Ukraine    

 

 

Interesting Facts about Ukraine
  • The name "Ukraine" is derived from the word "krai" which means border.
  • Ukraine is the largest country in Europe among those with entire boundaries within the European continent. Ukraine is about the size of Texas.
  • Ukraine is mainly a vast plain with no natural boundaries except the Carpathian Mountains in the southwest and the Black Sea in the south.
  • The climate of Ukraine is mostly temperate continental. A subtropical Mediterranean climate is prevalent on the southern portions of the Crimean Peninsula. The average monthly temperature in winter ranges from -8° to 2° C (17.6° to 35.6° F), while summer temperatures average 17° to 25° C (62.6° to 77° F).
  • The territory known as Ukraine only had only brief periods of independence before 1991.
  • Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine and over half of the people belong to the Orthodox Christian religion.
  • Ukraine occupies only 0.45% of the planet's dry land, but it boasts approximately 5 per cent of the world's total mineral resources
  • Ukraine is a Republic. As stated in the Constitution: "Ukraine is a sovereign and independent, democratic, social, legal State."
  • The President of Ukraine is the Head of State, Chief of the Executive Branch and acts on behalf of the State. Since his election in July 1994, Ukraine's President is President Leonid Kuchma.
  • Industry contributes more than 40 per cent of GDP and accounts for more than one-fourth of total employment.
Statistics for Ukraine

Population:

45,994,288 (July 2008 est.)

 Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.06 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 74.24 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Religions:

Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox - 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% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,800 (2008 est.)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)

 

Adoption Facts about Ukraine

 

Children available for adoption in Ukraine 

Age:  12 months - 15 years. Children must be on the Adoption Center registry for one year before they are available for international adoption. Children with medical conditions listed on the Ministry of Public Health Protection are available as soon as they are processed at the Adoption Center. (usually two months)

Gender: More boys are available than girls

Siblings: Available

Parent Qualifications: Married couples age 23 and older are eligible to adopt from Ukraine. Prior divorce is acceptable and there are no restrictions on the number of children already living in the home.

Travel: If you choose a 2-trip option, the first trip is about 10 days (plus travel days) and requires both parents. You return home and 15-25 days later, one or both parents will return to Ukraine for a stay of about 5 days (plus travel days) to bring home their child. If you choose a 1-trip option, you can expect to be in Ukraine about 31 days. If desired, one parent can come home early. Families arrive in Ukraine and are greeted at the airport by our American in-country director, escorted to their hotel or apartment, as well as to all official appointments.

Timeline: From the time your dossier is completed until referral varies. The time from dossier to referral is approximately 2-5 months. From submission of dossier until appointment date, 5 to 12 months. 

 

Additional Information

Ukraine is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, when the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, intercountry adoption processing for Ukraine did not change.

According to a resolution that came into effect on December 1, 2008, the Ukrainian Adoption Authority, the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Rights of the Child (SDAPRC), will now have the right to refuse to register your dossier if, at the time of the dossier’s submission to the SDAPRC, the central database of Ukrainian children available for intercountry adoptions will not contain any children complying with the recommendation in your home study.  Given the statistics published by the SDAPRC and available on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv at: http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/amcit_adoptions_notice_0119_eng.html, there are currently no healthy children (or children with minor, correctable health problems) under three and very few under six years old.  Therefore, if you are recommended for a healthy child or a child with minor/correctable health problems under six years of age, the SDAPRC is very likely to refuse even to accept and register your dossier.

Ukraine requires adoptive parents to supply information about the adopted child’s living conditions and educational progress to the Ukrainian consular office annually during the first three years following the adoption and once every three years thereafter, until the child’s 18th birthday.  Note:  Under Ukrainian law, an adopted child remains a citizen until he/she turns 18 years old.  At that time, he/she can decide whether or not to remain a Ukrainian citizen. 

 

Helpful Links

Karen's Adoption Links

Pre-Adoption Process & Paperwork

International Adoption Clinic in Birmingham

USCIS

Accredited Agencies

JCICS

CIA Factbook

U.S. Department of State

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