In Ukrainian it is ALWAYS pronounced as an "H". There is a separate letter "Ґ" that is always pronounced as a hard "G" (as in Galileo). Having said that, many Ukrainians from central and eastern parts of Ukraine will use a "Г" instead of a "Ґ" when transliterating a foreign word or name such as "Galileo". As to how such a foreign word or name is pronounced is yet another question, not always directly related to how that particular individual spells that specific word or name.
Suffice it to say that there is enough confusion even among native born and raised Ukrainians as to what is the "proper" spelling and pronunciation, that you will be understood if you say or write it either way, and expect to be corrected by at least ONE native Ukrainian speaker no matter WHICH way you choose to write or pronounce it.
Both are absolutely acceptable. If you say it like a G, people will think you're more of Russian origin. If you say it like an H, people will think you are either from Ukrane or Belarus.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
In IPA it's ɦ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiced_glottal_fricat...
http://www.ruslanguages.com/Russian_Ukrainian_Bela...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_phonology
Ukrainian Pronunciation
In Ukrainian it is ALWAYS pronounced as an "H". There is a separate letter "Ґ" that is always pronounced as a hard "G" (as in Galileo). Having said that, many Ukrainians from central and eastern parts of Ukraine will use a "Г" instead of a "Ґ" when transliterating a foreign word or name such as "Galileo". As to how such a foreign word or name is pronounced is yet another question, not always directly related to how that particular individual spells that specific word or name.
Suffice it to say that there is enough confusion even among native born and raised Ukrainians as to what is the "proper" spelling and pronunciation, that you will be understood if you say or write it either way, and expect to be corrected by at least ONE native Ukrainian speaker no matter WHICH way you choose to write or pronounce it.
Both are absolutely acceptable. If you say it like a G, people will think you're more of Russian origin. If you say it like an H, people will think you are either from Ukrane or Belarus.