Western Ukraine overview
Regions in the west of Ukraine are located in the picturesque area of the Eastern Carpathians rich in natural resources including coal and oil. Western Ukraine has extensive areas of forests and agricultural lands.
In the context of the history of Ukraine of the 20th century, the term “Western Ukraine” is most often used to designate the territories included in the Ukrainian SSR at the beginning of the Second World War and after its end, as well as adjacent regions.
The Ukrainian language dominates in everyday communication in Western Ukraine, in contrast to the Russian language, which is widely spoken in Eastern Ukraine. About 90% of the population say that they are believers, mostly Eastern Orthodoxy (57.0%) and Greek Catholicism (31%). This part of Ukraine has traditionally stronger sentiments directed towards greater integration with the countries of the “West” as opposed to the “pro-Russian” moods in the east.
Regions and Cities of Western Ukraine
Western regions have food-processing, consumer goods, wood working facilities as well as productions of building materials and chemicals. Western Ukraine machine-building produces oil equipment, buses for public transportation, electronic equipment, automobiles and agricultural machinery.
The region is among the national leaders in tourism and travel - it has skiing resorts, numerous mineral water springs, beautiful architecture and landscapes.
