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/Reza_Jafari]

Used to have both strong industry and strong agriculture, and was considered the most likely post-Soviet state to succeed. Not sure about the economy now, but the war is dragging them down

[u/rbnd → u/Reza_Jafari]

Economy now is very very bad.

[u/rbnd → u/[deleted]]

Even in 1990 it was in better state, while most of Europe has progressed a lot since then. Now even Botswana is 2 x richer than Ukraine: http://www.google.ie/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=ny_gdp_pcap_cd&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:POL:RUS:UKR:HRV:DEU:GRC&ifdim=region&tstart=646786800000&tend=1309474800000&hl=en&dl=en&ind=false#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=ny_gdp_pcap_pp_kd&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:UKR:SVK:BWA&ifdim=region&tstart=639180000000&tend=1428098400000&hl=en_US&dl=en&ind=false

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It never has been but the hope was with all its fertile land Ukraine could've become the breadbasket of Europe like it was for the USSR.

[u/pipiska → u/[deleted]]

Also, with its coal and industrial base combined with the low labour cost it could've become the factory of Europe.

[u/[deleted] → u/pipiska]

Its not the only post USSR state to have that fate, its nothing compared to Kyrgyzstan which has huge natural resources but was squandered by corruption

[u/[deleted] → u/Reza_Jafari]

Didn't they have huge corruption in the 90s and the 00s its one of the things that caused the Euromaiden ?

[u/Reza_Jafari → u/[deleted]]

I think it is one of the two factors, the other one being a poorly managed transition to a market economy

[u/[deleted] → u/Reza_Jafari]

I think it is one of the two factors, the other one being a poorly managed transition to a market economy

That's basically most of the ex USSR, Russian oligarchs are another example