Ukraine is currently in the spotlight as the victim of the Russian invasion. We have gathered 5 interesting facts, some of which, unfortunately, have been put in a different light by the war.
1. Europe’s largest country
Excluding Russia, which lies on the territory of both Asia and Europe, Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, with an area of 603.55 square kilometers. Although the largest country in Europe in terms of area, it is relatively less large in terms of population. With around 43 million inhabitants, it has fewer people per square kilometer than Germany or France.
2. Ukraine has seven World Heritage sites
Ukraine has seven sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which are among the most visited sites in Ukraine. These include the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kiev and the historic centre of Lviv, the unique wooden churches in the Carpathians and the surrounding beech forests.
3. Vyshyvanka, the national costume
The vyshyvanka is a simple white shirt made of linen and decorated with floral or ornate hand-stitched embroidery. A special feature of the costume is that it is worn by both men and women.
4. The deepest underground station in the world
The world’s deepest metro station is the Arsenalna station on the Svyatoshinsko-Brovarska line in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. This metro station was opened on 6 November 1960 as part of the first section of the Kiev Metro, built and designed by the Soviet Union. The Arsenalna station of the Kiev metro, which is located at a depth of 105.5 meters. During the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, many civilians have sought refuge in metro stations.
5. The world’s largest aircraft built in Ukraine
The An-225 is the heaviest aircraft ever built, with a maximum take-off weight of 710 tons. The Antonov An-225 Mriya was built in Kiev, Ukraine, when the country was part of the Soviet Union. It also has the largest wingspan of any functional aircraft. Although it was not clear from news reports in recent days – as conflicting reports about the condition of the aircraft have been published – the most recent news reports confirm that the Mriya was also destroyed in the war.