Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the east and northeast; Belarus to the northwest; Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively. It has an area of 603,628 square kilometers, making it the largest country entirely within Europe. Ukraine became an independent country with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is now organized as a republic under a semi-presidential system with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also maintains the second-largest military in Europe. Ukraine is a unitary state composed of twenty-four oblasts or provinces, one autonomous republic (Crimea), and two cities with special status: Kiev, its capital and largest city, and Sevastopol. It is home to approximately 45 million people, 77.8 percent of whom are ethnic Ukrainians, with sizable minorities of Russians (17%), Belarusians and Romanians. Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine, although Russian is also widely spoken. Throughout its history, Ukraine has been one of the powerhouses of world agriculture due to its fertile conditions. As of 2011, it was the world’s third-largest grain exporter and one of the ten most attractive agricultural land acquisition regions.

The most dominant religion in Ukraine is the Eastern Orthodox Church (61.15%), followed by the Catholic Church (10.14%); both are declining in annual growth. The Evangelical church makes up only 3.8 percent of the population, but is growing by an annual rate of 3.1%. The Evangelical church in Ukraine has passed through several decades of persecution under Communism and the Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, the suffering has served to refine God’s people and to prepare them for their newfound freedom. In the last decade, Ukrainian churches and believers have had a noticeable impact throughout Eastern Europe and the vast lands of Russia. Ukraine is a key nation to reaching the surrounding countries with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 Sources: Wikipedia and Operation World