Important Facts About Ukraine for PSC

This article is a collection of some of the most intriguing and essential facts about Ukraine, the Eastern European country currently under Russian siege. 

So, here are some fascinating facts about what makes Ukraine so unique.

---

Ukraine: Quick & Important Facts for PSC

• Capital – Kyiv (Kiev).
• Currency – Hryvnia (₴).
• President – Volodymyr Zelensky.
• Prime Minister – Denys Shmyhal.
• Official language – Ukrainian language.
• National anthem is titled “Ukraine Has Not Perished Yet.”
• National Costume of Ukraine – Vyshyvanka.
• National drink of Ukraine – Horilka (meaning  "burning water"), an alcoholic beverage that is often served with chili pepper.
• Sixth-largest alcohol consuming country in the world.
• The second largest country in Europe (603.55 square km.) after Russia.
• Bordering countries – Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova & Russia.
• Fourth highest literacy rate in the world (99.7%).
• Land for Trypillian Civilization, one of the world’s most ancient civilizations.
• Birthplace of the Jewish Hasidic movement.
• Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Chersonese.
• Struve Geodetic Arc.
• Lviv Historic Centre Ensemble.
• Virgin Beech Forests of the Carpathians.
• St. Sophia Cathedral & Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
• Wooden Churches of the Carpathian Region.
• Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans.

• World’s first constitution “Pacts and Constitutions of Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporishiah Host", was drafted and introduced in 1710 by Ukrainian Hetman Pylyp Orlyk.
• World’s heaviest aircraft – Antonov AN-225 Mriya.
• wingspan of 88.4 meters and weighs 640,000 kg.
• Destroyed during Russian invasion of Feb 27, 2022.
• Deepest Metro Station in the World – Arsenalna station (Kyiv).
• at a depth of 105.5 meters (346 ft).
• Biggest nuclear power plant catastrophe in the world – Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant (1986).
• World’s first nation to give up its nuclear arsenal.
• Easter egg tradition originated in Ukraine.
• The world-famous song, “O Sole Mio” was composed in Ukraine.
• Yalta Conference (1945) – Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met at Ukraine to discuss European boundaries after WWII.
• Orange Revolution –  a peaceful mass protest of 2004 by Ukrainians, which succeeded in forcing the government to overturn the results of a rigged election by Viktor Yanukovych, then prime minister.
• World's first gas lamp invented by two Lviv-based pharmacists: Jan Zeh & Ignacy Łukasiewicz (1853).
• Highest mountain in Ukraine – Mount Hoverla (2061 m, Carpathian mountains)
• World’s longest musical instrument Trembita originates from Ukraine.
• Ukraine declared actor Steven Seagal a national security risk and barred him from entering the country for 5 years in 2017.
• Sobriquet – Breadbasket Of Europe.
• Agricultural Produce – 
• World’s largest Sunflower seed producer.
• 3rd largest world producer of potato, pumpkin & buckwheat.
• 4th largest world producer of dry peas.
• 5th largest world producer of maize, cabbage &carrot.
• 6th largest world producer of cucumber & walnuts.
• 6th largest exporter of grain in the world.
• 7th largest world producer of sugar beet, barley, rapeseed & rye.
• 8th largest world producer of wheat.
• 11th largest world producer of apple.
• 13th largest world producer of tomatoes.
• Minerals & Natural Resources – 
• Natural Gas – Second-biggest known gas reserves in Europe.
• Coal – World’s 7th largest & Europe’s 2nd largest coal reserve
• Iron – ranks 6th in global iron ore production.
• Uranium – World's 9th largest producer of uranium.
• largest uranium deposit in Europe,  accounts for 1.8% of the world’s uranium deposit.
• Manganese –  8th the top ten producers of manganese ore in the world.
•  largest manganese ore reserve in Europe.
• Titanium – largest titanium reserve in Europe & 6th in titanium extraction globally.
• Gallium – 2nd in gallium extraction globally.
• Germanium – 5th in germanium extraction globally.
• Graphite – 7th largest producer worldwide of graphite.
• Lithium – Lithium fields in Ukraine are concentrated in Zaporizhzhia oblast (Kruta Balka area), Donetsk (Shevchenkivske field), and Kirovohrad (Polokhivske field, Dobra area)
• China was the largest importer of Ukrainian titanium and iron ores.
• 2022 Russian invasion – 
• a large-scale invasion by Russia which began on February 24, 2022.
• Snake Island (Zmiinyi Island/Serpent Island) 

• located in the Black Sea, south of Odessa, near the Danube Delta. 
• delimits the territorial waters of Ukraine.
• On Ukraine’s first day, two Russian naval warships, Moskva and Vasily Bykov attacked this Island. 
• a second attack followed on the same day and the Russian force’s invaded and captured the island. 
• Snake Island 13 – A group of Thirteen Ukrainian border guards who were stationed on Snake Island, refused to surrender and were supposedly killed during the battle.

Thanks for Reading!!!