Best Ukraine

Andriy Shevchenko is a Ukrainian former professional footballer, born in 1976, who played as a striker. He is best known for his time at AC Milan (1999–2006, 2008–2009), where he scored 175 goals and won the UEFA Champions League in 2003. He also played for Chelsea and Dynamo Kyiv, and represented t...

Object 825 GTS is a former Soviet submarine base located inside a mountain at Balaklava Bay in Crimea. Constructed between 1957 and 1961, the underground facility was designed to withstand a direct nuclear strike of up to 100 kilotons. It served as a repair and maintenance station for submarines of...

20 Days in Mariupol documents the initial period of the Russian invasion of Ukraine through video recorded by director Mstyslav Chernov. The film utilizes footage captured during the first few weeks following the invasion’s commencement. It presents a record of events as experienced by the filmmaker...

The Pripet Marshes comprise a significant European wetland area primarily located along the Pripyat River in Ukraine and Belarus. This expansive marshland is notable for its extensive historical importance as a vital waterway and its critical role as a defensive barrier during World War II. It’s a u...

Founded in 1786 in Lviv, Ukraine, Lychakiv Cemetery is one of Europe's oldest active graveyards and serves as a prominent national pantheon for Polish and Ukrainian elites.

The Pontic-Caspian Steppe is a vast temperate grassland region encompassing parts of Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan. This area holds significant historical importance as a location associated with early horse domestication approximately 3500 BCE. It’s characterized by its expansive grasslands and r...

Vassily Ivanchuk is a Ukrainian chess player recognized for his exceptional versatility across all formats. He achieved significant success in major tournaments including the Linares Supertournament and numerous Rapid and Blitz World Championships throughout the 1990s. His strategic depth and adapta...

The Battle of Kyiv was a major military engagement during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, taking place from February to April. Russian forces launched an armored advance from Belarus aimed at encircling and capturing the Ukrainian capital. Ukrainian defenders utilized defensive trenches, artil...

Andriy Shevchenko is a Ukrainian former footballer who played as a striker for Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, and Chelsea between 1994 and 2012. He scored 175 goals across all competitions for AC Milan, winning one Serie A title and the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League. He received the Ballon d'Or in 2004 and...

The Scythian gold pectoral unearthed in 1971 from the Tovsta Mohyla kurgan in Ukraine, dating to the 4th century BCE, is a masterpiece of Greco-Scythian goldsmithing depicting animal combat and pastoral scenes in three registers.

Jan Koum is a Ukrainian-born American technology entrepreneur who co-founded the mobile messaging service WhatsApp with Brian Acton in 2009. WhatsApp emphasized simple, phone-number-based communication and later added group messaging and voice calling while generally avoiding advertising in its earl...

The Pinsk Marshes, also known as the Pripet Marshes, are an expansive wetland region situated along the Pripyat River in Belarus and Ukraine. Spanning the Polesian Lowland, they constitute one of the most extensive complexes of bogs, peatlands, and floodplain forests on the European continent. The r...

Established in 1786 in Lviv, then part of the Austrian Empire under the name Lemberg, Łyczakowski Cemetery is one of the oldest active burial grounds in Europe. The site spans a vast, forested park and is distinguished by its elaborate 19th-century funerary sculptures and family vaults. It serves as...

Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle stands within a dramatic canyon along the Smotrych River. This medieval fortress has served as a strategic stronghold for centuries protecting the Podolian region. Its imposing architecture and historical significance make it a notable landmark attracting visitors interest...

Woman at War is a thriller film centered on a solitary female pilot who begins stealing cargo and passing it off as human organs. The story, directed by Benedikt Erlingsson, presents a darkly comedic exploration of isolation and desperation. It’s notable for its unconventional narrative and strong p...

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is a 2009 first-person shooter set within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The game expands upon the narrative established in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, focusing on investigations and survival challenges. It was released by GSC Game World and later distributed...

Ostriv is a single-player city-building simulation game developed by Ukrainian indie developer Yevheniy. It challenges players to manage and grow an 18th-century town with a high degree of historical realism. The game is notable for its gridless placement system, allowing for more organic and realis...

The Pontic Steppe is a vast temperate grassland region encompassing parts of southern Ukraine and southwestern Russia. It’s notable for its historical significance as potentially the origin point of the Proto-Indo-European language family. This area's open landscape and moderate climate have support...

Volodymyr Zelenskyys leadership during Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been pivotal. His unwavering resolve, communication skills, and ability to galvanize international support have made him a symbol of resistance. While his long-term legacy remains to be seen, his actions in 2023 and 2024 signifi...

The Black Sea Steppe, also known as the Pontic-Caspian steppe, is a vast expanse of temperate grassland stretching from the northern shores of the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. It covers significant portions of modern-day Ukraine and southern Russia. Historically, this region was home to various nom...

Krymka is an LL3.1 ordinary chondrite meteorite associated with a 1946 fall in Ukraine. Its very low petrologic subtype identifies it as a highly unequilibrated specimen whose components underwent comparatively little thermal alteration after accumulation on its parent body. The preservation of dist...

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is a first-person shooter released in 2007, originating from GSC Game World. The game’s setting involves the Chernobyl exclusion zone following a second disaster that altered local environments and physics. It draws influence from “Roadside Picnic,” utilizing simi...

Metro: Last Light is a 2013 first-person shooter set in the post-nuclear Moscow Metro. Players control Artyom as he navigates the system’s tunnels and surface areas while confronting factions and mutated creatures. The game features enhanced gameplay mechanics, including weapon customization options...

Khotyn Fortress stands as a significant example of Ukrainian military architecture. Constructed primarily between the 14th and 17th centuries, this riverside citadel’s strategic location on the Dniester River made it vital for defense against various invaders including the Ottomans. Its role in the...

The Kyiv Independent is an English-language daily newspaper providing Ukrainian news and analysis. Established in 2021 by former Kyiv Post journalists, it offers critical reporting on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It serves international audiences seeking reliable information about developments w...

Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979) was a Ukrainian-born French painter instrumental in developing Orphism alongside her husband Robert Delaunay. Her work explored abstract color and pattern, notably through textile designs. She created vibrant compositions using geometric shapes and bold hues. Delaunay’s in...

“My Thoughts Are Silent” is a 2010 Ukrainian comedy-drama film directed by Antonio Lukich. It tells the story of a disillusioned Ukrainian man who embarks on a surreal road trip across Europe with a mute American woman. The film gained recognition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, rec...

The Wild Fields was a sparsely populated steppe north of the Black Sea, historically serving as a buffer zone between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crimean Khanate.

Encyclopedia of Ukraine is an English-language Ukrainian studies reference published by University of Toronto Press from 1984 to 2001.