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
- World’s conflict zones increased by two-thirds in past three years, report revealsby Kaamil Ahmed (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 21, 2024
Wars have spread and intensified, with far-reaching impacts on global economic growth and food security, according to latest Conflict Intensity IndexThe proportion of the world engulfed by conflict has grown 65% – equivalent to nearly double the size of India – over the past three years, according to a new report.Ukraine, Myanmar, the Middle East and a […]
- What’s behind the escalating situation in Ukraine? – podcastby Presented by Michael Safi with Dan Sabbagh; produced by Hannah Moore and Rudi Zygadlo; executive producers Homa Khaleeli and Sami Kent (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 21, 2024
From long-range missiles being launched to North Korean troops being drafted in, Dan Sabbagh looks at whether the rapid escalation could signal the beginning of the end of the conflictTuesday marked 1,000 days of the Ukraine war – a conflict that for months had seemingly no end in sight. Russia has been advancing, but its progress has been grindingly […]
- As a Sudanese Australian, it is heartbreaking to see the devastating war in my homeland overlooked | Sara Sinadaby Sara Sinada (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 21, 2024
The plight of refugees from Sudan may not be dominating the headlines, but it is the largest displacement crisis in the worldGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLast month, the Australian government announced new visa pathways for displaced Palestinians from Gaza and Ukrainians, providing much-needed relief for communities facing […]
- Ukraine war briefing: We will regain Crimea through diplomacy, not force, says Zelenskyyby Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 21, 2024
President says Ukraine would not legally acknowledge invaded areas as Russian in exchange for peace; Kyiv says embassies fell for Russian ‘psychological attack’. What we know on day 1,002 Continue reading...
- Zelenskyy welcomes US decision to give landmines to Ukraine amid criticism from aid groups – Russia-Ukraine war as it happenedby Fran Lawther (now); Maya Yang, Amy Sedghi with Martin Belam, Vicky Graham and Philip Wen (earlier) (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
This live blog is now closed. You can read all our Ukraine war coverage here:See all our Ukraine war coverageIn a television interview in France, foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot has dismissed Vladimir Putin’s approval of a new nuclear doctrine yesterday as rhetoric, and, Reuters reports, said “We are not intimidated.”The change in nuclear doctrine […]
- Ukraine fires UK-made missiles into Russia for first timeby Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and Andrew Roth in Washington (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
Storm Shadow missile attack comes day after Kyiv used US-supplied long-range weapons to strike within RussiaRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesUkraine has fired UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, multiple sources have told the Guardian.The decision to approve the strikes was made in […]
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanks US for decision to provide landmines – videoby (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
The Ukrainian president hailed his US counterpart, Joe Biden, for the decision to provide landmines to Ukrainian troops. The latest $275m aid package also includes drones, Himars ammunitions and artillery. It comes days after Biden lifted restrictions on the use of long-range missiles by the Ukrainian armyZelenskyy welcomes US decision to give landmines to […]
- Defence secretary announces scrapping of £500m of vessels and drones to cut costsby Daniel Boffey (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
John Healey said some had already been decommissioned in practice and confirmed retirement of some helicoptersThe defence secretary, John Healey, has announced he will scrap £500m of British navy vessels and army drones as part of cost-saving measures in what was described as a “black day” for the new government.Two former Royal Navy flagships, a […]
- How might Russia respond to UK and US letting Ukraine hit it with their missiles?by Julian Borger (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
Moscow has rattled its nuclear sabres, but experts say an increase in hybrid, ‘grey zone’ warfare is more likelyMoscow has threatened to retaliate for the decision taken by the US and the UK to allow their long-range missiles to be used in strikes inside Russian territory, and warned that nothing is off the table. Earlier this week, the Kremlin […]
- Ben Jennings on Putin’s rhetoric over Russia’s nuclear weapons – cartoonby Ben Jennings (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
Continue reading...
- Cop 29: Ukraine and Palestinian delegates warn of environmental impact of war – videoby (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
Ukraine's environmental protection minister, Svitlana Grynchuk, and the Palestinian chair for the environmental quality authority, Nisreen Tamimi, raised the alarm on the ecological impact of war in their countries and beyond. Grynchuk said Russia's 'unlawful reporting' of its carbon emissions on Ukrainian territory was undermining the integrity of the […]
- Tories say Labour is weakening national security with plan to decommission drones, warships and helicopters – as it happenedby Andrew Sparrow (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
This live blog is closedAlex Burghart says he agrees with Rayner’s remarks on Ukraine.He gets on to his question, and it is a short one. What is the government doing to cut inflation. Continue reading...
- Atacms: what are the missiles Ukraine has fired into Russia for the first time?by (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
American and Ukrainian officials have confirmed Kyiv employed US-made Atacms missiles to strike targets within Russia. The Kremlin stated that six missiles were launched at the town of Karachev, with fragments from one reportedly causing a significant explosion.In response, Russia has announced it is adjusting its nuclear doctrine. The Kremlin’s […]
- US embassy in Kyiv closes over threat of ‘significant attack’ | First Thingby Jem Bartholomew (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
It comes as the Kremlin rules out a ‘freeze’ in the conflict. Plus, 204 industrial farming lobbyists attend Cop29Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.The US embassy in Kyiv closed on Wednesday because of a potential significant air attack. “Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy […]
- US closes embassy in Kyiv after warning of ‘significant air attack’by Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
Warning comes as Biden agrees to supply anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine, days after lifting restrictions on use of long-range missilesRussia-Ukraine war live: latest news updatesThe US has temporarily closed its embassy in Kyiv after receiving warning of a “potential significant air attack”, advising American citizens to be prepared to move […]
- Latest Russian airstrikes on Ukraine threaten ‘catastrophic power failure’by Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
Targeting of substations connected to three working nuclear plants risks nuclear catastrophe in Europe, says GreenpeaceRussia-Ukraine war live: latest news updatesUkraine’s power network is at “heightened risk of catastrophic failure” after Russia’s missile and drone attack on Sunday, Greenpeace has warned, raising fears about the safety of the […]
- Ukraine war briefing: North Korean soldiers ‘fighting in Russian elite units’by Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 20, 2024
South Korean MP on intelligence committee says North has also shipped more arms to Russia; US and UK slam Russia’s ‘irresponsible’ nuclear rhetoric. What we know on day 1,001Russia-Ukraine war live: latest news updates Continue reading...
- What is hybrid warfare, which some fear Russia will use after Ukraine’s strike?by Leyland Cecco (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 19, 2024
Strike with US-made missiles has prompted fears of Russian reprisal that would broaden the scope of a frontlineRussia-Ukraine war live: latest news updatesA Ukrainian strike using American-made missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia using American-made weaponry, has prompted renewed fears of reprisal through “hybrid warfare” – a chaotic tool of […]
- Ukraine allies criticise G20 statement for not naming Russia’s role in conflictby Jessica Elgot in Rio de Janeiro and Leyland Cecco in Toronto (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 19, 2024
Scholz, Starmer, Trudeau and Macron among leaders who say communique finalized by Lula ‘not strong enough’Ukraine’s western allies have criticised the final G20 communique as inadequate for failing to highlight Russia’s invasion of its neighbour in 2022 as the conflict enters its 1,000th day.The final agreed text from the summit in Brazil was […]
- US and Europe fear escalation of Russian hybrid warfare amid Ukraine missile attacksby Andrew Roth in Washington, Shaun Walker and Pjotr Sauer (Ukraine | The Guardian) on November 19, 2024
Officials ‘incredibly concerned’ as Moscow vows response to Kyiv’s use of US-made missiles on targets inside RussiaRussia-Ukraine war live: latest news updatesThe US state department said it was “incredibly” concerned about Russia’s campaign of hybrid warfare against the west, amid fears it will escalate following Ukraine’s first use of […]