History in a Nutshell
Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kievan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years.

During the latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine was able to bring about a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. World War II resulted in some 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest "Orange Revolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. The new government presents its citizens with hope that the country may at last attain true freedom and prosperity.

Adoption Procedure
Adoption is available to approved married couples and single women. Prospective adoptive parents must be 15 years older than the child to be adopted and there is no upper age limit. Ukraine requires that prospective adoptive parents identify the child they wish to adopt after traveling to Ukraine. It is anticipated that appointments at the SDAPRC will be given within a few months after the submission of a completed, approved Dossier. The time needed to review information, identify a child to adopt in Ukraine, and complete the adoption is estimated to be approximately 3 weeks for children age 3 and older, and 3 to up to 6 weeks for children under age 3. Depending upon the time necessary to complete your dossier, (HCA usually completes a dossier in 60-90 days), your adoption may be completed in less than 12 months from start to finish.

The Ukraine Minister for Family, Youth and Sports, Yuriy Pavlenko, held a press conference on July 3, 2006 to announce the official opening of the new adoption authority which replaces the former "National Adoption Center." It is the "State Department for Adoption and Protection of Rights of the Child" (SDAPRC), and to outline his ministry's policies related to the protection of children's rights. It was reported that Ukraine has no intention of impose any restrictions or moratoriums on international adoptions. However domestic adoptions will take first priority. He also inherits 1200 ongoing adoption cases from foreign citizens, of which 390 are with Americans, and those cases will continue to be processed accordingly. New Petitions for Adoption from foreign citizens will be accepted after January 1, 2007.

In Ukraine, you will visit the SDAPRC to look at files and select a child to visit. You will travel to the orphanage and visit the child. You will either decide to adopt that child or return to the SDAPRC if you wish to see others. When you decide on a child to adopt, a Court Hearing will be scheduled, then attended, and approval papers will be obtained after a favorable ruling. Then a new Birth Certificate will be applied for as well as a Passport for the child. You will then take custody of the child, obtain an Exit Visa and return home with your child. In the past, there has been a one month waiting period that has been routinely waived. However, if such a waiting period is not waived, you may remain in Ukraine or leave the country and return in a month to bring your child home. With the new SDAPRC, there may be new rules put in place that are difficult to predict. However, Minister Pavlenko seems to have the situation well in hand, he has announced his intentions, and we expect adoptions to proceed as described above.

Adoption Costs
Given Ukraine's requirement of identifying the child you wish to adopt while in Ukraine, and given our confidence in the program, our Ukraine program has an unprecedented partial MONEY BACK GUARANTY ! If, for any reason, you fail to identify a child you wish to adopt, you will not have to pay $13,000 of the $16,000 Ukraine International Fee! We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this unheard of safeguard for our families.

In general, adoption costs are broken down into practice fees, international fees and estimated travel costs. As with any adoption, HCA charges a practice fee of $5,000.00 payable in two installments. The optional document preparation fee is $1,875.00. Practice costs are fixed from the time a contract is signed by the prospective adoptive parents. In-country fees can be subject to change. At this time fees for international adoption in Ukraine are approximately $16,000, including your international fee, humanitarian aid donations and foreign costs. Your Home Study, Visas, government fees, and travel may run between $2,000-4,000 and individual circumstances may vary.