About Ukraine

Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe in terms of area (603,700 sq. kms) and population (about 48 million). The geographical centre of Europe falls in western Ukraine. The capital city is Kyiv.

Ukraine has a rich cultural history spanning more than 5,500 years. Ukraine's art, architecture, folklore and natural scenic beauty attract numerous tourists each year.

Ukrainian science and technology have made many contributions in the areas of space research and development and aeronautics. Kybalchych, Kondratiuk and Korolev are three of the six Ukrainian-born scientists whose contributions have been marked by having a lunar crater named after them.

Since 1965, Ukraine's Antonov aircraft factory has built the world largest planes. The Ukrainian Academy of Sciences in 1948-1950 designed and built the MEOM, Europe's first electronic computer. It also published the world's first encyclopedia of cybernetics (the science of automation). The inventor, Igor Sikorsky, who has been referred to as the father of the helicopter, was born in Ukraine and built his first helicopter there.

Ukrainians have developed one of the most vibrant musical cultures in the world, with some 200,000 songs. The influence and utilization of Ukrainian music were clearly discernible in the works of many famous European composers, e.g. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt and Tchaikovsky.