Explain Ukraine

Answering the most common questions about Ukraine

Media coverage of Ukraine is often limited to the war in the east, corruption, and the occasional political crisis. But there is so much more to our country than that and we want to tell you all about it.

Our friends abroad ask us about it. All sorts of different questions. Serious and fairly silly, those straightforward, and those requiring some serious consideration before one can provide a good answer. We’ll try to answer these questions here. In writing, without the silly accent, and providing links to the sources whenever possible.

Latest Answers

What is white borscht and how is it different from red?

White borscht? Yes, and it's Ukrainian! Most people around the world are convinced that borscht m...

Why Are There So Many Borscht Recipes — and Which One Is Correct?

There is no single "correct" borscht recipe, and there never has been. Borscht is not a formula —...

Why Is Borscht So Different Across Ukraine's Regions?

Borscht from Poltava and borscht from Galicia are two distinct culinary traditions, shaped by dif...

What Is Borscht, Really?

To a foreigner, borscht often remains a mystery — one that restaurant menus lazily label as beetr...