Capital and largest city: Kyiv
Official language: Ukrainian
Area: 603,700 sq.km
Population: 47 million
Currency: Hryvnia, (UAH). There are bills for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Hryvnias.
Bordering countries: Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovakia.
Big cities: Kyiv, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odessa, Zaporizhzhya, Lviv
Lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Highest point: the Goverla mountain, 2,061 m
Religions: Orthodox, Greek Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Islam

Safety

Crime. Crime rate is low in Ukraine as compared to Western rates. Still, beware of walking alone late at night and flashing a lot of money. The cities' centers are usually safer than the outskirts. Also, it is wise to have photocopies of your documents (passport, driving license) in a safe place in case your real valuables are lost or stolen.

Water.  It is recommended that you boil tap water before drinking it because it is not clean enough even after purification. Bottled mineral water is easy to find in supermarkets and at numerous vendors.

Radiation. Radiation levels in Kyiv and most of Ukraine are considered safe and normal by the U.S. Embassy and other international official bodies.

Electricity. The standard electric voltage in Ukraine is 220 volts. If you bring electric appliances, be sure to take a plug adaptor and a surge protector.

Communication

Post Office
Every town in Ukraine has a developed network of post-offices. The main post-office is usually located in the central part of the city and offers nearly all existing types of communication services. The Kyiv Central Post Office is at 22 Khreschatyk  street and works from 8 am till 9 pm on Monday through Saturday and from 9 am till 7 pm on Sunday.

Phones. For calls around Kyiv, you can use public telephones located all over the city. There are several mobile phone operators offering roaming service and you can buy their prepaid SIM cards anywhere.

Internet. Wi Fi service is provided in most hotels, centrally located restaurants and other public places.

Time. The time in Ukraine is set two hours ahead of the Universal time in Greenwich.

Money

Cash. It is preferable to bring either US dollars or EURO with you. These can be changed at exchange points around the cities. Make sure your foreign currency bills are crisp and new looking – damaged and worn bills may be declined for exchange.

Credit.  Personal checks practically do not exist in Ukraine though many places in Kyiv accept major credit cards (Visa, Master Card, AmEX). Travellers' cheques can be cashed in a number of banks.