CNN Dedicates Weekly Programming to Ukraine

KYIV, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

CNN's Eye On  series dedicate their first week of July programming to Ukraine. The reporters of one of the world's largest news networks went to Ukraine for the EURO 2012 final, met with legendary Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko, and mapped their route through the country from the capital to "glorious beaches" in the south, and then headed west toward "a hidden gem full of historical intrigues" - the city of Lviv.

CNN will highlight politics, culture, and business in Ukraine. Starting with the conclusion of the European Football Championship that took place in Ukraine in June 2012, CNN's reporter Max Foster reported that "the whole tournament's been a great success for Ukraine". "It went incredibly well for Ukraine," he continued.

Eye On [Ukraine] series will feature an interview with Andriy Shevchenko - a celebrated striker for the Ukrainian national football team, who represented Ukraine in EURO 2012. The series will also cover the energy industry in Ukraine, including the issues surrounding Ukrainian transporting Russian gas to Europe.

Additionally, CNN will focus on tourism industry in Ukraine. Max Foster noted that local resorts were incredibly popular with Russians, while the rest of the world didn't really know anything about Ukrainian leisure destinations. CNN plans to investigate "what's really on offer there".

CNN reporter will travel to Odessa, "one of Ukraine's biggest ports, to see how the global down turn has hit this once thriving part of the country". The global network will also explore the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, "once a significant stopping point on the main trade routes between the country's east and west", reads the CNN International website.

CNN featured Ukraine on its page dedicated to Eye On [Ukraine] series http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/eye.on/index.html. The network listed a set of statistical data about the country, uploaded a picture gallery, prepared a Ukraine-themed quiz, and even launched an iReport assignment inviting its users to "share the sights and sounds from Euro 2012 or your visits to other parts country that you think capture its [Ukraine's] true flavor".

Appreciating Ukraine's cultural heritage, CNN highlights the fact that five UNESCO World Heritage site are located in Ukraine. One of the sites is Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, "built in the 11^th century to symbolize the "new Constantinople".