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The Land

Much of the Ukrainian steppe, or rolling plains, is found in the Eastern Central Ukraine (ECU) areas, and includes some of the finest agricultural soil in the world, composing the famous ‘breadbasket’ region where wheat, grains, sunflowers, sugar beats, cabbage, potatoes and various fruit orchards are abundant. The northern part of the area in the Poltava region is a bit more rural and agricultural, although agriculture is very strong throughout the region.

Industry and the Environment

ECU also includes a significant part of the industrial backbone of the country including the cities of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaparozjya, and Krivoy Rog, which are strong producers of various types of metals products, pipes, automobiles, etc. The environment, as in much of the post Soviet republics, is not healthy, particularly in the industrial and urban areas which still have gigantic steel mills churning out black smoke and large quantities of steel. Sights of old, outdated, decaying mills and mines common, and at times overwhelming as well as depressing.

Environmental controls and safety standards during the Soviet period were lax, if existent, and far from western standards. This lack thereof has left many polluting, rusting, and deteriorating structures, industrial complexes and infrastructures in its wake, many in heavy populated areas.