Portal:Ukraine
The Ukraine Portal - Портал України
Ukraine | |
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| ISO 3166 code | UA |
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the north; Poland and Slovakia to the west; Hungary, Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south and southeast. Kyiv is Ukraine's capital and largest city, followed by Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. The official language of the country is Ukrainian. Ukraine covers an area of 603,628 km2 (233,062 sq mi) with an estimated total population of 32.3 million in 2026.
Humans have inhabited Ukraine since at least 32,000 BC. During the Middle Ages, it was the site of early Slavic expansion and later became a key centre of East Slavic culture under the state of Kievan Rus', which emerged in the 9th century. Kievan Rus' became the largest and most powerful realm in Europe in the 10th and 11th centuries, but gradually disintegrated into rival regional powers before being destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century. For the next 600 years the area was contested, divided, and ruled by a variety of external powers, including the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Austrian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Tsardom of Russia.
The Cossack Hetmanate emerged in central Ukraine in the 17th century but was partitioned between Russia and Poland before being gradually absorbed by the Russian Empire in the 18th century. Ukrainian nationalism developed and, following the Russian Revolution in 1917, the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic was formed. The Bolsheviks consolidated control over much of the former empire and established the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. In the early 1930s, millions of Ukrainians died in the Holodomor, a human-made famine. During World War II, Ukraine was occupied by Germany and endured major battles and atrocities, resulting in 7 million civilians killed, including most Ukrainian Jews.
Ukraine gained independence in 1991 as the Soviet Union dissolved, declaring itself neutral. A new constitution was adopted in 1996 as the country transitioned to a free market liberal democracy amid endemic corruption and a legacy of state control. The Orange Revolution of 2004–2005 ushered electoral and constitutional reforms. Resurgent political crises prompted a series of mass demonstrations in 2014 known as the Euromaidan, leading to a revolution, at the end of which Russia unilaterally occupied and annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and pro-Russian unrest culminated in a war in Donbas with Russia and Russian-backed separatists. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine began a new phase of the war. (Full article...)
In the news
- 28 September 2026 – Russo-Ukrainian war
- Kyiv strikes, Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
- At least three people are killed and 24 others, including the former secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Volodymyr Horbulin, are injured by Russian drone strikes on the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine building, a health clinic, and a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine. (The Guardian) (Ukrainska Pravda)
- Polish military jets are scrambled in response to Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. Individuals in Lublin Voivodeship, Poland, are briefly urged to seek shelter before an alert is lifted. (Reuters)
- 27 September 2026 – Russo-Ukrainian war
- Attacks in Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian war, Kyiv strikes, Odesa strikes, Zaporizhzhia strikes
- Russian and Ukrainian forces exchange strikes that kill at least eight people in Ukraine and one in Russia, hitting Kyiv and its outskirts, the Kharkiv and Odesa Oblasts, Sumy, and Russian-occupied Enerhodar, all in Ukraine, as well as Russia's Belgorod Oblast. (AP)
- Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
- Russian strikes hit Kyivstar's headquarters and multiple data centres in Kyiv, including a facility struck twice that injures two children and an adult. Russia also says it targeted a Vodafone Ukraine data centre. (India Today)
- 27 September 2026 – 2026 Billie Jean King Cup
- In tennis, the Czech Republic wins its 12th Billie Jean King Cup title and first since 2018 after defeating Ukraine 2–0 in the final in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. (AFP)
- 26 September 2026 – Eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly
- German foreign minister Johann Wadephul and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov hold talks during the United Nations General Assembly, the first talks between Germany and Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)
- 26 September 2026 – 2026 Billie Jean King Cup finals
- In tennis, Ukraine reaches its first Billie Jean King Cup final after defeating defending champion Italy 2–0 in the semifinals, with Elina Svitolina securing the decisive victory over Jasmine Paolini. (AFP) (AP)
Featured pictures
Did you know (auto-generated)

- ... that the diary of Erich Lassota von Steblau is an important primary source on the 16th-century Zaporozhian Cossacks of Ukraine?
- ... that Ukrainian writer Mykhailo Starytsky financed his own theatre with proceeds from the sale of his rusk factory?
- ... that 15,000 Ukrainians joined a Telegram channel for an orgy on a Kyiv hill in the event of a Russian nuclear strike?
- ... that, on the fourth anniversary of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a video address showing the bunker in which he told the US that he needed ammunition, not a ride?
- ... that Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna's car was once fired on by Russian tanks?
- ... that the vodka brand Zirkova raised funds for Ukraine after the Russian invasion, and brought its master distiller to Canada to continue production?
More did you know -
- ... that Ukrainian naturalist, lecturer, artist and author John Lhotsky was credited as the first discoverer of gold in New South Wales?
- ... that the longest of the Kiev bridges, the 1,543 metres long Paton Bridge over the Dnieper River, constructed in 1953 was the first fully welded steel construction of such length at that time?
- ... that the Kryvbas economic region in Ukraine is one of the largest iron ore and steel industry centers in Europe?
- ... that journalist Savik Shuster who used to work for Russian TV channels now prefers to work for the Ukrainian TV because he felt the Russian Government was limiting his journalistic freedom?
- ... that Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych (pictured), known for the "Carol of the Bells", was nicknamed "Ukrainian Bach" in France?
- ... that according to legend, a tunnel leads from the Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle to the Khotyn Fortress which is 20 kilometres (12 mi) away?
Selected article -
The Donbas (UK: /dɒnˈbɑːs/, US: /ˈdɒnbɑːs, dʌnˈbæs/; Ukrainian: Донбас [donˈbɑs]) or Donbass (Russian: Донбасс [dɐnˈbas]) is a historical, cultural, and economic region on the Russia–Ukraine border, lying predominantly in Ukraine. The vast majority of the Donbas is occupied by Russia as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian war, as the Russian Armed Forces controlled about 90% of the region as of October 2025. At the last census in 2001, the population of the Donbas region of Ukraine was about 58% ethnic Ukrainian and 38% ethnic Russian.
There are several definitions of the region's extent. In modern geopolitics, the Donbas usually refers to Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine. The Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine defines the "small Donbas" as the northern part of Donetsk and the southern part of Luhansk oblasts in Ukraine, and the attached part of Rostov Oblast in Russia. The historical coal mining region excluded parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, but included areas in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and Southern Russia. The Euroregion of Donbas is composed of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in Ukraine and Rostov Oblast in Russia. (Full article...)
In the news
- 28 September 2026 – Russo-Ukrainian war
- Kyiv strikes, Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
- At least three people are killed and 24 others, including the former secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Volodymyr Horbulin, are injured by Russian drone strikes on the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine building, a health clinic, and a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine. (The Guardian) (Ukrainska Pravda)
- Polish military jets are scrambled in response to Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. Individuals in Lublin Voivodeship, Poland, are briefly urged to seek shelter before an alert is lifted. (Reuters)
- 27 September 2026 – Russo-Ukrainian war
- Attacks in Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian war, Kyiv strikes, Odesa strikes, Zaporizhzhia strikes
- Russian and Ukrainian forces exchange strikes that kill at least eight people in Ukraine and one in Russia, hitting Kyiv and its outskirts, the Kharkiv and Odesa Oblasts, Sumy, and Russian-occupied Enerhodar, all in Ukraine, as well as Russia's Belgorod Oblast. (AP)
- Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
- Russian strikes hit Kyivstar's headquarters and multiple data centres in Kyiv, including a facility struck twice that injures two children and an adult. Russia also says it targeted a Vodafone Ukraine data centre. (India Today)
- 27 September 2026 – 2026 Billie Jean King Cup
- In tennis, the Czech Republic wins its 12th Billie Jean King Cup title and first since 2018 after defeating Ukraine 2–0 in the final in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. (AFP)
- 26 September 2026 – Eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly
- German foreign minister Johann Wadephul and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov hold talks during the United Nations General Assembly, the first talks between Germany and Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)
- 26 September 2026 – 2026 Billie Jean King Cup finals
- In tennis, Ukraine reaches its first Billie Jean King Cup final after defeating defending champion Italy 2–0 in the semifinals, with Elina Svitolina securing the decisive victory over Jasmine Paolini. (AFP) (AP)
Selected anniversaries for September
- September 4, 1985 — Vasyl Stus died of beating in a Soviet forced labor camp for political prisoners near the village of Kuchino, Perm Oblast, Russian SFSR.
- September 14, 1911 — Dmitry Bogrov shot and killed the Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin in the Kiev Opera theater in front of Tsar Nicholas II.
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