+ Ukrainians are extremely superstitious and avoid many behaviors. If you do something that they believe can cause harm, such as sitting on stone steps, someone will tell you that you risk doing great harm to yourself. Superstitions are derived from folk wisdom in rural communities.

+ The Ukrainian language is making a resurgence as the national language and a source of pride. It is the official language of instruction in schools and of the government. However, many older businesspeople in Kyiv still speak Russian

+ Ukrainians rely on a close network of family, friends, and co-workers as protection against the risks and unpredictability of daily life. Friends provide a vehicle to circumvent red tape and cut through bureaucracy. In business, friendships are called “svyazy” or connections.

+ The influences of the Russian Orthodox Church plus a long history of turbulent economic times, unstable governments and adverse climatic conditions produce a rather fatalistic approach towards life.

+ The Ukrainian communication style is very straightforward. Business is often conducted with minimal pleasantries. In fact, Ukrainians seldom use polite phrases such as “please” or “thank you,” which can make their requests sound more like orders. This is not meant to be rude; it is a cultural nuance.

+ For the most part, Ukrainians begin with the word no and gradually move to yes or perhaps.

+ Generally, Ukrainians do not display emotion when conversing. However, if they become angry or indignant, they will not hesitate to be extremely direct in stating their position.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Country Profiles

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