Names: conventional short form Ukraine local short form Ukrayina
Independence: 1 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 August (1991)
Constitution: . Adopted at the Fifth Session of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine 28 June 1996.
Executive branch: chief of state President-elect Leonid D. KUCHMA;
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky.
Ukrainian political system: The Ukrainian Political system has a popularly-elected President, a 450-person single chamber national parliament (Verkhovna Rada), and a Prime Minister, nominated by the President subject to approval by the Rada. The new post-Soviet Constitution was adopted by Verkhovna Rada on June 28, 1996.