What Are the Biggest Misconceptions About Ukraine?

• Ukraine is not an independent sovereign state but a part of another state.

So, Ukraine is a sovereign state. It has its own territory, higher and local bodies of state power and government, national emblem, state flag, and anthem. It’s a unitary republic under a semi-presidential system. Ukraine gained its independence from the Soviet Union in consequence of its dissolution in 1991.

• Ukrainians don’t have their own national language, their language is Russian.

The state language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. During the centuries until recent times, it was humiliated, persecuted, and banned by the other nations’ rulers, conquerors, chauvinists. However, nothing could ruin it, break its integrity and harmony. Also, many speak Russian.

• Orange Revolution and Revolution of Dignity are one and the same revolution.

These are two different revolutions which took place in Ukraine in a different time in the early 2000s.

Orange revolution (2004–2005). The Presidential election fraud of 2004 caused protests, millions of Ukrainians staged nationwide nonviolent protests that came to be known as the “Orange revolution.”

Revolution of Dignity (2013–2014) began with the mass demonstrations which were caused by the pro-Russian Yanukovich-President government’s decision not to sign a wide-ranging association agreement with the European Union, because of pressure from Russia. This revolution ended with the mass shooting of the peaceful protestants.

• Ukraine is a Muslim country.

The tourists who believed that Ukraine is a Muslim country told me that they had this idea because of the look of our cathedrals. The domes reminded them Muslim domes.

Orthodox Christianity is undoubtedly the most popular of religions in Ukraine. As of today, 84% of Ukrainians consider themselves Orthodox, 7% – Greek Catholics, 4% – Roman Catholics and Protestants, 5% other religions.