Key Facts
Government type: Parliamentary – Presidential Republic
Capital: Kyiv
Total Area: 603,700 sq²
Population: 40 million
GDP Per Capita (PPP) $3,000
Official languages: Ukrainian
Religions: 50,4% Ukrainian Orthodox under Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox under Moscow Patriarchate – 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic -8%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox – 7.2%, Roman Catholic – 2.2%, Protestant – 2.2%, Jewish – 0.6%, other – 3.2%
Country code: +38
Currency: Hryvna (UAH)
Voltage: 240 V
Brief Overview
Ukraine is located in the Southeast Europe, being the second largest country on the European continent, after Russia. The country is bordered by Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and by the Black Sea to the south. Ukraine consists largely of fertile black soil steppes; mountainous areas include the Carpathians in the southwest and the Crimean chain in the south.
Ukraine is a parliamentary- presidential republic, which consist of twenty-four provinces (oblasts). The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.
The history of Ukraine throws back to the times of Kyiv Rus, a medieval polity, which was the largest and most powerful state in Europe during the 10th and 11th centuries. Ukraine again became as the separate unite on the map of Europe when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. This dissolution started a period of painful transition to a market economy.
Since then a lot of foreign companies came to Ukraine, bringing investments and forcing the country to a new development level. With rich farmlands, industrial base, highly trained labor force of 20 million, and good education system, Ukraine has high potential; still the biggest obstacles in Ukraine are underdeveloped infrastructure and transportation, corruption and bureaucracy.
Ukraine maintains peaceful and constructive relations with all its neighbours; trying to balance between European Union integration and Russian ties.
Culture
Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced by Christianity, which is the dominant religion in the country. Gender roles also tend to be more traditional, and grandparents play a greater role in raising children than in the West. Today, the country is somewhat culturally divided with the western regions bearing a stronger European influence and the eastern regions showing a strong Russian influence.
Many people do not know that the tradition of the Easter egg had its beginnings in the Ukraine.
The official language is Ukrainian. Russian, which was the de facto official language of the Soviet Union, is widely spoken, especially in eastern and southern Ukraine. Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a second language.
Rental Market
Finding an apartment for rent in Ukraine can be a challenge, especially if you do not know the language or you rent an apartment in Ukraine for the first time. The Internet is full of different properties, but most of the information is out of date. Expert and impartial support is a clear need for those looking to rent a property in Ukraine, it definitely save your time and money.
New buildings arising in Kyiv, but still most of the proposed apartments in the city centre situated in the old architecture houses that were built in 30`s and 60`s. Most of the old buildings have no elevator or a very small one, modest entrances, which might be dirty and parking spaces available in the yard of the house. New buildings propose parking places, which are rented separately from the property.
There is shortage of houses in the city centre and the rental price is ungrounded high, most of the houses are situated outskirts.
Standard Tenancy: Minimum 1 year
Security Deposit: Yes, usually equivalent one month of rent and considered to be the last month of rent
Holding Deposit: Rarely required to secure a property.
Real Estate Commission: Commission (from 50% till 100 % of monthly rent) is paid by the tenant. Usually Utilities: Tenants responsibility, not included within rent.
Healthcare
All the country’s medical service providers and hospitals are subordinate to the Ministry of Health, with all working citizens contributing to the cost.
Ukraine’s healthcare system is state subsidised and in theory, is available free of charge to all citizens of Ukraine and registered residents, however, in practice, the free services only cover basic provision and patients often have to pay for extras such as specialist equipment required during surgery.
Often, doctors and consultants will also charge a fee for their time. The standard healthcare is extremely neglected with a severe lack of medical facilities and medicines.
However, it is not compulsory to be treated in a state-run hospital as a number of private medical complexes do exist nationwide. The public sector employs most healthcare professionals, with those working for private medical centres typically also retaining their state employment.
Private cosmetic surgeries, dental care, ophthalmology, fecundation in Ukraine are on a par with the best in Europe, but cost much less.
Schools
The system of education in Ukraine extends right from pre-school to higher education.
There are a wide range of kindergartens in Ukraine, including an international one. The kindergartens work with small groups of children, usually aged between 3 and 6 years. The children are taught basics in reading, mathematics and art. The programs are designed to prepare children for elementary school studies.
As a rule, schooling begins at the age of 6, 11 years of schooling are mandatory.
In Ukraine, there are both public (state) and private schools. Some schools have an emphasis — such as math and physics, English, Eastern Languages, etc. — that makes them better and more prestigious. The teaching language is Ukrainian.
International schools in Ukraine are quite a bit different from Ukrainian public schools. They are sometimes a year longer, they may combine Ukrainian and foreign curriculum requirements, and they provide a variety of extracurricular activities similar to western schools. Many schools offer a choice of languages for instruction. Even if instruction is in English, students will have Russian and/or Ukrainian classes, which is important for adapting to the country.
This relocation guide to Ukraine helps expats and HR teams prepare for life in one of Europe’s most resilient and culturally rich countries, covering housing, healthcare, and key relocation insights for 2025.
Government type: Parliamentary – Presidential Republic
Capital: Kyiv
Total Area: 603,700 sq²
Population: 40 million
GDP Per Capita (PPP) $3,000
Official languages: Ukrainian
Religions: 50,4% Ukrainian Orthodox under Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox under Moscow Patriarchate – 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic -8%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox – 7.2%, Roman Catholic – 2.2%, Protestant – 2.2%, Jewish – 0.6%, other – 3.2%
Country code: +38
Currency: Hryvna (UAH)
Voltage: 240 V
Ukraine is located in Southeast Europe, being the second largest country on the European continent, after Russia.
The country is bordered by Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and by the Black Sea to the south.
Ukraine consists largely of fertile black soil steppes; mountainous areas include the Carpathians in the southwest and the Crimean chain in the south.
Ukraine is a parliamentary- presidential republic, which consist of twenty-four provinces (oblasts). The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.
The history of Ukraine throws back to the times of Kyiv Rus, a medieval polity, which was the largest and most powerful state in Europe during the 10th and 11th centuries.
Ukraine again became a separate unit on the map of Europe when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
This dissolution started a period of painful transition to a market economy.
Since then, a lot of foreign companies have come to Ukraine, bringing investments and forcing the country to a new development level.
With rich farmlands, an industrial base, a highly trained labor force of 20 million, and a good education system, Ukraine has high potential; still, the biggest obstacles in Ukraine are underdeveloped infrastructure and transportation, corruption, and bureaucracy.
Ukraine maintains peaceful and constructive relations with all its neighbours trying to balance between European Union integration and Russian ties.
To learn more about how we support cross-border moves, explore our key relocation services, browse our expat support options, or see how Ukraine fits into wider CEE relocation trends.
Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced by Christianity, which is the dominant religion in the country.
Gender roles also tend to be more traditional, and grandparents play a greater role in raising children than in the West.
Today, the country is somewhat culturally divided with the western regions bearing a stronger European influence and the eastern regions showing a strong Russian influence.
Many people do not know that the tradition of the Easter egg had its beginnings in the Ukraine.
The official language is Ukrainian. Russian, which was the de facto official language of the Soviet Union, is widely spoken, especially in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Most native Ukrainian speakers know Russian as a second language.
As we explore Ukraine’s complex history and national identity in this relocation guide to Ukraine, we gain a deeper understanding of how current realities are shaped by the country’s past.
Finding an apartment for rent in Ukraine can be a challenge, especially if you do not know the language or you are renting an apartment in Ukraine for the first time.
The Internet is full of different properties, but most of the information is out of date. Expert and impartial support is a clear need for those looking to rent a property in Ukraine, as it will definitely save your time and money.
New buildings have been built in Kyiv, but still most of the proposed apartments in the city centre are situated in the old architecture houses that were built in 1930s and 1960s.
Most of the old buildings have no elevator or a very small one, modest entrances, which might be dirty and parking spaces available in the yard of the house.
New buildings propose parking places, which are rented separately from the property.
There is a shortage of houses in the city centre and the rental price is unreasonably high, but most of the houses are situated on the outskirts of the city.
Whether relocating to Kyiv, Lviv, or Odesa, this relocation guide to Ukraine highlights rental conditions, housing costs, and practical advice for expats in 2025.
The system of education in Ukraine extends right from pre-school to higher education.
There are a wide range of kindergartens in Ukraine, including an international one.
The kindergartens work with small groups of children, usually aged between 3 and 6 years.
The children are taught basics in reading, mathematics and art. The programs are designed to prepare children for elementary school studies.
s a rule, schooling begins at the age of 6 and 11 years of schooling are mandatory.
In Ukraine, there are both public (state) and private schools.
Some schools have an emphasis — such as math and physics, English, Eastern languages, etc.—that makes them better and more prestigious. The teaching language is Ukrainian.
International schools in Ukraine are quite a bit different from Ukrainian public schools.
They are sometimes a year longer, they may combine Ukrainian and foreign curriculum requirements, and they provide a variety of extracurricular activities similar to Western schools.
Many schools offer a choice of languages for instruction. Even if instruction is in English, students will have Russian and/or Ukrainian classes, which is important for adapting to the country.
All the country’s medical service providers and hospitals are subordinate to the Ministry of Health, with all working citizens contributing to the cost.
Ukraine’s healthcare system is state subsidised and in theory, is available free of charge to all citizens of Ukraine and registered residents.
However, in practice, the free services only cover basic provision and patients often have to pay for extras such as specialist equipment required during surgery.
Often, doctors and consultants will also charge a fee for their time.
The standard healthcare is extremely neglected with a severe lack of medical facilities and medicines.
However, it is not compulsory to be treated in a state-run hospital as a number of private medical complexes do exist nationwide.
The public sector employs most healthcare professionals, with those working for private medical centres typically also retaining their state employment.
Private cosmetic surgeries, dental care, ophthalmology, fecundation in Ukraine are on a par with the best in Europe, but cost much less.
