# Icons of Ukraine

> A visual collection explaining Ukrainian culture through illustrated everyday items, transport, people, places, food, traditions, and symbols.

Icons of Ukraine presents individual cultural icons with concise descriptions, Ukrainian translations, related topics, and contextual facts. Each icon page's primary illustration is the canonical image for that subject.

## Main pages

- [Homepage](https://iconsofukraine.com/): Discover the collection.
- [All icons](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/all): Browse every published Ukrainian icon.
- [About](https://iconsofukraine.com/about): Learn about the project.
- [XML sitemap](https://iconsofukraine.com/sitemap.xml): Machine-readable list of published URLs and primary icon images.

## Categories

- [Culture & Religion](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/culture-and-religion)
- [Symbols & Customs](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/symbols-and-customs)
- [Places](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/places)
- [Food & Drink](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/food-and-drink)
- [Other](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/other)
- [Everyday Items](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/everyday-items)
- [Travel & Transport](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/travel-and-transport)
- [People](https://iconsofukraine.com/category/people)

## Icons

- [Trident](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/trident): The Tryzub (Тризуб) or Trident is the Ukrainian coat of arms. The use of the symbol dates back to 10th Century Kievan Rus, when it was stamped on coins issued by Prince Volodymyr the Great. In fact, although universally referred to as a trident, historians say the design is a symbol of the Holy Trinity and stylised in the shape of a falcon. You’ll see this symbol on all official state buildings, most uniforms and many local souvenirs.
- [Tyre Art](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/tyre-art): Ukrainians make art from old tyres! Unsurprisingly, up-cycling wasn’t invented by Hipsters - Ukrainian’s have been doing this for decades! Nose around any courtyard or back alley, explore any park or back street in just about any Ukrainian conurbation and you'll find a wacky selection of items made from old tyres. They're usually slapped with colourful paint and given a new lease of life by locals' whose sense of civic pride remains forever undimmed - no matter how well or poorly the economy is doing. The classic and most lovable 'sculpture' is the tyre Swan - an item that combines resourcefulness, beauty, weirdness, and creativity for the benefit of numerous post-Soviet gardens.
- [Ukrainian tractors](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/ukrainian-tractors): These freedom loving machines are famously good at growing corn and humiliating the Russian army by stealing its tanks.
- [Snake Island](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/snake-island): Despite its small size, this rocky island in the Black Sea south of Odesa is now an iconic tribute to Ukraine's resistance and defiance in the face of threats from Russia. Seized by Russians on 24 February, Snake Island is located just 35km (22 miles) off Ukraine's coast - easily within the range of missile, artillery and drone strikes from the shore. Unsurprisingly, Ukraine used this advantage to launch a series of devastating counter attacks on the occupying army. After suffering serious losses (men, boats and weapons), Russia was forced into a humiliating retreat, whilst hilariously claiming they were vacating the island as a gesture of good will.
- [Crimea](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/crimea): Crimea is a large, beautiful and sunny peninsula in southern Ukraine currently occupied by Russia. President Putin of Russia ordered the invasion and annexation of Crimea following the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution which toppled his puppet, the disgraced former Ukrainian President Yanukovych. A popular holiday resort, Crimea is surrounded by the Black sea and the smaller Sea of Azov to the northeast.
- [Puzata Hata](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/puzata-hata): Puzata Hata (or big belly house) is a national chain of canteen-style restaurants. This is fast food for busy workers who only have a half hour lunch but still care about what they put in their bodies. Puzata Hata serves loads of healthy options and you get served faster than you would in McDonalds. But watch out - as soon as you walk through the doors a tense game of cat and mouse begins as diners race to be the first at one of the many feeding stations that are stationed along a huge long wooden table. Dozens of women wearing rather silly folk style costumes fork out portions quicker than Wild West gunslingers and impressively they never spill a drop. But it’s dangerous here. Elbows and trays are used as battering rams because every minute saved is another extra minute to savour the rather tasty dishes and to buy yourself an extra minute of downtime before returning to the office. Even if you're not hungry, Puzata Hata is a ‘must visit’ establishment.
- [Hipsters](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/hipsters): According to Wikipedia, the “21st century hipster is a subculture that emphasizes style, authenticity and uniqueness.” In Ukraine, this means bad hair, terrible clothes and 100s of tattoos. They're usually found in vegan cafes scrolling through their Instagram feed looking for the latest obscure fashion trend to copy; before scampering around Podil with their 'stray' pedigree dogs. Most work in IT.
- [Squatting](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/squatting): Ukrainians have a special skill. They can sit or squat on their heels and stay like that for ages. Most useful when you're waiting for a bus, smoking or eating semki, the ‘squat’ is mainly performed by men, but occasionally women sit like this too. It’s a defining hallmark of local street culture in towns and villages all over the country.
- [Dnipro River](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/dnipro-river): Ukraine could not exist without the majestic Dnipro River. It is literally the life and soul of Europe’s biggest country. It was on the banks of this 2,200 kilometre river that the Kyivan Rus empire was first established about 1,500 years ago - a civilisation that would eventually splinter into Belarus, Russia, and of course Ukraine. Rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, the river has some impressive features. A 70-km dam north of Kyiv created a huge reservoir which is so big it is known as the Kyiv Sea. The river has thousands of sandy beaches along its banks. Ukraine’s second largest city, Dnipro, is named after the river, and the largest Island in the river (Khortytsia) was a famous Cossak settlement. After leaving Kyiv, the river flows through several other large cities and meanders through epic wilderness before spilling into the Black Sea.
- [Dill](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/dill): Dill or 'krip' is a herb widely used in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. It supposedly has many health benefits but causes a lot of surprise and bemusement from foreigners who are not used to seeing it on every dish. It is so widely used that if you eat anything in Ukraine there’s a 99.9% chance that it will be covered in Dill. Even if you only order foreign dishes - Pizza, Pasta, Sushi etc - they all get the special dill treatment.
- [Man bags](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/man-bags): Man Bags are clutch-purses for Ukrainian hard men. In western Europe it might raise eyebrows and assumptions would be made, but in Ukraine it is the reverse. If you’re a real man, by that we mean a macho man who holds traditional values, then a Man Bag is a status symbol that testifies to your virility. They are usually black (of course) and made from imitation leather.
- [Perepichka](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/perepichka): Perepichka is nothing fancy but Kyiv locals will queue for hours for this Ukrainian version of a sausage roll. The sausage, which is made from god-only-knows-what kind of meat, is pink and juicy and smothered in a warm doughy bread. So, if you are wondering why there is a huge queue of Ukrainians patiently waiting beside a small window - that's Perepichka. Ukrainians won't queue for anything else.
- [Statue of the Motherland](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/motherland-statue): Ukraine’s massive steel Mama weighs 560 tonnes and stands 102 meters tall on the banks of the river Dniper. She’s holding a 9 tonne sword and, in a fight, she would easily beat the Statue of Liberty. In July 2023, during Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the old Soviet symbols were removed from her shield and replaced with the Ukrainian Trident (Tryzub). Obviously, she now looks much cooler.
- [Hydropark](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/hydropark): Hydropark is a landscape-recreational park located on the Venetian Island in the middle of Kyiv. Whilst most locals overlook Hydropark or avoid going there, it’s a fascinating place where many different cultures and traditions collide. Here, you will find old people waltzing, friends drinking samogon and picnicking by the river, young dudes hitting on girls, and wealthy locals tanning themselves in expensive beach clubs. The park has several beaches (though most Kyivans would advise you against swimming in the Dnipro River), sports facilities, water attractions, restaurants, and a relatively amusing “Kyiv in miniature” museum. If you love ‘people watching’ this is the place to spend your weekends.
- [Kaptsi (Slippers)](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/kaptsi): Kaptsi are indoor slippers and Ukrainians love their slippers. They are an integral part of the unspoken cult of Ukrainian kitsch. And you'd better get used to wearing them if you want any friends in Ukraine, because you can't enter a Ukrainian home without a pair being thrown at your feet (a pair hit my knees once) within seconds of entry. And what an extraordinary assortment there are. Whole areas of markets are dedicated to these furry, plastic, rubber or leather footwear. So next time you visit a Ukrainian home, go ahead and embrace one of the most quintessential aspects of the kitsch Ukrainian home aesthetic. Here's what to do: as your new friend opens their front door confidently breeze in and give them a firm handshake (don't shake hands across the doorway though, that's bad luck) or even give them a quick hug and then, and this is they key bit, don't leave it for them to ask to take your shoes off. This is a ceremony which can make or break a new relationship! In rapid speed, hunch down and rip off your shoes pronto and before you know it you'll be slipping on a lovely pair of neon pink tapochki with a furry elephant tusk flopping from side to side. Marvellous!
- [Grannies](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/babusya): Ukrainians lovingly refer to all elderly women as 'Babusya' or 'Grandma'. Babusyas often wear a bright and colourful headscarf called a khustka (хустка). Often larger than life, Ukraine’s Babusyas know what’s best for their kids and grandchildren. Often nostalgic about the Soviet Union, they have amazing queue-jumping skills, cook the most amazing food and enter/exit the Metros and Marshrutkas faster than anyone.
- [Pecherska Lavra](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/lavra): Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a sprawling Monastery housed in a network of caves on the banks of the Dnipro River. The word pechera means cave. The word lavra is used to describe high-ranking male monasteries for monks of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Its stunning location, glistening golden domes, and mummified monks make the Lavra an essential stop for tourists and you’ll see pictures of the Lavra on almost every Ukrainian guidebook.
- [Hata](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/hata): Outside Ukraine’s large cities, the Ukrainian countryside is dotted with cute villages and small traditional houses or ‘hatas’. These houses are usually single-story buildings with whitewashed walls and wooden fixtures. Often associated with grandparents, carefree summers and tasty home-cooking, the Ukrainian ‘Hata’ has a special place in the hearts of many Ukrainians.
- [President Zelenskyy](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/president-zelenskyy): The grizzly voice and youthful face of the world's toughest nation. By 2022 Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earned his place in history as a brave and articulate wartime leader - overseeing the humiliation and destruction of the Russian army which tried to invade his amazingly resilient and talented homeland.
- [Once Upon a Dog](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/once-upon-a-dog): Once Upon a Dog is an acclaimed Soviet animated cartoon, adapted from a Ukrainian folk tale. The plot follows the fate of two old enemies, a dog and a wolf, and their mutual friendship and solidarity when they become old and unwanted. Whilst the moral of the story (friendship and camaraderie) is often lost on foreigners, the cartoon itself contains many of our favourite Ukrainian ‘icons’ and it occupies a special place in the hearts of most locals who grew-up watching it.
- [Kachalka Gym](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/kachalka): Kachalka (Ukrainian: Качалка) is an open-air gym which is made from scrap metal, vehicle parts, chains, and tyres. Located in Hydropark on the banks of the river Dnipro, Kachalka covers a massive 10,000 square meters and provides Kyivians with all the heavy metal they need to get buff. You won’t find water coolers or flatscreen TVs here, but you can always throw yourself in the river after a heavy workout.
- [Ruslana](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/ruslana): The undisputed Queen of Ukrainian pop and a national treasure - Ruslana is a Eurovision Song Contest winner who has been singing and dancing since at least 1996. She is a singer, songwriter, producer, musical conductor, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, voice actress and social activist. Most famous for her fiery, leather-clad Eurovision win in 2004, Ruslana was (apparently) then named the most popular person in Belgium, the sexiest girl in Greece, and the most influential public person in Ukraine. If this wasn’t enough - Ruslana has been on the winning side of two revolutions and was one of the most visible and influential figures in the 2014 revolution of dignity where she spent at least 100 days and 100 nights supporting pro-democracy demonstrators with on-stage songs and performances. She has a surname but, like Bono, she doesn’t need it.
- [Concrete Flower Pots](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/concrete-flower-pots): You might not notice these little concrete pots when you first arrive in the city, but they are so ridiculously common that once you have noticed them – you won't be able to leave the house without spotting them on the street. The positive effect they have on the city is somewhat amplified by the dizzying colours in which they are painted. Designed for flowers, they are often used to mark territory and protect public spaces from cars.
- [Notary](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/notarius): In a country like Ukraine with its notorious bureaucracy and love of paperwork - Notaries are absolutely everywhere. If you need to perform any ‘official’ procedure in Ukraine you’ll almost certainly find yourself sitting in an uninviting hallway waiting for the notary to provide their all-important stamp and signature. Luckily, pretty much every street has three notaries, so you won’t have to walk far.
- [Surzhyk (Dialect)](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/surzjik): Surzhyk (Ukrainian: су́ржик) is a Ukrainian dialect which everyone understands but few admit to speaking. Ukrainian puritans may disagree but it's a charming mishmash of Russian and Ukrainian and mostly spoken in villages and smaller cities. Whilst most Ukrainians speak fluent Ukrainian and Russian in public, Surzhyk is the rebellious code they use at home. Many foreigners living in Kyiv are unwittingly becoming expert Surzhk speakers; an inevitable consequence of being equally exposed to both languages on signage or from listening to nattering locals effortlessly switching from Ukrainian to Russian on the streets of the capital. It is Kyivan Rus after all.
- [Patron (dog)](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/patron-dog)
- [Kyiv Cake](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/kyiv-cake): Kyiv Cake is a sweet, crunchy meringue-based cake with a chocolate glaze and creamy filling. It’s not clear how or why this ridiculous ‘cake’ gained cult status but somehow it did and Ukrainians go absolutely crazy for a slice of this chewy, sugary mess. If you want to impress someone’s parents, greet the Ukrainian President or make a Babusya (Granny) cry with happiness - a Kyiv Cake is what you need.
- [Pig Fat](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/salo): A thick wedge of pig skin, known as Salo, is a local delicacy. If you want to get drunk and not get sick or have a terrible hangover the next day, eat a few slices of this blubber before drinking and you'll be fine. Salo is a popular delicacy and offered at every party or special event. Salo is big with traditional Ukrainian men but also found in fancy new Ukrainian restaurants. Vegetarians beware: you may think that salad contains only leafy greens but in Ukraine, chefs often dump some left-over salo or diced ham in there too.
- [Borsch](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/borsch): Borsch is a beetroot-based superfood which is universally loved and available everywhere. This national dish is as delicious as it is healthy and if you visit you simply must try at least one variant. Borsch is also popular in other former Soviet countries (Russia, Belarus, and Poland) but the original and best is in Ukraine.
- [Taras Shevchenko (Poet)](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/taras-shevchenko): Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) is Ukraine’s national poet and cultural icon. Regarded as the founder of modern Ukrainian literature he is celebrated nationwide with endless squares, parks, streets, a metro station and even a University, all named in his honour. A young, clean-shaved Shevchenko is printed on every 100 UAH banknote but most statues and portraits show Shevchenko with his distinctive and unmistakable moustache. After his death in 1861 Shevchenko was first buried in Saint Petersburg but later re-buried on the Chernecha hora (Monk's Hill; today Taras Hill) overlooking the mighty river Dnipro. His desire to be buried there was made in his 1845 poem ‘Testament’ “When I am dead, bury me In my beloved Ukraine, My tomb upon a grave mound high Amid the spreading plain, So that the fields, the boundless steppes, The Dnieper's plunging shore My eyes could see, my ears could hear The mighty river roar”
- [Brutalist Architecture](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/brutalism): It is well known that the only thing that aroused Europe’s communist leaders more than power was concrete and all across Ukraine you will find huge monolithic tributes to this grey stuff. Characterised by their blocky appearance and geometric lines, Brutalist buildings took-off in 1955 and many were constructed to house, airports, circuses, hotels, libraries, cinemas and other cultural institutions. Sadly, the use of poor quality building materials and years of neglect, means that many of these buildings are in poor condition but you can't miss them and they're unlikely to vanish any time soon.
- [Tights](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/tights): For most people outside of Ukraine, tights are opaque garments usually worn under a dress, skirt, or shorts for additional warmth or prestige. Those would usually be black or beige and worn by females. However, if you grew up in Soviet Ukraine, you might have been forced to wear thick colourful tights - regardless of your gender or personal preference.
- [Antonov An-225 Mriya](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/antonov-an-225-mriya): The Antonov An-225 Mriya is the largest aircraft in the world and a great example of Ukrainian aerospace technology. The gigantic 6-engine plane is a ‘strategic heavy-lifting transport aircraft’ which is in constant demand by countries around the world when they need to airlift something massive. It’s capable of lifting more than 250 tons of cargo (that’s approximately 500,000 bowls of Borsch)
- [Mariupol](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/mariupol)
- [Maidan Square](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/maidan): Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Ukrainian: Майдан Незалежност) means "Independence Square" and is arguably the most iconic of all the icons in Ukraine. Renamed from 'Square of the October Revolution' in 1991 after the Soviet Union Collapsed and Ukraine declared Independence, the name is usually shortened to 'Maidan' by locals or 'Maidan square' (literally 'square square') by foreigners and visitors. As the central square in one of Europe's most restless capitals, Maidan has been the site of numerous protests and two revolutions since 1991 but for most of the time it's a meeting point for city residents and a place to stage large public concerts, stroll with the locals and enjoy a some of Ukraine's much-loved fountains.
- [Soldiers](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/soldiers): Despite the odds being stacked against them the men and women of the Ukrainian army managed to fend off a full-scale invasion in 2014 when the vastly more powerful Russian army captured Crimea and occupied eastern Ukraine. If it wasn’t for them, none of us would be able to enjoy any of these Ukrainian icons. We owe them everything.
- [Mosaiacs](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/mosaiacs): Ukrainain Soviet art mosaics are one of the most intriguing visual hallmarks of the Ukrainian public realm. Harking from the era of Soviet occupation, they were commissioned by the state to invoke civic, Soviet and regional pride. Depending on the artist, the lines between propaganda and subversive art are often blurry. Colourful and diverse in subject, style and purpose, they still adorn some huge wall spaces inside and outside public spaces and buildings all over the country.
- [Titushki](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/titushki): Titushki are thugs for hire. They are usually shaven-headed and wear tracksuits with fake Adidas trainers. The name “titushki” comes from Vadym Titushko, a Ukrainian man from the city of Bila Tserkva. He became notorious after beating up two journalists during a 2013 clash between pro-European demonstrators and fugitive Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s supporters. Titushko eventually admitted that he was paid 250 hryvnias to “guard the Yanukovych supporters” and “make sure things are safe.”
- [Klitchko Brothers](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/klitchko-brothers): Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, known as the Klitschko brothers, are former professional boxers. During their peak years between 2004 and 2015, they were considered the dominant world heavyweight champions of their era, helping put Ukraine on the map and inspiring generations of young Ukrainians.
- [Ghost of Kyiv](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/ghost-of-kyiv)
- [Samogon](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/samogon): Samogon, which literally means 'self-distillate' is a Ukrainian home-brewed vodka. Ukraine has moved on a lot since the collapse of the Soviet Union and young Ukrainians are more likely to grab a coffee or - if they’re feeling wild - a craft beer. However, Ukraine’s international reputation as a vodka-loving nation doesn’t come from nowhere. Samagon is still brewed and sold in homes across the nation. It’s an essential part of most BBQ’s, birthdays and weddings and available almost everywhere.
- [It's Ukraine](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/its-ukraine): If you spend time in Ukraine and ask any questions (let’s be honest, it's hard to understand many things here), then it won’t be long before someone responds with: ‘It’s Ukraine!’. This usually happens as your Ukrainian friend/guide/host shrugs their shoulders and turns the palms of their hands upwards, sometimes pushing their bottom lip out in a kind of ‘I don’t know’ pouting posture. At first this can be confusing and even irritating because it doesn’t tell you anything apart from the obvious and self-evident fact that you are in Ukraine. Taken literally it makes no attempt to answer your question, whatever it might be. It’s a lazy non-answer which, roughly translated, means “I don’t know”. However, after hearing the phrase a few times, you’ll start to understand that Ukrainians deploy this linguistic duo in various different ways. In fact, the intentional ambiguity of the answer means it can be used at almost any time to express a wide range of feelings. The most common use is to express cluelessness. A simple ‘It’s Ukraine’ usually does mean “I don’t know” and to be fair, it is usually understandable. How can anyone be expected to explain some things in a country where many things are inexplicable?’ However, in addition to the common “I don’t know” there are many other variants: There is an exasperated ‘Yeah, it’s Ukraine’, meaning ‘what do you want me to do about it?’. The sympathetic ‘it’s Ukraine’, meaning ‘sorry I can’t help you, you know this place is crazy.’ A stern or disappointed ‘Well. It’s Ukraine’, meaning ‘you are not at home, you are in Ukraine, show some respect’. The mischievous ‘It’s Ukraine’, usually said with a cheeky smile and meaning ‘welcome to the ‘wild East’ anything is possible here’. ‘Of course. It’s Ukraine’, means ‘yes, we do that here’ and is usually said with a threatening ‘Do you have a problem with it?’ look. An excited and playful ‘It’s Ukraine’, means something like ‘Wooohaaa, yeah baby – this country rocks like no other! There is a sad, fatalistic and depressed ‘sigh, it’s Ukraine’, meaning ‘this country sucks, it will never change, I hate everything’ …and finally there is the advisory/warning ‘It’s Ukraine’, which means ‘get used to it’, or ‘deal with it’ because it ain’t going to change any time soon.
- [Yellow Minibuses](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/marshrutkas): Ukraine’s 'Marshrutkas' are small yellow minibuses that buzz around the towns and cities, transporting people, pets, potatoes and everything else from A to Z. Wherever you are in Ukraine you can find a Marshrutka to take you home or take you where you need to go. Marshrutkas are cheap, low on safety and highly polluting, but you can’t miss them. When riding a Marshrutka it is customary to look gloomy.
- [Platzkart](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/platzkart): The open-plan sleeping wagons, known locally as a ‘platzkart’, is the budget option when travelling on a Ukrainian night train. They are cheap and can be a bit rough around the edges (especially the toilets), but travelling Platzkart is possibly the best way to get to know Ukrainians and Ukraine. You’ll be surrounded by all sorts of everyday folk who, through their routines and habits on the long overnight journeys, give a little window into the soul of a nation. Practice your Surzhiyk, share your food, and bring some ear plugs because there will likely be some folk who stay up late drinking and chatting as well as some of the loudest snoring you’ve ever heard.
- [Euro-Remont](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/euro-remont): Euro-Remont iterally means 'European Repair' and is a phrase used to describe a renovation job (usually an apartment) which is believed to be modern and of a European standard. The fact that there's no unified European style is irrelevant - Evro is an aspirational catchword used to describe pretty much anything and everything that is not Soviet. If you're looking for an apartment or a place to stay in Ukraine, you'll almost certainly discover the phrase 'Euro Remont' and whilst its certain that the style will not match anything you've ever seen in Europe, you can at least be sure that it has been renovated at lest once since 1990.
- [Flowers](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/flowers): Ukrainians LOVE flowers. Flowers are the ultimate gift and are absolutely essential in the following situations: When meeting a woman on a date When meeting the mama of your partner When meeting the grandma of your partner When It's Easter When it's Woman's day When it's a Woman's birthday When you upset a woman (it doesn't matter why or how serious it is) When you haven't upset a woman, but might. When it's a 'day'. Day's include 'Teacher's Day'. 'Accountant's Day', 'Engineer's Day' etc When it is the first or last day of school When it's Valentine's day (obvs) When you need something When you forgot something When you are late When meeting someone at the airport Any other day when you have some extra cash
- [Kalush Orchestra](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/kalush-orchestra)
- [Vyshyvanka](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/vyshyvanka): The Vyshyvanka is a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt worn by both men and women. Embroidery was very popular in ancient times with the first embroidery school being opened in the 11th century. But archeological finds demonstrate that vyshyvankas were worn even as far back as in the 6th century BC. Since the 19th century but these days vyshyvankas are far more than fancy tops. For many Ukrainians, these shirts are a way to show their Ukrainian identity or to make a political statement when the country lives through a difficult time. Many Euromaidan protesters in 2013-2014 wore vyshyvankas.
- [Night Train](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/poizd): Taking the overnight train (poizd) is a classic Ukrainian travel experience. In fact, due to the size of the country and the terrible condition of the roads - the night train is usually the best way to travel. There are three types of cabin. The posh version (two people) is called ‘Lux’. The middle option (4 people) is called ‘coupe’ and the bargain option (everyone together) is called ‘platzcart’. If you want to travel like a real Ukrainian, take a small picnic containing pickled tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, salt and some bread and honey.
- [Break-Dancers](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/break-dancers): It might seem like an unlikely scenario, but if you visit Kyiv, you will almost certainly find a group of people breakdancing on a plastic mat in front of the Khreshchatyk Metro station. These body-popping groovers have been ‘windmilling’ and ‘headspining’ on the city streets for decades and still attract large crowds of onlookers and supporters.
- [BMW Bags](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/bmw-bag): Like so many things in Kyiv, nobody can explain the origin of these bags. But, in many ways, they are the perfect metaphor for Kyiv - a city where wealth and poverty collide, where real and fake blend together, and where capitalist symbols have imposed themselves on almost every aspect of life in this formerly communist country. BMW bags are cheap, unofficial, available in markets all over Ukraine and give instant status to your weekly groceries.
- [Icons of Slovenia](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/icons-of-slovenia): Discover another beautiful European country - explore Icons of Slovenia!
- [Women](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/women): Famous worldwide for their beauty, Ukrainian women are some of the smartest, bravest, hardworking and talented people you will ever meet. In a country where ‘traditional’ gender stereotypes and domestic violence are still common, being awesome isn’t always easy, but Ukrainian women do it with style. If you hear a phone ring in Ukraine there is a 90% chance it’s the most important woman of all - Mama.
- [Draughts](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/draught): A draught is deadly breeze that Ukrainians (like many Slavic people) fear so much. In Ukraine, moving air can cause pretty much any illness up-to and including death and only a psychopath would wilfully put themselves in direct contact with wind. As a result, great care much be taken to avoid this silent killer. This is not something which needs to be proven by science, it is a universally accepted fact and if you believe otherwise you will be treated like a fool. In Ukraine, the sun comes up, politicians lie and draughts kill people. You have been warned.
- [Bandura](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/bandura): The bandura is a Ukrainian, plucked string, folk instrument. It’s like a guitar but with loads of strings and a high-pitched sound.
- [Kalyna](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/kalina): Kalyna (Latin - Viburnum) is a flowering tree with distinctive red berries. Considered a national symbol, Ukrainians write and sing about Kalyna, paint it into pictures, drink it in tea and cultivate it everywhere.
- [Tsar Balcony](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/balconies): Balconies are a subject of national obsession. Apartment owners dream of them, building companies find endless creative ways to build them, and everyone else mocks them. The phrase 'Tsar balcony' (Ukrainian: Цар Балкон) is used sarcastically to poke fun at the faux extravagance of these palatial appendages. No building is too big, small, important, old or impressive to avoid the balcony plague. If it's got walls, it will get a balcony, usually covered with laminated plastic.
- [Ukrainian Bag](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/ukrainian-bag): Affordable, strong and ridiculously large, these hard-wearing, reusable bags transport all kinds of cargo around Ukraine. You'll see them at train stations, markets, in parks and pretty much anywhere else where there are more than five people. Need to transport some veg? store 300 shoes? or move home? Then get yourself a Ukrainian bag and you'll be sorted.
- [Male Ponytail](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/male-ponytail): The Oseledets is Ukraine’s medieval mullet. The haircut features a thick lock of hair sprouting from the top or the front of an otherwise closely shaven head. Once popular with fearsome Cossacks, this strange haircut can still be seen on patriotic men at craft beer festivals. Quite a sight. Difficult to maintain.
- [Varenyky](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/varenyky): Varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings) are little bags of tastiness which you’ll find in cafes, restaurants and kitchens across the nation. Filled with sweet (cherry) or savoury (potato, cheese or cabbage) fillings, they are usually served in a bowl together with a massive dollop of Sour Cream. They’re delicious.
- [ZAZ Zaporozhets](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/zaporozhets): The Zaporozhets is Ukraine’s most famous car. The construction of Zaporozhets was inspired by the Fiat-600. The car production ran an impressive 34 years: between 1960 and 1994. Zaporozhets cars are an object of ridicule for their funny Soviet-style look and technological deficiency.
- [Mace](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/mace): A Bulava is a kind of club/weapon in the form of a thick stick with a heavy end. Traditionally it has been used as a symbol of power in Ukrainian history. Hetman and cossack leaders all had one. They are great gifts and available in most souvenir shops.
- [Sour-cream](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/smetana): Sour cream or 'Smetana' would probably be described by most Ukrainians as 'the best sauce ever'. They use it in and on everything. The sour-yet-creamy white stuff is added to all kinds of Ukrainian dishes including borsch, pancakes, salads and dumplings. It's included with starters, main-courses, desserts and pretty much anything else you can put in your mouth. Apparently, you can even use it as a cosmetic. Got dry skin? Don't worry, slap on some sour-cream and you'll soon be modelling for Nivea.
- [Stepan (Cat)](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/stepan-cat)
- [Painted Egg](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/pysanka): The Pysanka (painted egg) is a popular Ukrainian Easter tradition. Eggs are covered in wax, dyed and then painted in artistic patterns, colours, and styles peculiar to the various regions of Ukraine.
- [Meat Jelly](https://iconsofukraine.com/icon/holodets): Meat Jelly or ‘holodets’ is probably Ukraine’s wobbliest icon and the most divisive. You either love it or hate it. It’s not clear why ancient chefs thought holodets was a good idea or how anyone can put this in their mouth, let alone swallow, but that’s what they do. Yeah, it’s iconic but that doesn’t make it right. If you lose your mind and decide to try this stuff, don’t come crying to us.

## Usage notes

- Prefer each icon page's canonical URL when citing the collection.
- The primary image and description on an icon page describe that icon.
- Content is written in English, with Ukrainian translations included where available.