Interesting facts about Ukraine you may not have known

The Ukraine-Russia crisis is headlined all over. Russia has reportedly attacked Ukraine in what could be the start of the war in Europe over Russia's demand for an end to NATO's eastward expansion. For months, Russia's President Vladimir Putin denied planning to attack Ukraine, but this week he announced a 'special military operation' in the country's Donbas region. The announcement was followed by reports of explosions in Ukraine's capital Kyiv as well as other parts of the country. In this hour of tension, the world stands in solidarity with Ukraine as they face fear for their lives. Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, is a beautiful country and there are many interesting things that you may not have known. As we desperately hope the situation gets better and that lives are saved, take a look at these facts about Ukraine.

Ukraine is the second-largest country by area in Europe after Russia. However, it is not big in terms of population. The country's population has been declining since the 1990s and one significant fact that has strongly contributed to the reduction of population is emigration.

The Ukrainian language is the only official language in Ukraine. Again, throughout the country, it is quite evident that people know both Russian and Ukrainian languages.

Ukraine has a mostly temperate and continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. While summer is generally considered the best time to visit, winter attracts a lot of visitors too for the snow and the chilled weather create a beautiful wintery wonderland.

Vyshyvanka is Ukraine's traditional costume. From the capital of Kyiv to the cultural city of Lviv, the vyshyvanka is a staple uniform for women, men and children, who sport the traditional and modern incarnations of the sartorial piece of history.

Arsenalna is currently the deepest metro station in the world at 105.5 meters below the ground. The escalators take passengers deep down so that they can catch the train.

Did you know Ukraine is one of the most educated nations in the world? It is also a popular destination for education among Asian and African students. The low fees, quality education also draw many Indian students to Ukraine.

Mount Hoverla is the highest mountain in Ukraine. The slopes are covered with beech and spruce forests and it has been a notable tourist attraction.

Ukrainian dishes often use a number of ingredients. The traditional diet includes chicken, pork, beef, eggs, fish and mushrooms. Ukrainians also tend to eat a lot of potatoes, grains, fresh and pickled vegetables. The cuisine is extremely varied, bringing a range of different foods to the table.

Another interesting fact for all food lovers is that McDonald's in Kyiv is among the most visited McDonald's restaurants in the world. McDonald's on Vokzalna Square in Kyiv is considered to be the third most visited in the world.