Pryvit! Welcome to the Breadbasket of Europe—Ukraine, the largest country entirely within Europe, known for its vast agricultural plains and resilient spirit. There are around 37 million people living there today, and the capital is Kyiv, an ancient city of golden-domed churches and chestnut-lined boulevards. The official language is Ukrainian, a melodic East Slavic language.

Ukraine covers about 603,628 square kilometers (233,062 square miles). To imagine its size, the country is roughly the same size as the state of Texas or about 2.5 times the size of the United Kingdom. Most of the country consists of fertile steppes, though the Carpathian Mountains rise in the west and the Crimean Mountains sit in the south.

The most popular sports are Football and Boxing, with the nation having produced legendary heavyweights like the Klitschko brothers. Their national animal is the Nightingale, celebrated for its song in folklore, though the Steppe Eagle is also a powerful symbol of the country’s wild landscapes.

The flag consists of two equal horizontal bands of blue and yellow where the blue represents the clear sky and the yellow symbolizes the golden wheat fields.

The food is comforting, colorful, and deeply traditional. You must try Borscht, the iconic beet-based soup that is so central to the culture it is recognized by UNESCO. Another favorite is Varenyky, dumplings stuffed with everything from potatoes and mushrooms to sweet cherries. For a savory main, look for Holubtsi (cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice) or Chicken Kiev, a breaded cutlet stuffed with cold garlic butter. No meal is complete without a side of Salo, cured pork fat usually served on rye bread with garlic.

Ukraine is home to the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a stunning example of 11th-century architecture filled with original mosaics and frescoes. The country features the Tunnel of Love in Klevan, a natural leafy tunnel formed by trees over a railway track that is a favorite for photographers. You can visit the Lviv Old Town, a UNESCO site known for its cobblestone streets and world-class coffee culture. For a more somber experience, many visit the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, which has now become an accidental nature reserve. Interestingly, Ukraine is home to the world’s deepest subway station, Arsenalna in Kyiv, which is located 105.5 meters (346 feet) underground!

From the sunflower fields of the central plains to the vibrant opera houses of Odesa, Ukraine is a land of rich traditions and unbreakable courage. Dyakuyu! That means “Thank you!”