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An Eastern European country, Ukraine -- not "the" Ukraine -- borders the Black Sea, Moldova Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland Belarus and Russia.
Ukraine has been fought over and subjugated for centuries. It had short-lived independence from Russia (1917-1920). Parts of Ukraine were conquered by Poland after Polish war against Soviet Union . Brief independence was followed by brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over eight million died. In World War II the German and Soviet armies were responsible for seven million more deaths. Although independence was attained in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive as many of the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civic liberties.
The capital is Kyiv (pronounced Kyyiv), and was formerly known as Kiev (Kiyev).
From the CIA World Factbook 2000. Not Wikified.