What do you know about... Ukraine?

[u/MarktpLatz]

This is the eleventh part of our ongoing series about the countries of Europe. You can find an overview here.

Todays country:

Ukraine

Ukraine is the largest country that is completely on the european continent. The Ungarian people's republic was founded in 1917, the ukrainian state in 1918. It later became part of the soviet union and finally got independent in 1991. Currently, Ukraine is facing military combat with russia-backed rebels and the crimean peninsula was completely annexed by Russia. Ukraine will host the next eurovision song contest.

So, what do you know about Ukraine?

[u/Oscee]

This is more of an experience than knowledge but I visited Ukraine in June 2014, Kiev to be specific. Everyone was telling me that is unsafe: the revolution has only happened half a year before and there was a war (kindof) going on the far east. But hey, flight and accommodation was cheap and I didn't believe it will be dangerous or bad and boy I was right to the bone!

While Maidan Nezalezhnosti was still in pretty bad shape and brought tears to my eyes, the rest of the city center was clean, safe, lively and amazing. The outskirts of the town has some pretty run-down areas but the touristy and business area is a bit more modern and cleaner than I am used to in Budapest. I had great food (most of the time I didn't even know what I am ordering), cheap booze and it was and still is the only Orthodox place I visited which was very exciting for me (well, I've been to Romania but only in Transylvania which is not too Orthodox). Beautiful city!

I've been to a couple of places from New York to Tokyo and I still consider Kiev among the better ones I visited. I want to go to the hockey world championship and see our boys fight on the ice so badly but now I live in Japan and cannot really afford to travel there (and home) now.

edit: and I helped a lot keeping the Ukrainian flag tidy on /r/place :)

[u/obj_stranger → u/Oscee]

Thank you)