Ukraine

An Eastern European country, the Ukraine borders the Black Sea, Moldova Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland Belarus and Russia.

The Ukraine has been fought over and subjugated for centuries; its 20th-century struggle for liberty is not yet complete. A short-lived independence from Russia (1917-1920) was followed by brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died, and World War II, in which German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 million more deaths. Although independence was attained in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive as many of the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civic liberties.

The capital is Kyiv (pronounced Kyyiv), and was formerly known as Kiev (Kiyev).

From the CIA World Factbook 2000. Not Wikified.

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