King of Sweden to visit south of Ukraine

Representatives of the King of Sweden have paid a visit to Kherson, a city in the south of Ukraine, within frames of preparing a visit of the Royal family to the region, scheduled for autumn of the current year. 

According to the Kherson Oblast State Administration press-office, the working group met with Oblast governor Borys Sylenkov.

The Swedish King is due to visit the village of Zmiyivka and meet with local ethnic Swedes. They are descendants of the Swedes, who were resettled by Russian Queen Yekaterina II

to the south of Ukraine from Dago island (Estonia). They still speak the Swedish language of XVIII century, which is not used in Sweden any more.

As UNIAN reported earlier, in line with the decree of President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko, in the year 2008 Ukraine will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Ukrainian-Swedish military-political union, which was concluded between Ukrainian hetman Ivan Mazepa and Swedish King Karl XII. It will be the first visit of the King of Sweden to independent Ukraine.

Source: UNIAN
http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-256486.html