 The Orange Revolution in 2004 ushered in a new era for Ukraine, rousing a sense of national pride that can still be felt in the air. In the bustling capital Kyiv, the citizens wear the latest fashions and flaunt their newfound freedoms in the local cafés and clubs. But there’s a lot more to this ‘new’ country than most visitors could imagine. Ukraine has been around in one form or another for well over 1,000 years. The Kyiv Rus culture, which flourished in Kyiv during the 9th century, gave birth to the future nations of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
Most visitors arrive by plane at Kyiv’s small Boryspil Airport, located about an hour outside of the capital Kyiv. Alternatively, there are excellent train connections with Moscow and Europe, as well as regular coach services from as far away as the UK. It’s not advised that you drive, however, as the roads are not well maintained.
 Ukraine’s attractions range from the stunning natural beauty of the Carpathian Mountains in the west to the historical preservation of Lviv, one of the oldest cities in Europe. The country has a surprisingly rich history. More than 500 of Ukraine’s cities date back 900 years or more and most are replete with ancient architecture, monuments and incredible palaces. Between Kyiv and Lviv, visitors can absorb as much Slavic culture as they can handle. Then head over to the Black Sea town of Odessa to see how modern Ukrainians are evolving and socialising.
Accommodation in Ukraine can be rather sparse in some parts of the country, but in the main cities you won’t have much trouble finding suitable accommodation. There is plenty of money in Ukraine these days and Kyiv sports a number of luxury hotels. But most of the lodging is in the moderate range. As for dining, visitors won’t be limited to cabbage and potatoes for dinner. Thanks to its incredibly long history and geographic location between Europe, Turkey and Russia, Ukraine has developed an excellent local cuisine which pairs simple dishes with a perfect balance of flavour and spice. Nightlife has also picked up, especially in the capital Kyiv, where there’s a new enthusiasm for making money and spending it.
Weather
 Like most other Eastern European countries, Ukraine has a rather harsh climate, with little to rejoice about except for brief moments of balance between the seasons. Winters are cold and bitter, with temperatures that rarely peak above freezing, even during the day. The northern parts of Ukraine suffer even more, with temperatures often reaching -10°C and never getting warmer than -4°C. The southern regions of the country, however, fare a bit better. The winters are still quite cold but not nearly as harsh as the northern regions. Winter is the most humid time of year in Ukraine, so the cold feels damp and makes for even more unpleasant conditions.
Summers bring the warmest weather to the country. The northern regions see a comfortably cool range of 15°C to 25°C at its peak in July and August. The southern parts of the country are even a bit warmer. A moderate amount of precipitation falls throughout the year, but never seems to get excessive. In the capital, Kyiv, temperatures vary much more from day to day and month to month than in other parts of Ukraine due to its location on the steppes. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are generally the best time of the year to visit. The weather is usually pleasant and the change of seasons is a beautiful even in this part of the world. If you visit Ukraine in the winter, bring plenty of warm clothes. Other times of the year, you can get by with fairly lightweight clothes and a sweater or jacket.
History
 The steppes north of the Black Sea have long been at the crossroads of cultures moving between Asia and Europe. Although the Scythians were most likely the first culture to dominate the region between the 7th and 4th centuries BC, it wasn’t until a group of Scandinavians known as the Rus came along that the area was unified under a single ruler. The Rus took over Kyiv in 882 AD and by the end of the 10th century, controlled a vast area which ranged from the Baltic Sea to the Volga, known as Kyivian Rus. In 998, the Kyivian Rus leader accepted Christianity from Constantinople, which sparked the beginning a long period of Byzantine influence over the politics and culture of Ukraine.
By 1520, all of coastal Ukraine was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Plague and military devastation eradicated most of the Ukrainian population by the 15th century, opening the region to runaway serfs and Orthodox refugees. These people became known as Cossacks and eventually formed their own state. Although Ukraine was under Polish or Russian rule throughout much of its modern history, the nation still retained a sense of autonomy.
 Ukrainian nationalism underwent a revival in the 1840s, which prompted the Russian government to outlaw the Ukrainian language. When the tsars lost control of Russia after WWI, Ukraine had the chance to assert its independence, but infighting and a bewildering array of factions led to anarchy. Civil War broke out and wasn’t resolved until the USSR added Ukraine to its union in 1922. A second wave of Ukrainian nationalism brought down the wrath of Stalin, who used the country as an example of subservience by virtually wiping out the population and most of its cultural institutions.
The 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe in Ukraine and a general discontent with Soviet rule sparked the latest movement for independence. By the early 1990s, Ukraine had its own president and government. Recent years have seen this country try to break its old ties with Russia and forge new ones with Europe and the West. The Orange Revolution of 2005 brought popular opinion into the spotlight, sweeping Victor Yushchenko into office. Although the future of Ukraine remains tenuous, it still lies at the crossroads of Russian, Turkish and European influences, making it one of the more interesting and unexplored parts of the world.
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