract paintings brim with geometric […]
- Ukraine war briefing: Russian pressure forces Ukrainian retreat from three villagesby Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
‘Difficult but not catastrophic’ situation as Russians press for gains before US resupply of Kyiv’s forces. What we know on day 796See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageUkraine’s troops have made a tactical retreat westwards from the villages of Berdychi, Semenivka and Novomykhailivka on the war’s eastern front, according to Col Gen Oleksandr […]
- Russia makes more gains around Avdiivka as Ukraine awaits US aidby Luke Harding in Kyiv (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 28, 2024
Ukrainian officials say situation ‘very difficult’ but ‘not catastrophic’ amid loss of two villages and fighting in OcheretyneRussia has consolidated recent battlefield gains in the east of Ukraine, and is attempting to break through Ukrainian defensive lines before a long-awaited package of US military assistance arrives at the frontline.On Sunday […]
- Ukraine war briefing: Russian airstrikes pound central and western Ukrainian power facilitiesby Guardian staff and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 28, 2024
Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeats pleas for more defensive missiles after fourth large-scale aerial assault on energy system in five weeks. What we know on day 795See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...
- Australia pledges $100m in military assistance to Ukraine as Richard Marles visitsby Mostafa Rachwani (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 27, 2024
Deputy prime minister says Australia remains committed to Ukraine’s war effort as it struggles to hold back Russian advancesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has announced a new $100m assistance package for Ukraine, which includes […]
- Ukraine war briefing: Hospitals in Kyiv evacuated over fears of Russian strikesby Guardian staff and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 27, 2024
Evacuations come after comments by head of Belarus KGB, who said buildings hosted military personnel. What we know on day 794See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...
- Elite force bucks trend of Ukrainian losses on eastern frontby Dan Sabbagh in Lyman. Photographs by Julia Kochetova (Ukraine | The Guardian) on April 27, 2024
The Azov brigade, which leaders say has a culture of ‘mutual respect’, is tasked with repelling relentless Russian attacks as the invaders make most of artillery mismatchFifteen miles east of the garrison town of Lyman, a desperate fight has been taking place on Ukraine’s eastern front for months. The once verdant Serebryansky pine forest has been […]