Tag: Ukraine

According to thereligionfaqs, Ukraine is a country located in Eastern Europe with a population of approximately 44 million people. The majority of Ukrainians are Christians, with most identifying as members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (41%) or the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (7%). The remaining 52% of the population follow other Christian denominations, traditional Eastern Slavic religions, Islam, Judaism, or other religious beliefs. The Constitution of Ukraine guarantees freedom of religion and allows for religious practice without government interference. This includes allowing individuals to choose their own religion or to practice multiple religions simultaneously. Christianity is deeply entrenched in Ukrainian culture and is an important part of daily life for many people. In addition to Christianity, traditional Eastern Slavic religions are also widely practiced in Ukraine. These faiths typically involve ancestor worship and belief in spirits and deities. While some elements of these beliefs have been incorporated into Christianity, many Ukrainians continue to practice traditional Eastern Slavic religions alongside Christianity or on their own. Islam is also practiced by a small minority in Ukraine, mostly concentrated around the cities of Kiev and Odessa. Muslims make up about 1% of the population, with most following Sunni Islam or Sufism (a mystical form of Islam). Overall, freedom of religion remains relatively intact in Ukraine compared to other countries in the region. However, there have been some restrictions on certain religious activities such as proselytizing by non-Christian denominations or worshipping outside authorized locations. Despite this, most religious activities are allowed without interference from local authorities. In 2011, Ukraine was a sovereign state located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Belarus, Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. It had an estimated population of 45.5 million people with a GDP per capita of $3,647. The country was characterized by its diverse culture and geography ranging from the Carpathian mountains in the west to the Black Sea in the south. The official language was Ukrainian and the currency was the hryvnia. Politically, Ukraine was a democratic republic and held free and fair elections in 2010 which saw President Viktor Yanukovych elected to office with 48.95 percent of the vote. Yanukovych’s main focus during his tenure was on economic development and he implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the country’s economy such as reducing taxes on small businesses and increasing foreign investment in infrastructure projects. The economy of Ukraine relied heavily on exports such as steel products, machinery and chemicals which accounted for nearly 60 percent of its GDP in 2011. In addition to this it also had a thriving agricultural sector which produced grains such as wheat and corn as well as dairy products like cheese and butter for both domestic consumption and export abroad. In terms of social issues, Ukraine suffered from high levels of poverty with an estimated 24 percent of its population living below the poverty line in 2011. Additionally, unemployment stood at 8 percent while inflation rates were at 9 percent during this period making it difficult for many Ukrainians to make ends meet. Ukraine also faced numerous environmental problems due to over-exploitation of natural resources such as forests by illegal loggers as well as air pollution from burning fossil fuels for energy production purposes. In response to these issues the government had taken some steps towards improving environmental protection but much more needed to be done in order to effectively address them. Overall, Ukraine faced numerous challenges in 2011 including poverty, corruption and environmental degradation. Despite these challenges however it had made some progress over the past decade thanks to improved governance under President Yanukovych’s administration which helped increase foreign investment into infrastructure projects aimed at boosting economic growth. Check programingplease for Ukraine in 2010.