I come from Ukraine, the second largest country in Europe. It is between Poland and Moldavia in the west and Russia in the east. I don't come from the capital Kiev. My hometown is Odessa, on the coast of the Black Sea. Ukraine has got large plains but also high mountains, such as the Carpathians. The River Dnipo flows across the country splitting it in two parts.

In winter the weather gets very cold. Summers are warm across the greater part of the country and cool along the Black Sea, so we spend much more time outdoors.

A nuclear power plant accident in Chernobyl, in 1986, is still causing serious environmental problems which worry Ukrainian people. Today we don't have enough drinking water supplies because of that accident.

Despite these problems, I believe Ukraine is a beautiful country with outgoing and brave people. I love it very much.

Sasha