Ukraine is one of the oldest and most beautiful countries in East Europe. In ancient times it was known as Kievan Rus, which is why its current capital is named Kiev. The country has a fascinating history and rich culture. Apart from historic monuments, churches, museums, palaces, Ukraine is full of natural wonders, such as mountains, beaches, rivers, and simply beautiful landscapes. Perhaps the most visited places in the country are the Carpathian Mountains in winter and Crimean resorts in summ или Ukraine is a sovereign state; its independence was proclaimed in 1991. Ukraine is situated in the east of Europe. The territory of Ukraine is 603 700 square kilometres. Ukraine borders on Russia, Belarus, Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. It’s washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and has very important ports. Ukraine is larger than France and Great Britain but considerably smaller than Russia. 5% of Ukraine’s territory is mountainous; the rest part of the Ukrainian area is