Administrative-territorial composition of Ukraine

Ukraine is a unitary state. This means that governance of the country is carried out from one center, the capital; a single Constitution is in force for the entire territory of the country; there is a single system of the highest bodies of authority and there is a single legal framework. However, each of the administrative-territorial units has its governing bodies within a given authority.

The territory of Ukraine is divided into the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and 24 regions (oblast): Vinnytsya, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattya, Zaporizhya, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsk, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi and Chernihiv regions. They are the largest administrative-territorial units. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea has significant independence in resolving local issues, with its own Constitution, Verkhovna Rada and Council of Ministers. Two cities with separate status are equal to regions – Kyiv (as the capital of Ukraine) and Sevastopol (as the location of the Ukrainian and Russian navies).

Regions and cities of local subordination (republican subordination in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) form the middle level in the administrative-territorial division of Ukraine. Ukraine’s largest cities are Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odesa, Zaporizhya and Lviv. Towns of local significance, urban-type settlements and villages are on the lowest level in the administrative-territorial system. Such inhabited localities have their own local governing bodies: city, settlement or village councils, and the latter can cover one or several villages.

From personal experience

Vishal Ratnakar, theoretical physicist (India-Ukraine)
I graduated from Kharkiv State University in 1991. The Kharkiv School of Theoretical Physics was known throughout the world. Now I work as a consulting engineer at an international company. My knowledge of the Ukrainian mentality and the skills of gripping any subject quickly, which I acquired at the university, have proven very helpful in my current job. The only recommendation I have for my countrymen who are going to come to Ukraine to study is that you must learn, first and foremost, that the front passenger seat in a car here is on the right side. The rest is easy to learn.

Firsthand

Wu Li, Manager (China-Ukraine)
This year I have graduated from a higher educational institution in Kyiv and obtained a diploma. Currently, I am an intern at an international travel company operating in Ukraine. In the future, I plan to manage the business of a Chinese company in Ukraine’s market. I have the necessary knowledge for this, and cooperation between our two countries is on the rise. Besides, I have many good friends here. I would like to warn my compatriots who want to come to Ukraine that winters here are the same as in the northern provinces of China. So, do not forget warm clothes. But it is much warmer in the houses.

Not from hearsay

Olga Nemirovskaya, future lawyer (Russia-Ukraine)
Two years ago I decided to enter an educational institution in Kyiv and now I am here, studying. First, it is cheaper than in Moscow. Second, I have relatives and friends here who can support me. And third, I looked for new impressions, new places, and new discoveries. Kyiv proved the right choice for me. It combinesbeauty, antiquity, and the rapid rhythm of life typical of other big cities! I would like to say to my countrymen who are contemplating study in Ukraine that I study here in Russian and communicate in Russian as well. As for Ukrainian, it is a friendly and understandable language. I can already speak it a little. It’s cool!