Ukraine

Ukraine

Introduction

Background

Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine was able to achieve a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest “Orange Revolution” in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in parliamentary elections and become prime minister in August of 2006. An early legislative election, brought on by a political crisis in the spring of 2007, saw Yuliya TYMOSHENKO, as head of an “Orange” coalition, installed as a new prime minister in December 2007. Viktor YANUKOVUYCH was elected president in a February 2010 run-off election that observers assessed as meeting most international standards. The following month, the Rada approved a vote of no-confidence prompting Yuliya TYMOSHENKO to resign from her post as prime minister.

Geography

Location

Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

Geographic coordinates

49 00 N, 32 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 603,550 sq km
country comparison to the world: 46 land:579,330 sq km
water:24,220 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries

total: 4,566 km
border countries:Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 940 km, Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 176 km, Romania (southwest) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km

Coastline

2,782 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 m or to the depth of exploitation

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

summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

Terrain

most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point:Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

Natural resources

iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land

Land use

arable land: 53.8%
permanent crops:1.5%
other:44.7% (2005)

Irrigated land

21,790 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

139.5 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 37.53cu km/yr (12%/35%/52%)
per capita:807cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water

air and water pollution

deforestation

radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl’ Nuclear Power Plant

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Geography – note

strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia

second-largest country in Europe

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective:Ukrainian

Ethnic groups

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 census)

Languages

Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%, other (includes small Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 9%

Religions

Ukrainian Orthodox – Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox – Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestant 2.2%, Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)

Population

45,134,707 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.7% (male 3,186,606/female 3,014,069)
15-64 years:70.8% (male 15,282,749/female 16,673,641)
65 years and over:15.5% (male 2,294,777/female 4,682,865) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 39.9 years
male:36.7 years
female:43.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.622% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224

Birth rate

9.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Death rate

15.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Net migration rate

-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Urbanization

urban population: 69% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:-0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

KYIV (capital) 2.779 million

Kharkiv 1.455 million

Dnipropetrovsk 1.013 million

Odesa 1.009 million

Donetsk 971,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.065 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.49 male(s)/female
total population:0.85 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

26 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 117

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.54 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 158 male:10.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female:6.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.58 years
country comparison to the world: 150 male:62.79 years
female:74.75 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.28 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211

Health expenditures

7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80

Physicians density

3.1254 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 35

Hospital bed density

8.73 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 6

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 97% of population
total: 98% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 3% of population
total: 2% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 90% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 10% of population
total: 5% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

1.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

350,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

HIV/AIDS – deaths

24,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.1% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 93

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 48

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.4%
male:99.7%
female:99.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male:14 years
female:15 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 14.9%
country comparison to the world: 76 male:15.2%
female:14.5% (2005)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Ukraine
local long form:none
local short form:Ukrayina
former:Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type

republic

Capital

name: Kyiv (Kiev)
note:pronounced KAY-yiv
geographic coordinates:50 26 N, 30 31 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

24 provinces (oblasti, singular – oblast’), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular – misto) with oblast status**

Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol’), Dnipropetrovs’k, Donets’k, Ivano-Frankivs’k, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmel’nyts’kyy, Kirovohrad, Kyiv**, Kyiv, Luhans’k, L’viv, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol’**, Sumy, Ternopil’, Vinnytsya, Volyn’ (Luts’k), Zakarpattya (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyr
note:administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence

24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

notable earlier dates: ca. A.D. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus), 1648 (establishment of Cossack Hetmanate)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 August (1991)

note – 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia) and the day the short-lived Western and Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day

Constitution

adopted 28 June 1996

Legal system

civil law system

judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Viktor YANUKOVYCH (since 25 February 2010)
head of government:Prime Minister Mykola AZAROV (since 11 March 2010)

First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy KLYUYEV (since 11 March 2010)

Deputy Prime Ministers Borys KOLESNIKOV and Serhiy TIHIPKO (both since 11 March 2010)
cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the president and approved by the Rada
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )note:there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council

the NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president

a Presidential Administration helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 17 January 2010 with runoff on 7 February 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:Viktor YANUKOVYCH elected president

percent of vote – Viktor YANUKOVYCH 48.95%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO 45.5%, other 5.6%

Legislative branch

unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats

members allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or more of the national electoral vote

members to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 30 September 2007 (next must be held in 2012 or sooner if a ruling coalition cannot be formed in the Rada)
election results:percent of vote by party/bloc – Party of Regions 34.4%, Block of Yuliya Tymoshenko 30.7%, Our Ukraine-People’s Self Defense Bloc 14.2%, CPU 5.4%, Lytvyn Bloc 4%, other parties 11.3%

seats by party/bloc – Party of Regions 175, Block of Yuliya Tymoshenko 156, Our Ukraine-People’s Self Defense 72, CPU 27, Lytvyn Bloc 20

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders

Block of Yuliya Tymoshenko-Batkivshchyna (BYuT-Batkivshchyna) [Yuliya TYMOSHENKO]

Communist Party of Ukraine or CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]

European Party of Ukraine [Mykola KATERYNCHUK]

Forward Ukraine! [Viktor MUSIYAKA]

Front of Change [Arseniy YATSENYUK]

Lytvyn Bloc (composed of People’s Party and Labor Party of Ukraine) [Volodymyr LYTVYN]

Our Ukraine [Viktor YUSHCHENKO]

Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy KINAKH]

Party of Regions [Viktor YANUKOVYCH]

Party of the Defenders of the Fatherland [Yuriy KARMAZIN]

People’s Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) [Borys TARASYUK]

People’s Party [Volodymyr LYTVYN]

Peoples’ Self-Defense [Yuriy LUTSENKO]

PORA! (It’s Time!) party [Vladyslav KASKIV]

Progressive Socialist Party [Natalya VITRENKO]

Reforms and Order Party [Viktor PYNZENYK]

Sobor [Anatoliy MATVIYENKO]

Social Democratic Party [Yevhen KORNICHUK]

Social Democratic Party (United) or SDPU(o) [Yuriy ZAHORODNIY]

Socialist Party of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ]

Strong Ukraine [SERHIY TIHIPKO]

Ukrainian People’s Party [Yuriy KOSTENKO]

United Center [Viktor BALOHA]

Viche [Inna BOHOSLOVSKA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Committee of Voters of Ukraine [Aleksandr CHERNENKO]

OPORA [Olha AIVAZOVSKA]

International organization participation

Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CICA (observer), CIS (participating member, has not signed the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings), EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Oleksandr MOTSYK
chancery:3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:[1] (202) 333-0606
FAX:[1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general:Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy:10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 01901 Kyiv
mailing address:5850 Kyiv Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
telephone:[380] (44) 490-4000
FAX:[380] (44) 490-4085

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grain fields under a blue sky

National symbol(s)

trident (tryzub)

National anthem

name: “Sche ne vmerla Ukraina” (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished)
lyrics/music:Paul CHUBYNSKYI/Mikhail VERBYTSKYI
note:music adopted 1991, lyrics adopted 2003

the song was first performed in 1864 at the Ukraine Theatre in Lviv

the lyrics, originally written in 1862, were revised in 2003

Economy

Economy – overview

After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Shortly after independence in August 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine’s dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine depends on imports to meet about three-fourths of its annual oil and natural gas requirements and 100% of its nuclear fuel needs. After a two-week dispute that saw gas supplies cutoff to Europe, Ukraine agreed to 10-year gas supply and transit contracts with Russia in January 2009 that brought gas prices to “world” levels. The strict terms of the contracts have further hobbled Ukraine’s cash-strapped state gas company, Naftohaz. Outside institutions – particularly the IMF – have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine’s large shadow economy, but more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, and improving the legislative framework. Ukraine’s economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime minister and president until mid-2008. Real GDP growth exceeded 7% in 2006-07, fueled by high global prices for steel – Ukraine’s top export – and by strong domestic consumption, spurred by rising pensions and wages. Ukraine reached an agreement with the IMF for a $16.4 billion Stand-By Arrangement in November 2008 to deal with the economic crisis, but the Ukrainian Government’s lack of progress in implementing reforms has twice delayed the release of IMF assistance funds. The drop in steel prices and Ukraine’s exposure to the global financial crisis due to aggressive foreign borrowing lowered growth in 2008 and the economy contracted more than 15% in 2009, among the worst economic performances in the world

growth resumed in 2010, buoyed by exports. External conditions are likely to hamper efforts for economic recovery in 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$305.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40 $292.9 billion (2009 est.)
$343.8 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$136.4 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92 -14.8% (2009 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$6,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 $6,400 (2009 est.)
$7,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 9.4%
industry:33.6%
services:57% (2010 est.)

Labor force

22.02 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 15.8%
industry:18.5%
services:65.7% (2008)

Unemployment rate

8.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 8.8% (2009 est.)
note:officially registered

large number of unregistered or underemployed workers

Population below poverty line

35% (2009)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%:22.6% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

27.5 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128 29 (1999)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Budget

revenues: $39.62 billion
expenditures:$49.89 billion
note:this is the planned, consolidated budget (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Public debt

42.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68 34.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197 15.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

11.97% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28 10.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.869% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 20.863% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$36.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 $29.27 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$74.96 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58 $60.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$108.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 $101.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$39.46 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 63 $16.79 billion (31 December 2009)
$24.36 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables

beef, milk

Industries

coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing

Industrial production growth rate

11.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity – production

172.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Electricity – consumption

134.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Electricity – exports

4 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

6.73 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

82,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Oil – consumption

296,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Oil – exports

114,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Oil – imports

301,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Oil – proved reserves

395 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Natural gas – production

20.26 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas – consumption

44.16 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Natural gas – exports

2.8 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas – imports

26.7 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas – proved reserves

1.104 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Current account balance

-$2.884 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169 -$1.732 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$52.19 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52 $40.39 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

Exports – partners

Russia 24.1%, Turkey 5.9%, Italy 4.7% (2010)

Imports

$60.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43 $44.7 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports – partners

Russia 33.9%, China 8.5%, Germany 8.1%, Poland 5.4%, Belarus 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$34.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45 $26.51 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$123.4 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38 $99.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$53.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52 $46.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$2.803 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65 $2.067 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar -
7.9111 (2010)
7.7912 (2009)
4.9523 (2008)
5.05 (2007)
5.05 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

425 (2010)
country comparison to the world:19

Airports – with paved runways

total: 189
over 3,047 m:12
2,438 to 3,047 m:51
1,524 to 2,437 m:24
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:97 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 236
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:7
914 to 1,523 m:12
under 914 m:214 (2010)

Heliports

7 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 36,493 km

oil 4,514 km

refined products 4,211 km (2010)

Railways

total: 21,684 km
country comparison to the world: 12 broad gauge:21,684 km 1.524-m gauge (9,854 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 169,496 km
country comparison to the world: 30 paved:165,844 km (includes 15 km of expressways)
unpaved:3,652 km (2010)

Waterways

2,185 km (most on Dnieper River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 41

Merchant marine

total: 160
country comparison to the world: 40 by type:bulk carrier 4, cargo 123, chemical tanker 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned:1 (Iran 1)
registered in other countries:197 (Belize 6, Cambodia 37, Comoros 10, Cyprus 2, Dominica 2, Georgia 15, Liberia 16, Malta 30, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 12, Mongolia 1, Panama 11, Russia 12, Saint Kitts and Nevis 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12, Sierra Leone 5, Slovakia 7, Tuvalu 1, Vanuatu 3, unknown 4) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Feodosiya (Theodosia), Illichivsk, Mariupol’, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Yuzhnyy

Military

Military branches

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (Viyskovo-Povitryani Syly, VPS) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service

conscript service obligation – 12 months for Army and Air Force, 18 months for Navy (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 10,984,394
females age 16-49:11.26 million (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,893,551
females age 16-49:8,792,504 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 246,397
female:234,916 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security

delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete with preparations for demarcation underway

the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions

Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova’s break-away Transnistria Region, which remains under OSCE supervision

the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin, in their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary

Romania opposes Ukraine’s reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea

Illicit drugs

limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption

some synthetic drug production for export to the West

limited government eradication program

used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia

Ukraine has improved anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF’s) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in February 2004

Ukraine’s anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF