UKRAINE IS A COUNTRY IN EASTERN EUROPE KNOWN FOR ITS CHURCHES, BLACK SEA COASTLINE, AND FORESTED MOUNTAINS. IT IS BORDERED BY RUSSIA TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST; BELARUS TO THE NORTH; POLAND, SLOVAKIA AND HUNGARY TO THE WEST; AND ROMANIA, MOLDOVA, AND THE BLACK SEA TO THE SOUTH. UKRAINE ALSO BORDERS CRIMEA TO ITS SOUTH. IT IS THE SECOND LARGEST COUNTRY BY AREA IN EUROPE AFTER RUSSIA, AND THE 46TH-LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. THE TERRITORY OF MODERN UKRAINE HAS BEEN INHABITED SINCE 32,000 BC. DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, THE AREA WAS A KEY CENTRE OF EAST SLAVIC CULTURE, WITH THE POWERFUL STATE OF KYIVAN RUS’ FORMING THE BASIS OF UKRAINIAN IDENTITY.