ukraine travel show

Useful tips and how to travel to Ukraine (2024)

By Joan Torres 10 Comments Last updated on January 4, 2024

Bordering Russia to the east and the EU to the west, Ukraine is a massive piece of land barely discovered by the average traveler.

Intrepid adventurers will travel to Ukraine for visiting Kiev , and then pay a short visit to other big cities such as Lviv or Odesa, but the rest of the country remains pretty unknown to most of us.

However, Ukraine has a lot to offer and after spending 45 days roaming around the country, discovering everything from intriguing medieval castles to a nuclear missile launch facility, this is the best travel guide available on the internet, containing everything  you need to know for traveling to Ukraine , from transportation tips to top experiences, cultural facts, visas, safety and much more!

Interested in Belarus as well? Read my useful tips and how to travel to Belarus

In this Ukraine travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
• Introduction
• Best time to visit
• Top experiences
• Travel insurance
• Ukraine and Russia
• Culture, language, and religion
• Transportation
• More information

eSIM card for browsing when traveling in Ukraine

With Holafly , you can now get an electronic SIM card for Ukraine from home with just 2 clicks.

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😷 COVID-19 Travel restrictions for Ukraine

Ukraine is currently out of limits due to the ongoing conflict.

Introduction: why travel to Ukraine?

Traveling in Ukraine is a unique experience, like nowhere else.

Do you know why?

Because here, you could spend weeks admiring dreamy, Medieval castles and fortresses and perfectly-shaped, cute old towns and, at the same time, you could discover the most offbeat places in Europe, ranging from a nuclear missile launch facility to the ghost city of Prypiat , and a vast range of Soviet and Communist heritage.

There isn’t another single country in Europe where you can do so much of the above in one single trip.

And the best of it is that, except for a few places, most of the country remains raw, authentic and very, very Ukrainian.

Traveling in Ukraine can be a real offbeat European adventure, like nowhere else on the continent.

🪪 How to get a visa for traveling to Ukraine

Remember that Ukraine is in neither EU nor the Schengen area, so different visa rules apply.

Typically, most nationalities can get a 90-day free visa on arrival.

However, WATCH OUT! Because there are a couple of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico whose citizens, unexpectedly, will need to pre-arrange an e-visa.

I traveled to Ukraine with my Mexican girlfriend and, since Mexicans can get a free visa on arrival in absolutely every country in Europe, we just assumed that she wouldn’t need one for visiting Ukraine but apparently, she did and, on our arrival, she was deported.

We traveled to Moldova to apply and wait for her visa which, by the way, took almost two weeks, plus she had to submit a lot of documents, from travel insurance to the flight or train ticket out of the country.

Anyways, here you have more information about this painful process.

⛅ Best time to visit Ukraine

Visiting ukraine in winter.

Winters in Ukraine are deadly – as you already know – but if you are just planning to visit Kiev , Lviv or any other big city, as long as you wear proper clothes, you should be fine. In any case, traveling in Ukraine, in winter, onboard a Soviet train can be a unique experience.

Visiting Ukraine in summer

I traveled in Ukraine during the last two weeks of August and, whereas Lviv was mostly all right, the countryside was utterly hot, with temperatures around 30-35ºC.

Visiting Ukraine in spring and autumn

The best seasons to visit Ukraine. Not so hot, not so cold. I spent the whole month of October in the country and colors were at their very best, absolutely beautiful.

Traveling in Ukraine by marshrutka in summer Most marshrutkas don’t have AC and, for some incomprehensible reason, old women – and they have full authority to do it – will always close the windows because they feel cold, even when it’s 40ºC inside the minivan, and funnily enough, nobody will complain. If you are backpacking in Ukraine in summer, be aware of that.

📚 Best books for independent travel in Ukraine

Ukraine travel guide by bradt.

The best guide book is, by far, the one written by Bradt, as they provide so many details about each and every region in the country, including many mentions of real offbeat gems and deep and useful travel tips for Ukraine.

Ukraine travel guide by Lonely Planet

A good purchase as well, but I prefer Bradt, as the Lonely Planet doesn’t get that deep into the different destinations.

Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich

If you are visiting Ukraine, it means that you may visit Chernobyl as well and, for that, I recommend you get this book, written by a Nobel prize winning author, a compilation of testimonies directly related to the disaster. A useful book for anyone wanting to empathize with all victims.

Why visit Ukraine: Top 5 experiences

Travel insurance for Ukraine I recommend IATI Insurance : COVID-19 coverage + 5% discount Get your discount when buying through this link

Just a small glimpse of some of the things you can do when you travel to Ukraine:

1 – Explore one of the greatest cities in Europe

Kiev is an amazing city with loads to see, loads to do and so much going on.

I spent two weeks in the capital and they were the best days of my trip.

From epic churches to bizarre Soviet places and great nightlife, Kiev is a city which you will want to return to.

Read my guide: How to spend 4 days in Kiev

2 – Wander around remote mountain villages in the Carpathians

If you want to visit and check out authentic rural life in Ukraine, head to the Carpathians and spend a few days hiking from village to village.

The mountains are pretty and the region has never had much exposure to the outside world, not even during the USSR, as these remote lands were difficult to control.

3 – Check out the dreamy castles & cute old towns in Western Ukraine

Most of Western Ukraine used to belong to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then to Poland, so it is easy to understand why they have so many castles, and the different towns and villages have Central European-like architecture.

4 – Pay your respects to the victims in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

You already know about Chernobyl, so I won’t go into details, but the exclusion zone is 150km north of Kiev and, even though it is becoming too popular and kind of touristy, it is good to go and see with your own eyes the consequences of one of the worst human disaster in our history.

Read my guide: How to visit Chernobyl responsibly

5 – Visit a nuclear missile launch facility

An old Soviet nuclear missile launch facility has been turned into an awesome museum where, besides checking out all the military nuclear arsenal, you can go into one of the silos and the underground control room.

Read: Offbeat places to visit in Belarus

🛫 How to travel to Ukraine

By air – Both Lviv and Kiev have daily flights to pretty much any country in Europe and it’s not difficult to find a budget flight.

By land – Ukraine shares a border with:

• European Union: Hungary, Romania, Poland and Slovakia. Crossing these borders should be very easy, with no secret procedures.
• Belarus : You can cross the border but be aware that the visa on arrival (for Belarus) is only available if you fly in & out from Minsk so, if you want to enter/exit Ukraine via Belarus, you need to apply for a Belarussian visa at the embassy.
• Moldova: Countless borders to choose from but most people seem to prefer taking the train from Odesa to Chisinau. I personally entered Ukraine from the northern Moldovan border, near Chernivtsi, on my way to the Carpathians. Read my Moldova travel guide .
• Russia: Despite the ongoing conflict, the border is open. Check this report to find out how to do it.

By sea – There is the possibility of traveling to Ukraine by ferry from Batumi (Georgia) to Odesa. There are two companies offering this service, Ukrferry , and Ferrysped , and detailed schedules may be found on their websites. A ticket costs around 100USD. Read my travel guide to Georgia .

🚑 Travel insurance for Ukraine

For Ukraine, get IATI Insurance because:

• All types of plans: from families to backpackers
• Covers both short-term trips and up to 1-year long trips.
• Covers COVID-19 related stuff.
• Readers of this blog can get a 5% exclusive discount .

Ukraine and Russia: What the hell is going on

CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR YOU TO KNOW WHEN YOU TRAVEL IN UKRAINE Ukraine is not Russia!

Ukraine is not Russia the same way that Canada is not the USA or New Zealand is not Australia.

Sure, they share a good piece of history and some cultural aspects, but you don’t need to spend much time in the country to realize that they are indeed very different, especially when you travel in Western Ukraine, which wasn’t part of the USSR until the end of WWII.

Ukrainians are particularly sensitive on this topic, to the extent that they even get offended when you write Kiev instead of Kyiv, as Kiev is the direct Russian transliteration, even though both terms are accepted in English.

The Ukraine-Russia war

Today, as you may know, there is an ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

It is an actual war.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea to themselves and yes, Crimea isn’t part of Ukraine anymore.

Their map has changed and whatever Ukrainian map in which you see Crimea, is already outdated – unfortunately .

Nowadays, the ongoing conflict is happening in another region named Donbas, a historical region in eastern Ukraine, today covering Donetsk and Lugansk provinces (oblasts).

Most people living in these provinces are ethnically Russian and, after Crimea was annexed to Russia, these pro-Russian people declared their independence from Ukraine and the problem arose when Russia decided to support the rebels.

I don’t know what the end of this will be of this but Ukraine’s map might be altered again in the next few years.

These are reasons why, in the rest of Ukraine, especially in the West, the people absolutely despise the Russian Government and don’t like it when foreigners identify Ukrainian culture as a mere variant or extension of Russian, so be aware of that.

Culture, people, language, and religion

Modern Ukraine as it is known today, with its current borders had never existed before the country got its independence in 1991.

Over the centuries, different parts of the country have been ruled by different civilizations, from the Kievan Rus – a federation found by Slavic people which Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus claim their cultural ancestors come from – to the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia – which used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then Poland and it was only annexed to the USSR after WWII .

Ukrainians claim that their modern culture directly derives from both the Kievan Rus and the Kingdom of Galicia, so their traditional culture is a mix of east and west – well, not that western but Central European – and their traditional clothes are named vyshyvanka , which are also worn in Belarus and are quite similar to Polish and Moldovan ones.

During the independence day, sometime at the end of August, I noticed that many Ukrainians were wearing the vyshyvanka.

The people: Ukrainians

Some travelers say that Ukrainians are serious, or that they can sometimes be unfriendly, but this is just a classic Soviet attitude, seen in other former Soviet countries as well.

Yes, some of them do look serious but, once you get to know them, Ukrainians are great people and are very hospitable as well, especially in the rural areas.

In the Carpathians, for example, we were randomly hosted by some locals who followed us on Instagram and their level of hospitality was comparable to that you experience when traveling in Iran 😉

Ukrainian is the official language and, in order to understand how it differs from Russian, take Spanish and Portuguese as examples.

Many Portuguese understand Spanish and vice-versa because both languages are very close but very different at the same time, same as with Ukrainian and Russian.

The Russian language, however, is widely spoken across the country and, in Donbas and the Crimea it is also recognized as an official language along with Ukrainian.

In Western Ukraine, Ukrainian is the language that prevails.

By the way, Ukrainians use the Cyrillic alphabet and if you can’t read it yet, I strongly recommend you do learn it, because it will be a real game-changer for traveling in Ukraine.

Most Ukrainians belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and they affirm that this is the original Church of ancient Kievan Rus .

Something that surprised me about Ukraine was that religion plays a very important role in their society, more than any other European country I have been to.

In smaller towns and cities, churches are packed with young people during Sunday services and in big cities such as Kiev or Lviv, while the young generation doesn’t really practice their religion, they do believe in God, generally speaking.

Visiting the endless churches and amazing Orthodox complexes will always be one of the highlights of any Ukraine travel guide and I highly recommend you go to Pochaiv, the second holiest monastery in the country, after Kiev Lavra, but the one in Pochaiv is nicer, for the simple reason that it is bigger and located in a rural, mystical area.

🍲 Food in Ukraine

Ukrainian cuisine isn’t the highlight of the country but it is all right, not bad at all.

Sometimes it is difficult to determine which dishes are Ukrainian and which ones are Russian, as you can find them in both countries but in any case, Ukrainian cuisine is hearty and made for feeding masses.

Some Ukrainian foods you are likely to taste during your trip

• Borsch – The national food which they are most proud of is borsch , a beetroot soup widely eaten across all the former USSR, but Ukrainians affirm and re-affirm it is originally from Ukraine, and I believe them, because borsch is nowhere else as available as on Ukrainian menus; well maybe in Belarus as well. Borsch is the way to go and it is traditionally served with sour cream and with something named salo .
• Salo – Slices of pork fat, very salty and very popular. Ukrainians find it a real delicacy but I don’t like it.
• Varenyky – When you don’t know what to order, you order varenyky , the classic dumplings available in many Slavic countries, but they always differ in shape, filling and have different names. Ukrainian varenyky are usually filled with brynza (local cheese) or potatoes.
• Syrniki – Typically eaten for breakfast or brunch, these are some small, thick, local pancakes filled with cottage cheese, but they can also contain apple and other ingredients.
• Chicken Kyiv – This was weird, and not my favorite, but it is very traditional. It consists of fried chicken filled with dairy butter and herbs. A real bomb.

And there’s more.

Local restaurants in big cities will have many other choices but, in the rural areas, the options will be limited to borsch and varenyky.

I once had borsch + varenyky for 4 days in a row!

Then, in the Western part of the country, since that area used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then Poland, traditional dishes are more Central European, so you find things like goulash , whereas in the Carpathians, you find Moldovan and Romanian dishes such as banusz .

This blog is purely about Ukrainian food and has some really good information.

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Ukraine?

Because of recent events, some people may perceive Ukraine as a dangerous destination to travel to but trust me, it is not.

Maidan protests (2014)

In 2014, Kiev witnessed a series of protests against the Government that lasted for more than 3 months, resulting in several peaceful demonstrators being murdered by the police.

It was crazy and such was the gravity of those protests and repression, that they were all over the international news for weeks.

During those 3 months, traveling to Kiev wasn’t recommended, of course, but this was a past episode that ended with the Prime Minister Yanukovych fleeing the country and the celebration of new elections

As we previously discussed, there is a conflict going on in Donetsk and Lugansk, in which according to the UN, more than 13,000 people have died as of 2019 .

The war, however, solely affects those two provinces, doesn’t go beyond them and, even if you wanted to go there, you couldn’t because foreigners aren’t allowed anymore.

Other than that, besides all the regular crime-related stuff, such as pickpocketing, that happens in any city – or the problem with Ukraine brides , but that’s another story – traveling in Ukraine is safe, very safe, and any Ukrainian will tell you that.

💻 Internet and connectivity in Ukraine

Ukraine has amazing 4G coverage and getting a SIM Card is very straightforward, as they didn’t even ask me for my passport.

I personally bought Lifecell, but Kyivstar seems to be the most popular one.

Prices are ridiculously cheap and I think I paid around 75UAH (3€) for a SIM Card packed with 4GB of data.

eSIM for browsing, calling and traveling in Ukraine

Basically, an eSIM is a regular SIM card with a digital format that works like a normal physical SIM card, with the added benefit that you can buy it from home before the beginning of your trip, hence avoiding the hassle of buying it at your destination. 

With Holafly , you can get a SIM Card for a wide range of destinations, including Ukraine . 

Moreover, you can benefit from a 5% discount with the following code:  AGAINSTTHECOMPASS

Get a VPN for traveling in Ukraine

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer. 

Moreover, you will be able to access content which is typically censored in Ukraine. 

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap. 

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

💰 Money in Ukraine

In Ukraine, they use the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) and, approximately:

1 USD = 36.74 UAH

Credit cards are generally accepted anywhere and most banks will accept international cards, even though they tend to charge a small fee.

How much does it cost to travel in Ukraine?

As per costs, Ukraine is a cheap country to travel around, especially because their currency has devalued massively since the Crimea crisis, when 1€ used to be equal to 10UAH.

Backpacking budget for Ukraine:

Assuming you stay in dorms and eat in budget cafeterias, you can easily travel in Ukraine for 25€ a day .

Typical costs (approx.)

• Dorm in a budget hostel: 200 UAH
• Budget apartment in Kiev or Lviv: from 600 UAH
• Local meal in a cafeteria: 100UAH
• Local beer: 40UAH
• Night train from Lviv to Odesa economical class: 200 UAH

🛺 Transportation tips: How to travel around Ukraine

The country is big but the public transportation system is great, which makes traveling in Ukraine fairly easy.

Soviet trains at their best. Amazing way to see the vastness of the country.

If you have traveled in other Soviet countries such as Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan or Russia itself, their train system doesn’t vary much. In fact, it is the same.

You can get to pretty much any city but do book your tickets in advance, especially during high season, as the cheap ones run out quickly.

There are different types of carriages but the Soviet system has 3 classes:

• berth: no compartments but bunk beds are placed all over the carriage.
• compartment: 4-bed compartment.
• deluxe: 2-bed fancy compartment.

If you have never ridden a Soviet train, I recommend you travel in berth .

In case you are wondering, economical class in Ukraine (berth) isn’t like in India or Sri Lanka, not even close. They provide you with clean bed linen and the beds are relatively comfortable.

You can check prices, timings and book your ticket on this link (official governmental site).

By marshrutka

Marshrutka means minivan in Russian and you may use them when going to smaller towns.

If you count by kilometer, it is much more expensive than traveling by train and around 5 times more uncomfortable, but if you are getting deep into Ukraine, this might be your only choice more often than you think.

Apparently, buses also run between major cities but I don’t see a good reason for taking them, apart from when train tickets to your destination are sold out but in any case, for long distances, it is also recommended to book your ticket in advance.

Anyways, you can book your tickets on this website .

❗ More information for traveling to Ukraine

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Ukraine destination

• Travel Guide to Chernobyl
• Kiev Travel Guide
• Lviv Travel Guide
• Ukraine Itinerary

Travel guides to former Soviet countries

• Georgia Travel Guide
• Belarus Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Moldova
• Azerbaijan Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan
• Travel Guide to Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan Travel Guide
• Kazakhstan Travel Guide

I hope you enjoyed my Ukraine travel blog. Please, leave a comment for any questions you might have.

10 comments

Awesome guide on traveling Ukraine! As a Ukrainian, I can say that information you provided is useful and accurate. Keep on that track! 🙂

Thanks Irina, I am happy that you like this post as an Ukrainian 🙂

Una vez más, Joan, nos dejas con ganas de más.

It would be great if I could actually read the content on the site without the pop up! I

You mentioned in another guide that you see a lot of misery in Ukraine, but you didn’t mention it in this guide. I think it’d be interesting to include more information like that.

I want to travel to Odesa from Romania by car. How would I do that?

Excuse me, but the Donbas conflict wasn’t started because “Most people living in these provinces are ethnically Russian and […] declared their independence from Ukraine and the problem arose when Russia decided to support the rebels.” Russia started the rebellion itself, pretending it to be started by those Ukrainians, just as Russia did it with all other neighboring countries, where they have disputed areas. I have a lot of friends in all parts of Ukraine, and I know what I’m talking about. And it wasn’t Prime-Minister Yanukovych who fleed, he was the President.

This blog post is very outdates and in many sections factually wrong, I don’t know why google is recommending this as if it was recently updated, when it obviously isn’t keeping up with the latest developments in Ukraine.

Im jone ukraine diffens

The correct spelling is KYIV

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Ukraine Travel Guide

Last Updated: January 4, 2023

In recent years, Ukraine has evolved into a popular budget travel destination. While it might not have the polish and attractions you find in Western Europe, it more than makes up for that with cheap prices, beautiful landscapes, historic buildings, and sparse crowds.

Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and is actually Europe’s second-largest country, after Russia. Its history includes domination by various countries other than USSR including Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Russia.

Ukraine is home to the deepest metro station in the world, one of the world’s most visited McDonald’s, and some of Europe’s oldest coffee houses. There are seven places here that have been recognized by UNESCO, it has tons of ghost towns here and you can also find the famous Tunnel of Love. While the recent annexation of Crimea by Russia means you’ll want to be careful around the borders with Russia, the country itself is still safe to travel.

Personally, I didn’t have many expectations for when I arrived — but I absolutely loved my time here. It’s affordable, fun, and has a lot to offer if you step off the beaten path. The people are really welcoming, the country is inexpensive, and there’s a real sense of stepping back in time as you explore the cities and countryside. I can’t praise it enough.

This travel guide to Ukraine can help you plan your trip there while helping you stay on budget.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Ukraine

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in ukraine.

1. Visit the Tunnel of Love in Klevan

Just outside of Klevan, an old railway line has been turned into a natural tunnel lined it with trees. The tunnel is at its lushest during the spring and summer when the green leaves form a seemingly impenetrable barrier. It’s very beautiful and romantic (and Insta-worthy). Plus, it’s free!

2. Go skiing

Ukraine has cold, snowy winters that make it the perfect destination for budget-friendly winter sports. There are several resorts dotting the Carpathians with lift tickets starting at just 350 UAH. It’s one of the cheapest places to ski in Europe!

3. Explore Chernobyl

This nuclear plant had a critical meltdown in 1986. It was one of the worst nuclear disaster in human history. The radiation is weak enough now that people to visit the complex and the abandoned, ghost-like town nearby. Tours cost about 2,900 UAH and last a full day.

4. Visit Kyiv

The capital of Ukraine is home to an odd mix of Soviet-area communist housing, Baroque buildings, and cobblestone streets. For theater lovers, the Kyiv Opera House is host to world-class operas and ballets and the Ivan Franko Theater hosts dramas, comedies, and musicals.

5. Hike the Carpathian Mountains

One of the most popular destinations in the country, this 1,500-kilometer (932-mile) chain of mountains are a magical collection of forests, meadows, and villages. There are lakes for swimming and plenty of trails for hiking. For a full-day hike, climb to the peak of Hoverla.

Other Things to See and Do in Ukraine

1. visit chernivtsi university.

Founded in 1875, this university is the most fascinating piece of architecture in Chernivtsi, a city in western Ukraine. It’s constructed from beautifully-laid red bricks and decorated with thousands of colored tiles. The design of the building was influenced by a pseudo-Byzantine-Hanseatic-Moorish style. You can book guided tours from the university for 80 UAH.

2. Relax at Arcadia Beach

This is the country’s most famous beach. Located in Odessa, it was created to be the country’s main summer getaway spot so there’s a multitude of bars, clubs, resorts, and cafes here, making it a popular place to visit during the warmer summer months (May-September). The main beach has a waterslide and plenty of space to swim and lounge. Just be sure to arrive early to get a good spot as it does get crowded in the summer.

3. Wander the Odessa catacombs

This is the largest catacomb system in the world. There are over 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) of catacombs under the city, created in the 17th century and expanded when the city mined for limestone in the early 19th century (the limestone was used to build the city). The catacombs were used by Soviet rebels during World War II after the Germans forced them to retreat. While dangerous to explore alone (people still get lost and die down here), you can join a 2-4-hour tour to show you around. Prices start at 350 UAH. For Star Wars fans, be sure to check out the nearby statue that was originally a tribute to Lenin and which has been transformed into a replica of Darth Vader! The Odessa Opera and Ballet is worth a visit too as it is super cheap and in a beautiful historic building.

4. See the Bohdan & Varvara Khanenko Arts Museum

Located in Kyiv, this museum hosts an impressive collection of European art. The interior is decadently coated in frescoes, intricately-carved woodwork, priceless antique furniture, and boasts an array of masterful art. Expect to see paintings from Western Europe (including works by Peter Paul Rubens, Gentile Bellini, Jacob Jordaens, and Luis de Morales), artifacts, and works from Egyptian and Greek antiquity, Persian Ceramics, Chinese paintings, and much more! Admission is 120 UAH and free on the first Wednesday of the month.

5. Hang out in Ploshcha Svobody

Located in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, this massive city square is one of the largest in the world. At the western end stands the first Soviet skyscraper, complete with geometrically-set concrete and glass blocks and bridges. Renamed Freedom Square after Ukrainian independence, it spans a massive 30 acres. Don’t miss the empty pedestal where the statue of Lenin used to be (it was toppled during protests in 2014).

6. Spot wildlife at Askania-Nova Reserve

Established in 1898, this vast reserve spans over 333 square kilometers (128 sq mi)and is home to a plethora of animal life like buffalo, deer, antelope, horses, zebras, camels, gnus, the rare Central Asian Saiga antelope, and a huge array of birds. Within the reserve, there are a few small villages and one town which you can reach by bus. From April to November you can take a safari for around 150 UAH.

7. See Lutsk Castle

This fortress is located in Lutsk’s old quarter and dates back to the 14th century. The castle walls stand 13 meters (42 feet) high and are between 1-3 meters (3-10 feet) thick. It’s topped with three broad towers that have repelled several sieges, including attacks by Casimir the Great (1349), Jogaila (1431), and Sigismund K stutaitis (1436). During the Nazi occupation, over 1,000 Jews were murdered here (though there sadly is no monument or marker to commemorate the tragedy). Today, there are archeological remains dating back to the 12th century preserved and on display. The castle is featured on the 200 UAH bill and you can walk the ramparts and tour the three towers that make up the main defensive fortifications. Admission is 10 UAH.

8. Visit the National Chernobyl Museum

Located in Kyiv, this small museum is a good prelude to a trip to Chernobyl. There are three exhibits on display that highlight the accident, the aftermath, and the lessons we need to learn to avoid this happening again. It’s equally sobering and educational. Admission is 10 UAH or 60 UAH with an audio guide.

9. Visit the Museum of the Great Patriotic War

This is one of the largest museums in Ukraine and highlights the story of the German-Soviet conflict during World War II. Located in Kyiv, the museum contains over 300,000 exhibits as well as several monuments and memorials spanning over 25 acres overlooking the Dnieper River (including the 62-meter-tall Motherland statue). This museum offers a sobering and unique look at the war’s Eastern conflict. Admission is 50 UAH.

10. Tour St. Sophia’s Cathedral

Built in the 11th century in Kyiv, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has an elaborate Baroque exterior with 13 golden domes. Inside the cathedral, there are beautiful murals, mosaics, and centuries-old frescoes. The cathedral was used as a burial place for Kyivan rulers during the Middle Ages. Named after Hagia Sophia in Turkey, the cathedral offers some stunning views over Kyiv from the bell tower. Admission to see the cathedral’s museum is 20 UAH while access to the bell tower is 60 UAH.

11. Visit Lviv

Lviv is the cultural capital of Ukraine. Located 540 kilometers (335 miles) west of Kyiv, it has a Central European vibe and is full of history and incredible architecture. Don’t miss wandering the Old Town (another place that has made UNESCO’s World Heritage List), visiting the Lviv Historical Museum, and enjoying the view from High Castle. For a glimpse at the city’s past, visit the Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (it’s an outdoor museum with all kinds of traditional wooden buildings). As a university town, it’s a youthful city and hosts many of the country’s foreign students from around Europe!

12. Take a walking tour

One of my favorite things to do when I arrive anywhere new is to take a walking tour. It’s the best way to get your bearings and you might even meet and make some new friends. Kyiv Walking Tours, Guru Walk, and Free Tour all offer free walking tours in Kyiv covering most of the main points of interest. If you do take a free tour, be sure to tip your guide at the end! Get Your Guide also has a ton of tours around the country, including museum tours and trips to Chernobyl!

13. Go to a unique museum

Ukraine has to be home to some of the most interesting museums in the world. There’s a museum dedicated to the Ukrainian Easter egg in Kolomyya, a Museum of Unnecessary Things in Kyiv, a Micro Miniature Museum in Kyiv, and a Toilet History Museum in Kyiv. While we’re looking at random places and things, check out the giant crossword in Lviv, the brass Beer Belly of Ukraine (also in Lviv), and the statues of Peeing Colors in Kyiv.

14. Check out the sunflower fields

Sunflower oil is one of Ukraine’s largest exports. Reportedly with enough fields of sunflowers to cover Slovenia, it isn’t too hard to find one. Go in late July for the best views (the season lasts from July to mid-August).

Ukraine Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostels start at 130-250 UAH for a bed in a 6-10-bed dorm. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most hostels also have a kitchen. For a private room, prices start at 260 UAH.

Budget hotels start at 560 UAH per night. You can find cheaper options but they tend to be pretty gross places. Most budget hotels are a little outdated when it comes to decor. Don’t expect many amenities either.

Airbnb is available in larger cities throughout the country. Private rooms start at 520 UAH per night while an entire home/apartment costs at 1,000 UAH.

Wild camping is allowed in Ukraine, as long as you aren’t in nature preserves or near highways. There are also plenty of campgrounds around the country with a basic plot (without electricity) costing from 60-600 UAH per night.

Food – Food in Ukraine is similar to that in neighboring Eastern Europe and Russia. Borscht (beetroot soup), varenyky (pierogies), holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls), kovbasa (sausage), and deruny (potato pancakes) are some of the most popular and most common dishes.

For a meal of traditional cuisine, expect to pay 145 UAH or less. Portions are filling and hearty too. Fast food (like McDonald’s) can be found in the larger cities around the country and costs around 120 UAH for a combo meal. For Thai or Indian food, main dishes cost around 200 UAH. Expect to pay around 180 UAH for a large pizza.

If you want to splash out, a three-course meal of traditional cuisine costs around 300 UAH. Beer can be found for just 30 UAH while a latte or cappuccino costs around 35 UAH.

For a week of groceries that includes pasta, vegetables, chicken, and seasonal produce, expect to pay around 750 UAH.

Backpacking Ukraine Suggested Budgets

If you are backpacking Ukraine, my suggested budget is 885 UAH per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel dorm, cooking all of your meals, doing free activities like walking tours and hiking, limiting your drinking, visiting some cheap attractions like museums or galleries, and using local transportation to get around.

On a mid-range budget of 2,425 UAH per day, you can stay in a budget hotel or Airbnb, eat out for all your meals at cheap restaurants serving traditional cuisine, go out for some drinks, take some guided tours, take the occasional taxi to get around and take the bus between cities, and tour of Chernobyl.

On a “luxury” budget of 3,950 UAH or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out at any restaurant you want, rent a car or take taxis everywhere, take higher-end guided tours, drink as much as you want, go skiing, take domestic flights to get around the country, and see as many castles and museums as you can handle. This is just the ground floor for luxury though — the sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in UAH.

Ukraine Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Ukraine is an affordable country to visit. You’re going to be hard-pressed to spend a lot of money unless you go out of your way to do so. That said, it’s always good to make sure you get the best deals so here are some money-saving tips for Ukraine:

• Eat local – By eating at restaurants serving traditional cuisine, you keep your food expenses low. Skip the western food.
• Buy beer at the supermarkets – If you plan on drinking, buy your beer at the supermarket. Beer at the bar is cheap, but this is even cheaper!
• Stay with a local – Use Couchsurfing to meet awesome people, get a local perspective, and get a place to stay for free. I used it while I was in the country and met a lot of great people through it. The community here is pretty small so be sure to make your requests in advance.
• Book overnight trains – Take advantage of the slow and cheap trains in Ukraine by taking overnight trains. You save one night’s accommodation by doing this.
• Save money on rideshares – Uber is way cheaper than taxis and is the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi. Currently, Uber is available in Kyiv, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhia, and Dnipro.
• Get the Kyiv PASS – If you’re planning on being in Kyiv for a few days, the Kyiv PASS gets you free admissions to certain attractions, discounts to partner restaurants, free Metro trips (offline cards only), and an audio guide. It’s available for 24, 48, and 72 hours and costs 447 UAH, 746 UAH, and 1,045 UAH respectively.
• Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water in Ukraine is not safe to drink. Avoid single-use plastic by bringing a reusable water bottle with a filter with you. LifeStraw makes reusable bottles that also filter your water so it’s safe and clean to drink — no matter where you are in the world!
• Take a free walking tour – Kyiv Walking Tours offers a free tour around the city. It’s the best way to see the main sights on a budget. Just be sure to tip your guide!

Where to Stay in Ukraine

Ukraine has a growing hostel scene and you can now find hostels in most of the larger cities. Here are my favorite places to stay around the country:

• Gar’is Hostel (Kyiv)
• DREAM Hostel (Kyiv)
• Mama Hostel (Odessa)
• Park Plus Hostel (Lviv)
• Yard Hostel & Coffee (Chernivtsi)

How to Get Around Ukraine

Bus – Ukraine has a mix of small, crowded, and outdated buses as well as larger, more modern coaches. FlixBus is your best choice here, as their buses are clean, reliable, and cheap.

You can take a bus pretty much anywhere in the country for under 700 UAH although if you’re prepared to change busses mid-way, the price can be half that.

Trains – Trains are perfect for longer journeys around the country. Many of the trains have an old, Soviet feel to them but they are safe, reliable, and cheap. And, because there are lots of overnight options, you can usually take an overnight train to save yourself a night of accommodation.

First-class couchettes, private and shared sleepers, and regular seats are all available. Most clerks do not speak English so buy your ticket online or have your hostel/hotel write down what you need/where you’re going.

The 9-hour trip from Kyiv to Odessa can cost as little as 300 UAH. The 7-hour trip from Kyiv to Lviv costs about the same while the 13-hour journey from Kyiv to Loskutivka (near Luhansk) costs 340 UAH.

Air – Ukraine International Airlines is the main domestic carrier here. Flights are relatively affordable, with most domestic flights costing as little as 1,000 UAH.

Car Rental – Car rentals in Ukraine can be found for as little as 575 UAH per day for a multi-day rental. The roads here are in rough shape, however, so drive carefully. Additionally, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent a vehicle here.

When to Go to Ukraine

The summer is the most popular time to visit Ukraine. June-August offers plenty of warm, sunny days with temperatures ranging from 18-24°C (64-75°F). This is also the busiest time of year as well. However, the country only sees around 14 million tourists each year (that’s a fraction of the 90 million visitors a popular destination like France receives) so don’t expect massive crowds.

If you want to avoid the peak summer season, consider visiting in May or September/October. It won’t be as warm, but you can see the flowers blossom in the Carpathians or watch the leaves change in the autumn. It’s chilly at night, but the days are still perfect for sightseeing and hiking.

The winters in Ukraine are cold, with temperatures well below 0°C (32°F). Unless you’re here to ski or do winter sports, I’d avoid visiting in the winter.

How to Stay Safe in Ukraine

Crime and petty theft in Ukraine are on par with much of Europe. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity so as long as you keep your valuables out of reach when in crowded areas and on public transportation, you can avoid the most common issues. Don’t flash your valuables when out and about and avoid walking alone at night in the larger cities just to be safe.

Solo female travelers should feel safe here, though they should take the standard precautions (not leaving their drink unattended at the bar, not walking home alone intoxicated, etc.).

Credit card fraud is a concern in Ukraine so stick to using ATMs inside of banks (and not random ATMs on the street).

The roads here are pretty terrible, so be extra careful if renting a car. Follow all the rules of the road, obey the speed limits, and wear a seatbelt. Drivers here are aggressive so be prepared. Also, don’t leave your valuables in your vehicle overnight. Break-ins are rare, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

With the rise of the far-right and Russian interference, attacks against people of color have been on the rise. Travelers of color need to take extra precautions and avoid traveling alone at night.

The war with Russia in Crimea is localized to the region (for now) so as long as you avoid visiting Crimea (which you need a special permit for) you won’t have to worry. While it is possible to visit Crimea (and there is a lot to see there), most governments have issued warnings and don’t provide assistance should an issue arise. In short, avoid visiting Crimea for now.

If you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

If you experience an emergency, dial 102 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Ukraine Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Ukraine Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Europe and continue planning your trip:

The 6 Best Hotels in Vienna

The Best Walking Tours in Barcelona

How to Be a Digital Nomad in Europe

The Best eSIM for Traveling Europe

The 6 Best Hotels in Athens

The 6 Best Hotels in Stockholm

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Big, diverse and largely undiscovered, Ukraine is one of Europe’s last genuine travel frontiers, a nation rich in colourful tradition, warm-hearted people and off-the-map experiences.

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Attractions

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The interior is the most astounding aspect of Kyiv's oldest standing church. Many of the mosaics and frescoes are original, dating back to 1017–31, when…

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Kamyanets-Podilsky Fortress

Central Ukraine

Built of wood in the 10th to 13th centuries, then redesigned and rebuilt in stone by Italian military engineers in the 16th century, K-P's fortress is a…

Prymorsky Boulevard

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Between May 1942 and July 1943, Adolf Hitler paid several visits (accounts vary) to his regional military headquarters in a vast bunker 8km north…

Chernivtsi University

The Carpathians

University buildings are often called 'dreaming spires', but Chernivtsi's is more like an acid trip. This fantastic, Unesco-listed red-brick ensemble,…

Lychakivsky Cemetery

Don't leave town until you've seen this amazing 42-hectare cemetery, only a short ride on tram 7 from the centre. This is the Père Lachaise of Eastern…

Palanok Castle

Built atop a 68m-tall volcano, Mukacheve's highlight is this dramatic castle that pops up from the surrounding plain west of town, like something in a…

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Ukraine travel guide with everything you need to know

From Sebastiaan about one of his favorite countries: Ukraine! A complete Ukraine travel guide, including tips and tricks on travel in Ukraine. This guide to travel in Ukraine was compiled after six months of traveling and living in Ukraine divided over three visits in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

As of 24/02/2022 Russia has invaded Ukraine. Ukraine’s airspace is closed and there is open armed conflict. We don’t recommend anyone to visit right now.

Ukraine is a large country wedged between the European Union and Russia. Despite being considered dangerous by many due to the war in the east, Ukraine is actually an incredible—and safe—country to travel!

With ever more affordable flights to Ukraine available daily, plus bus and train services from within the EU now connecting to major cities like Lviv and Kyiv, tourism is sure to pick up in the coming years.

I compiled this list of things to know about Ukraine after six months of traveling and living in the country. It’s almost guaranteed to answer everything you need to know about traveling in Ukraine. If not, you can always ask for more!

Ukraine Travel Guide Index

• Ukraine, a name
• Best time to visit
• Entering and exiting
• Connectivity

Places to visit in Ukraine

Soviet remnants in Ukraine

Some background about Ukraine

Ukraine’s history is long, tragic, and often violent.

Modern-day Ukraine has been independent since 1991, but it traces its roots back to the Kyivan Rus’ Federation. Both Russia and Belarus derive their name from Kyivan Rus’, and Kyiv was the capital of the Federation. The Federation lasted from the 9th till the 13th century, when Mongol hordes invaded and leveled Kyiv.

From this point on, Ukraine has been in a geographical flux, with many parts of the country contested for. Lithuanians, Poles, Cossacks, Tartars, Russians, Germans, and others all had a shot at ruling parts of Ukraine throughout history.

In more recent history, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, although the Galician part of Ukraine (Western Ukraine around Lviv) didn’t become part of the Soviet Union until after World War 2. Ukraine became independent in 1991 after the Soviet Union collapsed.

War relics in Kharkiv

Revolutions in Ukraine

Since its independence, Ukraine has seen two revolutions:

In 2004, the so-called Orange Revolution took place after then Prime Minister Yanukovich was declared the winner of rigged elections. The Orange Revolution was largely peaceful and resulted in Yanukovich being ousted in favor of Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko.

In 2014, the Euromaidan Revolution happened. Yanukovich came back to power by promising closer integration with Europe and the European Union, but instead moved to sign a treaty with Russia. This led to peaceful protests on Independence Square in Kyiv (Maidan), which turned violent when riot police showed up and assaulted the peaceful protesters. This led to more peaceful protests until Anti-Protest Laws were passed, specifically aimed at muting the Euromaidan protests.

After this, protests turned more violent. Riot police fired active bullets at protesters, and protesters in turn used military and guerilla tactics to thwart the riot police. After escalations resulting in more than 100 people’s deaths, Yanukovich signed the agreement on the settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine. He fled the country soon after, and was granted political asylum in Russia.

Euromaidan indirectly led to the Russian annexation of Crimea, and the War for Independence in the East. For those who want to know more, I highly suggest the documentary ‘Winter on Fire’ on Netflix.

The national flag

A bit about names

The name of the country is Ukraine .

This might seem obvious, but many people still refer to Ukraine as “The Ukraine” (looking at you, North Americans). However, “The Ukraine” has negative connotations: it’s associated with the idea the country is just a region of a greater (Russian) empire. Again, it’s Ukraine, not The Ukraine.

In the same vein, the official name of Ukraine’s capital city is Kyiv , not Kiev. This is another source of contention in Ukraine. However, most western media and people still refer to the capital as Kiev. This Ukraine travel guide will use the official spelling. Ukraine’s government has repeatedly asked big media outlets ( not including this blog) to start using the official spelling.

For many Ukrainians, the name “Kiev” refers to how the city was named under Russian rule, using the Russian way of spelling. Visitors to Ukraine are often confused by this, as they assume Kiev is harmless Anglicization of the name. Many Ukrainians feel differently.

Maidan in Kyiv

Best time to visit Ukraine

The best time to travel to Ukraine is in spring or fall . The weather is pleasant, terraces are set up outside, and there a several pop-up bars that come to life around this time. Fall colors are also really pretty

If you want to visit the Carphantians, summer is the best time to travel to Ukraine. Although it might rain at times, in general, you’ll have perfect hiking weather. Many people also go to Odesa during summer, although I would personally try to come before the summer rush. Odesa gets packed during summer.

Traveling around during summer can also be a literal pain, and most buses and marshrutka don’t open their windows, even when it’s bloody hot outside (a leftover Soviet believe that draft winds make you sick is to blame for this).

Winters are generally cold and wet, and often snowy. If you want to go skiing in the Carpathians, this is the time. It’s still possible to go, as long as you pack warm clothes, but it’s not the best time of year to visit Ukraine.

Language in Ukraine

The official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian. However, a sizable part of the population speaks Russian, especially in the east and south of the country. Ukrainian is more dominant in Western Ukraine.

Ukrainian or Russian?

Many people think Ukrainian and Russian are basically the same languages with minor differences. To the untrained ear, it might sound so, but in reality, they’re remarkably different. Most Ukrainian speakers will be offended if you assume they’re similar.

As for traveling in Ukraine, it’s useful to pick up some Russian and Ukrainian. Russian is a useful language all across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. If you want to travel comfortably in western Ukraine, it helps to know Ukrainian.

Although the majority of Ukrainians speak both languages to an extent, people in the west are not fond of Russia and Russian. Knowing a few words of Ukrainian will make basic interactions much smoother. Having said that, if you only speak Russian, you won’t have trouble traveling in Ukraine.

A store in Lviv

Ukraine uses the Cyrillic alphabet. If planning to visit Ukraine for more than a week or two, I highly recommend you learn it. It took me about a day and a half to learn the alphabet, and I’m incredibly happy I did so. Duolingo is a good resource for this.

Do people speak English in Ukraine?

In cities, many young people speak English, although they might claim they don’t out of shyness. In towns and villages, it’s more difficult to find English speakers. Be prepared to flex your Ukrainian and Russian… or traveler sign language. Google Translate also works reasonably well for Russian.

Most restaurants in cities like Lviv and Kyiv will have English menus.

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Culture in Ukraine

Despite active oppression through the ages, Ukraine has a proud and lively culture. Embroidered clothes, musical instruments, folk art, and literary achievements are all part of Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage.

It’s not uncommon to see young people wearing traditional embroidered clothes, especially on public holidays. These outfits are a feast to the eye, as they are incredibly colorful and skillfully crafted.

Traditional women and men’s clothes

Cossack culture is also visible. Cossack haircuts and boots are a common sight among Ukraine’s hip youth. Then there’s the music… oh, the music! One of the joys of walking around Ukrainian cities in summer is the many street musicians playing modern and traditional instruments on the street.

Religion in Ukraine

Orthodox Christianity is by far the largest religion in Ukraine, followed by Catholicism. Minor Muslim and Jewish groups are scattered around the country. In Kyiv, you’ll see many Hare Krishna devotees in summer.

Although most people subscribe to a religion, young people in cities aren’t super serious about their religion. If you ask them about it, they’ll often confess—somewhat apologetically—that though they believe in God or spirituality, they’re not practicing. This holds especially true in cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv. In villages, however, religion plays a large role in people’s day to day lives.

People are generally open when talking about their religion. Although they might not fully understand, people generally have no problems with atheism or agnosticism.

Typical cafeteria meal with borsch , sausage, and bread at Puzata Hata

Food in Ukraine

Ukrainian food is quite diverse, though not many tourists realize that.

The usual Slavic potato, vegetable, and meat staples are everywhere… but there is so much more! Ukraine’s pride is borsch , a beet soup found in many former Soviet states. But according to Ukrainians, borsch is originally Ukrainian… and the Russian variant sucks 😉

There are also many types of dumplings, called vareniki, which are delicious and cheap. Cafeteria-style vareniki places are found in each city.

Other Ukrainian staples include:

• Salo: pork fat
• Chicken Kyiv: chicken with butter inside
• Banush : popular in western Ukraine, made of corn grits, fried pork fat, and cheese
• Nalismiki : pancakes with topping rolled inside

There is also plenty of Tartar food to be found, influenced by Turkish and Central Asian cuisine. Think plov (rice dish), shashlik (barbecued kebabs), and fresh salads.

In cities, you’ll find plenty of restaurants serving all sorts of food in every price range. For the cheapest options, head to cafeterias such as the Puzata Hata chain.

A Puzata Hata cafeteria

Vegetarians and vegans in Ukraine

Vegetarians rejoice: it’s easy to go meatless in Ukraine!

Although several staples include meat, it’s almost always possible to fill up on veggies and starches at local cafeterias. In big cities, you can find plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Most places have vegetarian options on the menu.

Big cities have several vegan restaurants, but vegans might have a harder time in villages. Grilled vegetables are almost always an option, but proteins are harder to come by. Beans do make an occasional appearance, and Georgian food often contains beans (known as lobia ). Just make sure to learn how to say no cheese, no yogurt, etc. Ideally, before someone cooks for you!

Ukrainian hryvnia

Money in Ukraine

Ukraine’s national currency is the hryvnia (UAH) . There are 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 hryvnia notes, and a variety of coins that even now, after 6 months in the country, confuse me.

Most ATMs in Ukraine take international cards. However, several only allow small withdrawals or charge a withdrawal fee. In my experience, Ukrsibbank is your best bet for larger withdrawals without withdrawal fees. Money changers are everywhere; shop around for the best rate.

Tip: When withdrawing money from ATMs, many will ask if you want to use their “guaranteed exchange rate”. This rate is much worse than the rate your bank usually gives. If you’re asked by the ATM, say no. Choose “use payment system rate” instead.

It’s common to see people use Apple or Google Pay for anything from a small cup of coffee to a new laptop. All major cards are accepted, and even my Dutch Maestro card works everywhere. All terminals are pay-pass ready; this is the preferred mode of payment.

Cost of travel in Ukraine

After the annexation of Crimea and the war in the east, the Ukrainian hryvnia devalued significantly. Dropping from roughly 8 UAH to the dollar to around 25 UAH to the dollar. Painful as this was for Ukrainians and the Ukrainian economy, this does mean Ukraine is relatively cheap to travel in for people who have euros or dollars. For a more detailed look, check out my Ukraine budget report .

Average costs for travel in Ukraine (2020)

• One night in a hostel in Kyiv – 150 to 300 UAH (US$6-12)
• Airbnb in Kyiv – 600+ per  night ($25+)
• A beer or a cider in a bar – 30 to 60 UAH ($1.25-2.50)
• Dinner at a cafeteria – 50 to 150 UAH ($2-6)
• Cocktails in a fancy cocktail bar – 150 to 300 UAH each ($6-12 each)
• Dinner in a sit-down restaurant – 100 to 300 UAH ($4-12)
• A six-hour train journey – 150 to 400 UAH ($6-17)

If you travel slowly, stay in hostels, eat in cafeterias, and get drinks from the supermarket before you go out, you can easily backpack in Ukraine for about $20 – 25 a day .

So as you can see, travel to Ukraine is definitely cheap. But when visiting Ukraine, please don’t rave about how cheap everything is. It might be cheap for you, but many Ukrainians are struggling and saw their purchasing power disappear from one day to the next. Be sensitive. It might not seem to when walking around Kyiv or chilling on the beach in Odesa, but the average wage in Ukraine is still only about $500 per month , making it one of the poorest countries in Europe.

Andrew Church in Kyiv

Visas for Ukraine

Most people from Europe and North and South America can travel to Ukraine for 90 days in a 180-day period without needing a visa.

A select group of Asian nationalities, as well as Australians , need to apply for an eVisa .

Citizens from most African and Middle-Eastern countries require a visa to visit Ukraine.

Get more information about visas for Ukraine here.

Tram in the city

Entering and exiting Ukraine

You can enter and exit the country in several ways:

Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and several other cities have international airports with daily flights from all over the world.

Ukraine shares many land borders with multiple countries. These include:

• Moldova : Technically, you are entering the breakaway republic of Transnistria first when crossing from Ukraine to Moldova. Many tourists make a quick stop in Tiraspol before going on to Moldova proper. Most people can get a visa for Moldova at the border. The best way to go to Moldova is by train or bus from Odesa.
• Belarus : There is a train running from Kyiv to Minsk, but make sure to get your visa in advance. The Belarus visa on arrival can only be obtained when you fly into Minsk.
• Russia : There are several border crossings between Russia and Ukraine. Except for the ones in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, they operate regularly. There are trains and buses between Russia and Ukraine. I crossed the border between Belgorod and Kharkiv in mid-2019 and it was a straightforward crossing.
• Several EU countries : Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Crossing these borders is relatively straightforward, but it can take a long time, especially when exiting Ukraine.

It’s possible to travel to  Ukraine by ferry from Batumi in Georgia, Haydarpasa in Turkey, and Varna and Bulgaria. Prices vary but are around $100 per passenger. Check out the Ukrferry website for more info . Another company offering services from Bulgaria and Georgia to Ukraine is Navbul .

Ferries dock at a Ukrainian city called Chornomorsk. Chornomorsk is close to Odesa, and it’s easy to find a bus or marshrutka to Odesa from Chornomorks.

Entering and exiting the country is pretty straightforward. There are no entry or exit forms to fill out, and there are few if any questions asked at the border when entering or exiting Ukraine.

Transport in Ukraine

Ukraine is a vast country; getting around can take a while. Luckily, Ukrainian Railways connects most of the country. There are also long-distance buses to almost any city in Ukraine. You can always take local marshrutkas (minibus) to get to smaller towns throughout Ukraine.

Trains in Ukraine

Trains are my favorite way of getting around Ukraine. If you travel to Ukraine, you’ll need to take a train at least once. Trains are generally clean, convenient, and affordable. If you’ve been to other former Soviet states, Ukraine’s train system will feel familiar.

There are several types of trains with several classes. The fastest trains are Intercity (IC) and Intercity+ (IC+) trains, and “transformers”. Night trains are usually slower.

Prices are competitive at the lowest class but can get quite expensive for the higher classes. Try to book a few days in advance in the summer season, especially when going to the mountains.

Buses in Ukraine

Buses in Ukraine range from comfortable long-distance buses with AC and reclining seats to Soviet monstrosities that shouldn’t be allowed on the road.

For the more comfortable buses, it makes sense to book tickets ahead of time . Usually, you can just show up at the bus station and get a ticket there. This holds especially true for short-distance buses, which usually go hourly.

Bus stations can be a confusing affair, especially if you can’t read Cyrillic and don’t know any Ukrainian or Russian. Don’t be afraid to approach people for questions; even if they don’t speak English, people will often try to help you regardless of the language barrier.

Some cities have several bus stations. Check beforehand which bus station you depart from.

Marshrutkas in Ukraine

Marshrutkas , minibusses, are used for short trips between close-by villages, towns, and cities. They’re not particularly comfortable (unlucky passengers have to stand) and not particularly fast. Luckily, they’re cheap, and in the more remote parts of the country they’re often the only way of getting around.

Transport in Ukrainian cities

It’s generally easy to get around in Ukrainian cities. Big cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv have good metro systems. Most cities have a combination of buses, trams, trolleybuses, local trains and marshrutkas to get you around. Google is your friend when trying to figure out how to get from A to B.

In most cases, you pay the driver when you get on the bus/tram/whatever. Don’t worry if you get in at the back and it’s packed (likely). Give your money to the person in front of you, and watch it magically make its way to the driver. Don’t be surprised if other people ask you to do the same.

Local transport within cities is usually 7 or 8 hryvnia, regardless of destination. Don’t expect drivers or ticket collectors to speak English, although in some buses in the popular cities destinations will be announced in English.

Street art in Kharkiv, Ukraine

Safety in Ukraine

According to the 2019 Global Peace Index, Ukraine is among one of the most dangerous countries in the world, standing at 150 of 163 countries. However, this headline number doesn’t tell the full tale.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, and a war started between Russian backed separatists and the Ukrainian military in the eastern regions of Donbas and Luhansk Oblast. More than 10,000 people have died since the conflict started in 2014.

This war, which has been at a stalemate for some time, only affects the far eastern part of Ukraine, where travelers can’t visit. The rest of the country, including some areas within the Donestk Oblast, is quite safe to travel.

An example: on my first visit I went to Slovyansk (where the war started) and Kramatorsk, only 60km from Donestk city. It was perfectly safe then, and my local friends say the situation has only improved.

This is not to say there are no dangers at all… but the dangers you’ll face in Ukraine are the same dangers you’ll face everywhere. Pickpocketing attempts in busy transport hubs are not uncommon, and I’ve seen a drunken bar brawl or two. But in general, Ukraine is a safe country for travelers. I’ve seen more people telling others to watch their belongings on the metro than I’ve seen pickpocketing attempts.

As long as you exercise regular caution—the same caution you would exercise in American or British cities, for instance—Ukraine is a safe country to travel in.

However, it is always important to be well insured when traveling. I recommend using Word Nomads for your travel insurance when visiting Ukraine.

The Derzhprom building in Kharkiv

Western Ukraine

Lviv, close to the Polish border in the west, is the heartland of Galician culture in Ukraine . Proudly nationalistic, Lviv considers itself more Ukrainian than any other city in the country. The city itself is small, with most bars, restaurants, and activities centered around central Rynok Square.

Lviv overflows with quirky bars and restaurants, and houses some amazing architecture more reminiscent of Vienna than Soviet cities. It’s a lively city that can feel overly touristy at times, but is simultaneously lots of fun and incredibly pretty.

Lviv city center

Carpathian mountains

The Carpathian mountains in southwestern Ukraine offer relief from the summer heat. Dotted with small villages and a few cities, the Carpathian area is great for those wanting to get lost in nature and rural life.

Carpathian village

This city on the border with Slovakia is often overlooked by tourists. But with its interesting history, medieval fort, and charming, laid back vibe, it’s worth visiting for a day or two. Uzhhorod can easily be combined with a loop around the Carpathians.

Church in Uzhhorod

Southern Ukraine

Most people have heard of Odesa, Ukraine’s premier beach resort since Crimea is no longer accessible to most. Popular with Turkish and local tourists alike, Odesa bumps in summer but gets crowded. Like… really crowded. The innercity is charmingly Italian-like, with colorful houses and cute cafes.

Most people go to Odesa for beaches and parties. Good fun if you’re into these sorts of things, but if you want a more relaxing beach experience, try one of the small towns around Odesa instead.

Eastern Ukraine

Overlooked by most tourists, Kharkiv is one of the most underrated cities in Ukraine. Its big student population means there’s always something going on. Aficionados of Soviet architecture can eat their hearts out. Kharkiv houses some cool bars and people are friendly and open to hanging out.

If you plan to enter Russia from Kharkiv, or plan to enter Ukraine at this border from Russia, check out my guide to crossing the border between Belgorod and Kharkiv .

A Byzantine church in Kharkiv

Zaporizhzhia

If interested in Ukraine’s Cossack history, you have to visit Zaporizhzhia. The city is home to Kh ortytsia Island, a former Cossack stronghold within the Khortytsia National Reserve, and the open-air Museum of Zaporizhian Cossacks. There’s also a pleasant park along the river, and a museum dedicated to jet engines and motorbikes.

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So concludes my Ukraine travel guide. Have more questions I didn’t answer? Let me know in the comments!

Alex Reynolds

6 thoughts on “ ukraine travel guide with everything you need to know ”.

Hello, I read your blog and it was very informative. I did have some questions if I may. I hope you can help because I cannot find any information currently.

I am an American and I have been to Kiev before. But that was in 2010. Times have changed and with Covid the restrictions are higher. I’ve talked to several tourist agents and they said as long as the U.S. remains in the green zone Americans can travel no problem to Ukraine. This is fine. The question I have is my girlfriend is Russian and lives in Russia. Can Russians enter Ukraine currently? I cannot find any information on this, even on the embassy website.

I would greatly appreciate it if you knew or knew where I can find this information. We had planned to meet in Kiev.

Thank you, Tom

how much do u pay leaving the ukraine ATA to go back home to the USA im american

I’m not sure I understand your question. Have you overstayed your 90 day period? The maximum penalty is around 5000 UAH, plus you can’t enter the country for at least three months.

Hi I wanted to know which places should i visit in Ukraine as im planning to visit it in November 1-2week.. for eg. Odesa i assume wont make sense as its a beach destination and in Novmber it wont be a good spot to visit?

Thanks Anish

I gave cbd gummies a prove with a view the primary previously, and I’m amazed! They tasted smashing and provided a sense of calmness and relaxation. My emphasis melted away, and I slept better too. These gummies are a game-changer for me, and I highly recommend them to anyone seeking natural emphasis recess and think twice sleep.

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Regions [ edit ]

Understand [ edit ]

Ukraine possesses fertile farmlands, a well-developed industrial base, and a well-developed educational system, although these factors haven't translated into wealth for most Ukrainians; high levels of corruption, poor management of the economy, and political unrest have made Ukraine one of the poorest and least developed countries in Europe.

Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine had one of the fastest-declining populations in the world.

Geography [ edit ]

With a land area of 603,550 square kilometres (233,030 sq mi), Ukraine is one of Europe's largest countries (although only 45th globally). It is much larger than metropolitan France . The country has borders with 7 countries ― Russia , Belarus , Moldova , Romania , Hungary , Slovakia , and Poland .

History [ edit ]

Ukrainian history is long and proud, with the inception of Kyivan Rus (possibly founded by Swedish Vikings ) as one of the most powerful countries in medieval Europe. This state fell prey to Mongol conquest , and the western half of Ukraine was subsequently conquered from the Mongols by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 12th century. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania merged with the Kingdom of Poland to form the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, and Kyiv remained part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the 18th century. The Russian Empire absorbed much of Ukraine in the 18th century to the detriment of their culture and identity. Western Ukraine, notably including Lviv , was for some time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , and part of Poland in the years between two World Wars; the area is still home to long-established ethnic Polish, Hungarian and Romanian minorities.

Soviet Union [ edit ]

Despite a brief, but uncertain, flash of independence at the end of the Russian Empire, Ukraine was incorporated into the new USSR after the Russian Civil War in 1922. It suffered through two disastrous famines (1932-33 and 1946) and brutal fighting during World War II. As a Soviet republic, the Ukrainian language was often sidelined by Russian. It endured Stalinist repressions during the 1930s, attempts at decentralisation during the Khrushchev administration, and the re-tightening of control during the Brezhnev-Kosygin era of the 1970s and early 1980s. In any case, the traditionally bilingual region had signs in both Russian and Ukrainian in virtually all cities, including Lviv, where Ukrainian is most prevalent. The 1986 Chernobyl accident was a further catastrophe for the republic. It is widely considered as an event that galvanized the population's regional sentiment and led to increasing pressure on the central Soviet government to promote autonomy.

Independent Ukraine [ edit ]

Ukraine declared its sovereignty within the Soviet Union in July 1990 as a prelude to unfolding events in the year to come. The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's Parliament) declared its independence in early December 1991 following the referendum in November 1991 which demonstrated overwhelming popular support (90% in favour of independence). This declaration became a reality as the Soviet Union ceased to exist on 25 December 1991.

Severe economic difficulties, hyperinflation, and oligarchic rule prevailed in the early years following independence. Ukraine was also deeply politically divided, largely along ethnic lines, as western and central Ukraine were predominantly ethnic Ukrainian, and wanted closer ties with the West, while eastern and southern Ukraine were predominantly ethnic Russian, and wanted closer ties with Russia.

The issues of cronyism, corruption and alleged voting irregularities came to a head during the heavily-disputed 2004 presidential election, where allegations of vote-rigging sparked what became known as the "Orange Revolution". This revolution resulted in the election of pro-Western opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko as president. During the next five years the "Orange coalition" broke up and Viktor Yushchenko lost the support of majority of Ukrainians. His former adversary and pro-Russia candidate Viktor Yanukovich was elected president, but was ousted in the Euromaidan Revolution of early 2014 after months of popular protest against his failure to complete a key trade agreement with the European Union. His departure came at a time when the nation's treasury was empty and the government was in disarray.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and has sponsored separatist movements in the heavily pro-Russia regions of Donetsk and Luhansk . Following these events, Ukraine abandoned its longstanding policy of de facto bilingualism in Ukrainian and Russian, and Ukrainian was declared the sole official language, whilst the opposite happened in the separatist-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Since then, Ukraine has made overtures towards joining NATO, though progress has been slow. In early 2022, Russia formally recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk from Ukraine, and days later commenced a full-scale military invasion of the country. The invasion has resulted in thousands of casualties, millions of people displaced, and significant destruction in many parts of the country, and it seems that the war may go on for several years.

Religion [ edit ]

Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion in most of Ukraine, though the westernmost region around Lviv is predominantly "Greek Catholic", meaning that they celebrate their liturgy according to the Eastern (Byzantine) rite like Eastern Orthodox Christians, but recognise the Pope in Rome as their highest religious authority like Roman Catholics. Ukraine switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar in 2023 for the celebration of tradition festivals such as Easter and Christmas in an attempt to have a clean break from its Imperial Russian past.

Visitor information [ edit ]

• Explore Ukraine website (has not been updated since the beginning of the war)

Get in [ edit ]

Entry requirements [ edit ]

For the most up-to-date information please visit the E-Visa portal [dead link] of the MFA government website. Select your country to get more information.

Visa-free [ edit ]

Citizens of Armenia , Azerbaijan , Georgia , Moldova , and Uzbekistan can visit and stay in Ukraine indefinitely visa free. However, citizens of Moldova and Uzbekistan must hold proof of sufficient funds on arrival.

Citizens of Poland can visit visa-free for up to 18 months. Citizens of all other European Union member states as well as Albania , Andorra , Australia , Bahrain , Belarus , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Iceland , Israel , Japan , Kazakhstan , Kuwait , Kyrgyzstan , Liechtenstein , Monaco , Mongolia , Montenegro , New Zealand , North Macedonia , Norway , Oman , Panama , Paraguay , San Marino , Saudi Arabia , St. Kitts and Nevis , South Korea , Switzerland , Tajikistan , Turkey , the United Kingdom , the United States / American Samoa and Vatican City can visit visa free for up to 90 days within a 180 day period. However, citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan must also have proof of sufficient funds when arriving in Ukraine. For citizens of Mongolia, the visa free only applies to service, tourist and private trips on conditions that documents certifying the purpose of the trip are provided.

Citizens of Argentina can visit visa free for up to 90 days within a 365 day period.

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina , Brunei and Serbia can visit visa free for up to 30 days within a 60-day period.

Citizens of Hong Kong can visit visa free for up to 14 days.

Electronic visas [ edit ]

Electronic visas [dead link] are valid for a maximum of 30 days and cost US$20 for visa with single entry and US$30 for double-entry visa with decision within 3 business days. Urgent visa processed within 1 business day is also available for double the visa fee (US$40/60). However, it is recommended to apply at the latest one week before your arrival to count in potential delays.

Citizens of the following 52 countries are eligible for E-Visas: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Palau, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Visa [ edit ]

For other countries, visas are obtainable within a few hours of visiting a Ukrainian consulate/embassy. A 'letter of invitation' from friend, family member, prospective lodging or business provider may be required. For the most up-to-date details, visit MFA website, Visa requirements page and select your country from the list.

Always know how much currency you have with you. Customs officials might inquire about the amount being brought into the country. It is prohibited to bring large amounts of Ukrainian currency (hryvnia) in to the country unless it was declared upon leaving Ukraine. Cash equivalent of €10000 or more must be declared upon entry or leaving Ukraine.

When entering the country you will no longer normally be required to complete an immigration form. However, if your passport has no space for stamps, or you don't want it to be stamped, you can still fill out an immigration form at home and have it stamped instead of the passport.

Visiting Crimea [ edit ]

Crimea is a base for Russian invading troops, so as of April 2022, crossing involves passing through the line of contact of fighting armies, thus requiring involved high-level negotiations.

Since Ukraine does not recognize Russian's annexation of the peninsula, an entry to Crimea not from mainland Ukraine is considered by the Ukrainian authorities as an "illegal entry to the territory of Ukraine". If you later try to visit Ukraine and show any evidence of your travel to Crimea, you could be refused entry or arrested and fined .

By plane [ edit ]

Due to the state of war, Ukraine's airspace has been closed to civil aviation.

By train [ edit ]

Railway traffic is running as of September 2023, despite the war. Direct trains run from Poland ( Warsaw , Chełm , Przemyśl ), Hungary ( Budapest , Debrecen ), Austria ( Vienna ), Slovakia ( Košice ), Moldova ( Chișinău ). More information about international trains you can find on UZ website (in Ukrainian).

• Tickets to/from Warsaw, Chełm, Przemyśl, Košice and Chișinău can be bought on UZ website [dead link] or in application .
• Tickets to/from Poland can be bought on PKP Intercity .
• Tickets to/from Czech Republic (via Przemyśl or Košice) can be bought on České dráhy .
• Tickets to/from Hungary can be bought on MÁV-START .
• Tickets to/from Austria (direct or via Przemyśl) can be bought on ÖBB .

Information can be found on Ukrainian railways timetable [dead link] , DB Bahn , or ÖBB .

By bus [ edit ]

Direct buses run from Poland ( Warsaw , Kraków , Łódź , Wrocław , Poznań ), Hungary ( Budapest ), Slovakia ( Bratislava , Košice ), Romania ( Bucharest ), Moldova ( Chișinău , Bălţi ), Austria ( Vienna ), Germany ( Berlin , Hamburg , Munich , Cologne , Frankfurt ), Czech Republic ( Prague , Brno , Ostrava ) and other countries.

Tickets can be bought on such websites:

By boat [ edit ]

Passenger traffic is suspended because of the war. The Russian navy has maintained a blockade of Ukrainian ports, and also when freighters are able to pass, the risk for attacks is real. In addition, the waters are mined.

By car [ edit ]

As of January 2023, border checkpoints from Belarus, Russia and Transnistria are closed. Border checkpoints from Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia are open.

Getting into Ukraine by car from abroad is straightforward. Be prepared to show the car's registration certificate as well as a proof of insurance (the "green card"). It can be very time-consuming or even impossible if your car's paperwork is incomplete or inaccurate. Anyway, long waiting times are almost ubiquitous at all major border checkpoints and in both directions.

On foot and by bicycle [ edit ]

Crossing the border on foot or by bicycle is generally not allowed at major road border checkpoints (especially at those designated for large trucks) between Ukraine and the EU (Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia).

Pedestrians and cyclists are allowed to use less important border checkpoints located on secondary roads, such as the one between Sighetu Marmaţiei , Romania and Solotvino , Ukraine, or the one between Ubľa , Slovakia and Malyi Bereznyi , Ukraine. Alternately, if you need to use a major border checkpoint which is only for motorized traffic, you can try getting into someone's car just before the checkpoint. Locals know that pedestrians are not allowed to cross the border there and some will accept strangers as passengers. This might be quite problematic with a bicycle, though.

In addition to that, there are a few border checkpoints for pedestrians and cyclists only . One of them is located between the villages of Veľké Slemence , Slovakia and Mali Selmentsi , Ukraine. Such border checkpoints are typically open only during daytime hours and only for citizens of the European Economic Area (EU + Iceland + Norway + Switzerland) and Ukraine. Holders of other passports are not allowed to use them. These checkpoints are usually of no particular importance to most tourists; their only advantage is the absence of queues, which are ubiquitous at border checkpoints for cars, especially at those on major routes. Instead of waiting several hours, you can get to the other side in a matter of minutes.

As a temporary measure due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, pedestrians are now (as of 2023) allowed to exit Ukraine using any road border checkpoint, including those that pedestrians are normally not allowed to use. However, entering Ukraine on foot using such checkpoints is still not allowed.

Get around [ edit ]

Foreigners are subject to higher scrutiny by police when travelling on public transportation, especially intercity transportation. Be prepared to show your passport and entry papers, and keep your embassy/consulate number handy in case you get into problems. If you are caught outside your base city without your documents, be prepared for a big fine.

The quickest way to get around big cities is the so-called marshrutka : the minibuses which follow routes much like the regular buses do. You can generally flag them down or ask them to stop at places other than the specified bus stops. The fare is paid as soon as you get in (except in Odesa, where you pay upon exiting), and is fixed no matter how far you want to go. This is the same for the conventional buses, tram, trolley-buses and the Metro. Tell the driver that you want to get off when you are approaching the destination.

Each city has an intercity bus station from which you can go pretty much anywhere in Ukraine. Fares and quality of service vary widely.

Public transport timetables can be searched and tickets bought from tickets.ua service.

By marshrutka [ edit ]

In addition, just as in Russia, there are numerous of the marshrutka called minibuses. These run on fixed routes and may be licensed as either buses or taxis. You can board one at the start of the route or at fixed stops. Some of them will also stop at any point between designated stops, but this largely depends on the region and even on the driver's mood. Officially, they are not supposed to drop passengers outside designated bus stops, but in reality they do it quite often. At the start of the route and at fixed routes, you may find a queue you will have to stand in. At other places, just wave your hand when you see one. if there are seats available, the minibus will stop for you. To get off, tell the driver when you reach your destination and they will stop. You need to pay the amount of your fare to the driver (except in Odesa, where you pay upon exiting). It is generally safe to send money from back to the driver through a crowd, return is provided by same way. You don't get a ticket, unless you ask for it. Often it's not easy to figure out which marshrutka will take you to your destination, as in any city there are hundreds of different routes. Probably only option how to stay in touch with marshutkas networks is app Easyway, which cover most of cities with marshutkas network.

By thumb [ edit ]

Hitchhiking in Ukraine is average. It's possible to go by hitchhiking - usually cargo trucks will take you for free - but it's still worth to try stop personal cars as well. Good people are everywhere; you may be picked up in a Lada or a Lexus. (More usually the former.)

The usual hitchhiking gesture (also used to hail taxis and marshrutkas) is to face oncoming traffic and point at the road with a straight right arm held away from the body. Sometimes, for visibility, you may add a downward waving motion of the open right hand. It's a good idea to write on a piece of paper your destination's name.

Talk [ edit ]

As a consequence of the political development and the war, the status of Russian has changed dramatically since 2013. This also affects other languages: often place names in them were derived from the Russian ones, while parallel names derived from the Ukrainian ones are seeing much more usage since 2022 (e.g. Kiev → Kyiv). When talking to Ukrainians, be sure to use the Ukrainian and not Russian forms of the names, as using the Russian names may be taken to mean that you support the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian is the official language of the country and is the native language of 65–70% of Ukraine's population. It is an East Slavic language that is most similar to Belarusian , and more distantly related to Russian. If you speak Belarusian, you will be able to understand Ukrainian for the most part, while Russian speakers would generally be able to understand about half of what is being said in Ukrainian. Speakers of Polish may also be able to puzzle out some basic expressions in Ukrainian when spoken slowly, but having a conversation will be close to impossible. Ukrainian is most commonly used in Western Ukraine and rural areas of Central Ukraine. You may notice that the language differs from region to region:

• In Lviv , a special dialect of the language is spoken, with strong influences from Polish and German .
• In Central Ukraine, transitional dialects mixing features of Ukrainian and Russian, (generically referred to as surzhyk , i.e. the "mix [of languages]") are commonly used.

Since 2019, all printed publications and the media have by law been required to be in Ukrainian. Post-Soviet generations are also more fluent in Ukrainian as since Euromaidan it has increasingly replaced Russian as the language of instruction in educational institutions.

Russian , the sole official language under the USSR and a co-official language in independent Ukraine alongside Ukrainian until 2014, is spoken by a large majority in Eastern and Southern Ukraine as their first language, and by the vast majority of Ukrainians across Ukraine as a second language. The language is rarely used in Western Ukraine and is not the first language of choice in rural areas in Central Ukraine, but in central Ukrainian cities, such as the capital Kyiv, it is more common in urban life. The Russian language in Ukraine dominated the education system, the government, pop culture and urban society during Soviet times, and for many years Russian was viewed in a much higher status than Ukrainian. However, this changed in 2014–2022 because of the war with Russia. Although virtually all Ukrainians have a good understanding of Russian, they may respond to a visitor speaking Russian in Ukrainian and vice versa. This mixing of Russian and Ukrainian (known as "Surzhyk"), is a common practice.

Crimean Tatar , a Turkic language spoken by Crimean Tatars as well as by some ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in southern Ukraine (especially in either Crimea or in Kherson oblast) is also spoken, and has special status as an "indigenous language" in Ukraine, and as an official language in Crimea. The language is also spoken in Crimean Tatar neighbourhoods and districts in major Ukrainian cities throughout Ukraine, though is usually confined to those areas. Given the close intelligibility between Crimean Tatar and Turkish, a Turkish speaker is very likely to make themselves understood in areas where the language is spoken.

Large minority languages include Romanian , Polish , and Hungarian , spoken by ethnic minorities in various pockets of Western Ukraine . You're unlikely to find speakers of those languages elsewhere. German was the main foreign language taught during the Soviet era, so some older people, particularly the well-educated upper class, may know some basic German.

English is the most widely taught foreign language, although very little of it is spoken and used throughout the country. The younger generation and those working in the tourist industry are likely to be more proficient in the language, and establishments in cities with large international visitors like Kyiv and Lviv also provide some services or restaurant menus in English. Most people there will be able to have a basic conversation in English.

Language is a sensitive issue in Ukraine with new twists introduced by the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Post-Soviet generations very often understand Russian but increasingly prefer to speak Ukrainian, while older generations may have Ukrainian as their native language but prefer to speak Russian as it was the language they were educated in. The removal of Russian as an official language has been enthusiastically supported by most Ukrainian nationalists, but deeply angered parts of the large ethnic Russian minority.

If you are travelling to Ukraine, learn either basic Ukrainian or basic Russian beforehand (know your phrasebook well) and/or have some means of access to a bilingual speaker — a mobile/cell number (almost everyone has a mobile phone) can be a godsend. Virtually nobody in any official position (train stations, police, bus drivers, information desks, etc.) will be able to speak any language other than Ukrainian and Russian.

Unlike in Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria, Ukraine has abolished the use of Church Slavonic since 2019, so church services are conducted in Ukrainian.

See [ edit ]

Vast in size and diverse in culture and landscapes, Ukraine has a range of great attractions to offer. Largely unknown to the world, the country's main draws include some great and quintessentially Slavic cities, impressive cultural heritage and of course top class natural areas.

Head to the historic city of Lviv , listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but still a bustling place and a true centre for learning and culture in the country. Its cobblestoned streets are packed with monuments going back to Medieval times, seemingly untouched by the destructive force of wars that have changed some of Ukraine's other cities so thoroughly. Even the extensive Soviet planning that has shaped many other places on the far east side of Europe have left only a minimal mark on the colourful mix of building styles. Highlights include the Korniakt Palace (right on the market square) and several beautiful churches. For an even more sophisticated taste of culture, try the fine collection of the Lviv National Art Gallery .

Then there's the must-sees of Kyiv , a colourful place where the golden roofs of the Unesco World Heritage sites Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Pechersk Lavra make for some excellent highlights. Take an afternoon stroll through Andriyivsky Uzviz , the Montmartre of Kyiv, where you'll find a bustling mix of artist and souvenir sellers. Follow in the footsteps of Apostle Andrew, who - according to legend - climbed the steep stairs of this bohemian neighbourhood two thousand years ago, to the top where you'll now find a church with his name. Don't miss the excellent Pyrohovo Museum of Folk Architecture . Last but not least, Kyiv is one of the best spots to visit Ukraine's lively markets (but Odesa or Kharkiv have good ones too). Also, consider a trip to the Residence of Bukovinian and the Dalmatian Metropolitans in Chernivtsi .

In terms of natural attractions, the lovely Carpathian Mountains are among the best destinations this otherwise remarkably flat country has to offer. They hold beautiful panoramas of forested hills, lush valleys and snowy peaks and offer ample opportunities for hiking and biking as well as for winter sports. The rather little explored Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is another great pick for nature lovers and bird watchers. Base yourself in the charming town of Vylkovo , with its many canals, and go boating and bird-watching during the day.

Do [ edit ]

• Hike in Carpathian Mountains around Rakhiv
• Conquer 2,061-m Hoverla, part of the Chornohora mountain range
• Kayak down Dniester and admire Kamianets-Podilskyi and Khotyn castles
• Visit one of forty national parks (total area more than 10,000 km²)
• Listen to the bandura , Ukraine's official national musical instrument, consisting of 12 to 68 strings and performed in folk contexts.

Cards [ edit ]

You can use your credit cards (mostly MasterCard & Visa) or cash traveler's cheques easily. Credit and debit cards are accepted by the supermarkets. But avoid using your credit/debit cards for payments at establishments in smaller towns as retailers are not trained and controlled enough to ensure your card privacy.

Currency exchange [ edit ]

Every reasonably sized town will have exchange booths and banks that will convert euro, or US dollars to hryvnia; just look for signs with exchange rates. US dollars and euro are the most widely accepted convertible currency at the exchange booths. Exchange booths, while looking rather unsavoury, are generally the best places to change money. Their rates tend to be better than the banks' (but not always) and you will not need your passport. Service is quick and there's often no paperwork or receipts. British pounds are also often exchangeable, though at poor rates. In tourist areas, a much wider range of currencies can be changed. Shop around as offered rates often vary.

Changing money in banks is time consuming—there is a lot of paperwork involved. Bank staff may be unwilling to go through all the procedures just to change your US$100 bill and may try to fob you off with an excuse: "sorry, we don't have the money" is common. If you absolutely must change money there, you might be able to persuade them to change their minds; but if you can go somewhere else, you'll probably save time. At a bank, you will also need to show your passport. Banks may also only let you buy hryvnia; they may prevent you from buying "hard" currency. At many places bank clerks would refuse money with even minor damages or grease spots. A tear in the paper longer than five millimetres can be too much.

Even at larger branches, you cannot expect English-speaking staff. Doing anything other than currency exchange may require a translator or at least a lot of patience.

Booths and banks will generally not try to scam you, but count your notes to be sure.

Tipping [ edit ]

Tipping at restaurants isn't traditional in Ukraine but has become popular in the 2010s. About 5-7% is normal, but don't stress about the exact amount. Just rounding up is fine too.

Sleep [ edit ]

Hotels might be a traumatic experience for a westerner anywhere outside the biggest cities. The cheaper the hotel, the larger the chance of some quite unfortunate surprises, especially for those not familiar with the Soviet-style level of service which still remains in many places.

Hostels are becoming more and more common in larger cities, especially the ones attracting many tourist. However, do not expect the usual clientèle as you would in countries where backpacking is more common. Hostels in Ukraine are often filled with single mums and kids, working people without apartment in the city, and other ominous but general unthreatening people, which make staying in a dorm an awkward experience.

There are many mid-range ( €25-45 ) options outside Kyiv. For instance in Ivano-Frankivsk (near the Carpathians), the going rate is approximately €35 for a suite (bedroom and sitting room) in one such hotel. Many hotels have the choice between renovated rooms/suites ("western style") and not renovated rooms (East European style). The last choice is more than 50% cheaper and gives you a spacious old fashioned 2 room suite, basic but clean!

There are a number of 5-star hotels in Kyiv and one in Donetsk; see guides for those cities for listings. At one such hotel in Lviv, the going rate ranges from €40-60 a night.

Another option is to rent an apartment on the internet before you leave your country. There are many to choose from in Kyiv and Odesa.

What many people from ex-Soviet countries do is to go to the railway station, where they try to find people who are willing to rent a room. Prices are usually much cheaper and if there are enough people, offering the room you can make great deals. These deals are usually not legal and they will take you to a corner before negotiating. Make sure they have warm water, and don't be afraid to say it's not what you expected when seeing the room.

Learn [ edit ]

Ukrainian society values education, and Ukrainians normally do very well in international competitions.

Ukrainian universities are quite affordable; Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the country's most prestigious university, charges €1990 in tuition per semester. Before the war, there were more than 75,000 international students in Ukrainian universities. Most international students in Ukraine came from developing countries such as India and Morocco .

Corruption and bribery are not uncommon in Ukrainian schools and universities.

Work [ edit ]

Getting a work permit (visa) is a necessity for foreigners if they are going to be employed by any legal entity (exceptions apply only for international institutions and representative offices of foreign companies). The work permit is more of a hiring permit. The potential employer has to apply with the labour administration for hiring an non-resident employee. With the application a complete cv, as well as documents showing an accredited education, have to be submitted.

Cope [ edit ]

Get the details of your local embassy and/or consulates in advance and note their emergency numbers.

If you can it is useful to have a bilingual acquaintance who can be called in an emergency or if you encounter difficulties. If staying for any length of time, it is advisable to get a local SIM card for your mobile for emergencies and for cheaper local calls/texts. These are widely available, cheap (often free) and easy to 'top-up'.

Passport [ edit ]

Many people will tell you that you can take a copy of your visa with you. Sadly, some people experience trouble over this. It's always better to carry your passport with you. A photocopy can be refused as proof of identity. A phone call to a local who can help can prove very effective.

Emergencies [ edit ]

Emergency telephone numbers in Ukraine: 112 — common 101 — fire brigade 102 — police 103 — ambulance 104 — gas leaks

Scams, robbery and other crimes [ edit ]

As in any other country, using common sense when travelling in Ukraine will minimize any chances of being victim of petty crime and theft. Try not to publicize the fact that you're a foreigner or flaunt your wealth, through your choice of clothing or otherwise. With the exception of Kyiv, Odesa, and other large cities, Western tourists are still quite rare. As in any other country, the possibility of petty theft exists. In Kyiv, make sure to guard your bags and person because pickpocketing is very common, especially in crowded metro stations. Guides have told tourists to watch certain people because they heard people say: "They look like Americans: let's follow them for a while and see what we can get."

Robberies and scams on tourists are fairly common, especially the wallet scam in Kyiv.

But if you are arrested by police or other law enforcement, do your best to inform them that you're a foreign visitor. Not many police officials speak foreign languages freely, but many people are eager to assist in translation.

Don't drink alcohol in the company of unknown people (which may be suggested more freely than in the West). You don't know how much they are going to drink (and convince you to drink with them) and what conflicts may arise after that. Also, many Ukrainians, known for a penchant for a good drink, can sometimes consume such an amount of vodka that would be considered lethal for the average beer-accustomed Westerner.

Also, it is strongly recommended to avoid individual (street) currency exchangers as there are thieves among such exchangers, that may instead give you old, Soviet-era currency or also coupons that have been withdrawn from circulation since the mid 1990s. Use special exchange booths (widely available) and banks; also be wary of exchange rate tricks like 5.059/5.62 buy/sell instead of 5.59/5.62.

Racism [ edit ]

The area around the American embassy in Kyiv is known for the provocateur groups targeting black people, and there have been reports of such attacks on Andriyivski, the main tourist street that runs from Mykhailivska down into Podil. Particularly in rural areas, having dark skin is often a source of quiet curiosity from locals. Antisemitism is not any more of a problem than it is in Western European countries. Two Jewish mayors have been elected in Kherson and Vinnytsia, while a prime minister (Volodymyr Groysman, 2016-2019) and a president (Volodymyr Zelenskyy, elected 2019) have been of Jewish origin as well.

Russophobia is on the rise as a result of the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, its support to separatists, and the full-scale invasion in 2022. Russian citizens may encounter hostility.

Anecdotal experience suggests that in Ukraine, indeed much of the former Soviet Union, people from the Caucasus , the Middle East and Central Asia and Romani/Sinti people receive much closer and more frequent attention from the police. Always have your passport (or a photocopy of the main pages if you're concerned about losing it or if you're staying in a hotel that is holding it) as foreigners are treated more favorably than others. This is not to say that it is unsafe or threatening, but it is better to be forewarned of the realities.

Accidents [ edit ]

While there's a lot of swimming and diving attractions throughout Ukraine, local water rescue is tremendously underfunded. It is unlikely that you would be noticed while drowning, especially in a river. Use only officially established beaches.

Ukraine has some of the worst statistics for road related deaths and injuries in the world so act accordingly. Take care when crossing the roads; walk and drive defensively: traffic overtakes on both the inside and outside. Sometimes you even need to take care when using the footpaths, as in rush-hours the black, slab-sided Audi/BMW/Mercedes sometimes opt to avoid the traffic by using the wide pavements; pedestrians or not. Owners/drivers of expensive cars have been known, at times, to be more careless of the safety of pedestrians. Drivers rarely grant priority to pedestrians crossing a road unless there are pedestrian lights. Always watch out for your safety.

Pavements suffer in the same way as the roads in terms of collapsing infrastructure. Take care when walking, especially in the dark and away from the downtown areas of the main cities (a torch is a useful possession) as the streets are poorly lit, as are most of the entries and stairwells to buildings, and the street and pavement surfaces are often dangerously pot-holed. Don't step on man-hole covers, as these can 'tip' dropping your leg into the hole with all the potential injuries!

Prohibitions [ edit ]

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places in Ukraine. Despite the prohibition you can see some local citizens doing that, but don’t be misled. These are bad examples. Local policemen can insist on a bribe if they see a foreigner breaking the prohibition. So be wise and avoid unnecessary problems.

Symbols [ edit ]

The display of Soviet or communist symbols is illegal in Ukraine, the exception being those located within the grounds of World War II cemeteries.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Water [ edit ]

As a rule, avoid drinking tap water . The major reason for this is that water in many regions is disinfected using chlorine, so taste is horrible. Whenever possible buy bottled water, which is widely available and generally OK.

Infectious diseases [ edit ]

Ukraine has the highest adult HIV prevalence rate in Europe at nearly 1.5%. Rabies is on the rise, especially in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone . Vaccinations against hepatitis A + B, rabies, meningitis, MMR, tetanus, diphtheria and polio, chickenpox, shingles, tick-borne encephalitis, typhoid, pneumonia and influenza are recommended by the British National Health Service.

Radiation [ edit ]

There is radiation contamination in the northeast from the accident at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. However the effect is negligible unless you permanently live in Chernobyl area itself. There are even tours to the town of Pripyat ' which is the closest to the station. The town is famous for the haunting scenery of blocks of apartment buildings abandoned in 1986, now standing out amid the vegetation which spawned from years of neglect.

Respect [ edit ]

Although Ukraine has a close historical and cultural relationship with Russia, Ukrainians are not Russians; they're a separate ethnic group. Even ethnic minorities (e.g. Russians, Hungarians, Romanians) within Ukraine usually identify as Ukrainian.

Do not say that the Ukrainian language is a dialect of Russian. Ukrainians proudly consider their language to be a separate language, and would be offended if you say otherwise.

Do not call the country "the Ukraine"; Ukrainians dislike this term.

Given the current state of Russia-Ukraine relations, do not refer to Ukrainian towns and places by their Russian names; this may be regarded as intentionally insensitive and offensive by many people.

Women are traditionally treated with chivalry. Female travellers should not be surprised or alarmed if their male Ukrainian friends take the initiative to pay the bills at a restaurant, open every door in front of them, and/or help them carry items or objects. Male travellers should understand that these nuances will be expected by Ukrainian women, even if you're not in a romantic relationship.

Ukraine is by no means a conservative country with respect to clothing or behavior. However, stances on homosexuality verge from conservative to outright hostile.

Smiling is reserved for friends and close relationships. Smiling at someone you don't know could get someone to think that you're ridiculing or mocking them.

Ukrainians are generally reserved and take time to gradually open up to people. Don't be put off if people deliver brief, terse answers at first — this does not mean that people are uninterested in you.

Sensitive issues [ edit ]

Show respect when discussing the Soviet Union and the Holodomor (a 1930s famine caused by Soviet policies) — they're incredibly sensitive, emotional subjects which many locals have strong views on. The Holodomor is regarded as a genocide by Ukrainians. Referring to World War II as the "Great Patriotic War", as it is referred to in Russia, is illegal in Ukraine. Some Ukrainians do consider the Soviet period as a time of economic and political stability. Historiographical disputes between Russia and Ukraine are also a sensitive issue, and Ukrainians often accuse Russians of appropriating their history. The Ukrainian view is that Kyivan Rus is part of Ukrainian history, and Russia has no right to claim it as part of theirs. For some of the background, see Russian_Empire#The_Rurikids .

Although Stepan Bandera and the OUN are denounced in Russia and Poland for being Nazi collaborators who committed genocides of ethnic minorities during World War II , they are venerated by some Ukrainians as national heroes for their role in fighting for Ukrainian independence and resisting Soviet rule. You will often see monuments to Stepan Bandera, particularly in Western Ukraine. On 28th April every year, marches are held in Ukrainian cities to commemorate the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the First Ukrainian Division. Despite the controversy of it having fought for the Nazis, its role in fighting for Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union is generally seen as far more important.

Avoid talking about Russia . The Russia-Ukraine relationship sharply deteriorated after the Euromaidan Revolution, and the full-scale Russian invasion came as a huge shock to many people. Many Ukrainians express feelings of hatred, anger, and hostility towards Russia. Some even extend such feelings towards Russian people.

Considering the current state of Russia-Ukraine relations and the ongoing war, some Ukrainians, including native speakers of Russian, would not appreciate being spoken to in Russian. Some Ukrainian universities have completely banned the use of Russian. Russian-occupied territories have completely banned the use of Ukrainian.

Amongst Crimean Tatar neighbourhoods or communities in Crimea, Kherson oblast, or in major Ukrainian cities, it is not a good idea to make any mentions to Soviet rule or Stalin; many Crimean Tatar families were broken up, deported to Central Asia, or murdered during Stalin's deportations of the Crimean Tatars and this remains a very sensitive issue for Crimean Tatars and their communities, and one that is highly emotional.

Connect [ edit ]

Phone [ edit ].

Ukrtelekom is the main telecom operator. The country code for Ukraine is +380.

Mobile [ edit ]

The biggest mobile phone operators Kyivstar, Vodafone (formerly MTS), Lifecell.

Blocking of Russian internet services [ edit ]

Russian internet services are often blocked due to sanctions against them from a side of Ukrainian government since 2017. Blocking could be easily obfuscated through build in proxy in browsers or by a VPNs or by TOR. Some ISPs doesn't block these services either, mostly in Russian-speaking areas. Locals obviously knows how to connect through that blocking, ask them for advice. You can find a full list of blocked sites here . For updates on site blocking in Ukraine, see here

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Ukraine Travel Advisory

Travel advisory may 22, 2023, ukraine - level 4: do not travel.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to active armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those choosing to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks, crime, civil unrest, and consult the Department’s latest security alerts.

The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If you feel your current location is no longer safe, you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.

There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.

U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance should email [email protected] for assistance. Please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas . U.S. citizens may also seek consular services, including requests for repatriation loans, passports, and visa services, at U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries .

On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency. Each province (oblast) decides on measures to be implemented according to local conditions. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections, among other measures. Follow any oblast-specific state of emergency measures.

Many in the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.

Although Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine severely restricts the Embassy’s access and ability to provide services in these areas, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – to the extent possible given security conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over Ukraine. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ukraine.

Travel to High-Risk Areas

If you choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Ukraine, you should consider taking the following steps:

• Visit our website on Travel to High-Risk areas .
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
• Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
• Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first and how they should share the information.
• Enroll your trip in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

If you are currently in Ukraine:

• Read the Department’s country information page on Ukraine.
• Familiarize yourself with information on what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Notices related to your travel.
• Get a COVID vaccine to facilitate your travel.
• Understand the COVID testing and vaccine requirements for all countries that you will transit through to your destination.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Ukraine.
• Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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Ukraine Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Ukraine. We've got 42 adventures going to Ukraine, starting from just one day in length, and the longest tour is 18 days. The most popular month to go is May, which has the largest number of tour departures.

42 Ukraine tour packages with 12 reviews

• In-depth Cultural

Ukraine Untouched

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• Sightseeing

Best of Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa

This tour to Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa is absolutely fantastic! A great way to see the highlights of Ukraine in one week. Everything was immaculately organized by Evgenia from Ornament Ukraine Travel Company, who was fantastic. She was quick to reply, very helpful and kept checking in on us throughout our trip. The pick ups, drop offs, tours, hotels and transportation were all seamless, and really enabled us to enjoy our trip. The city tours were informative and well organized, and the local guides were very friendly. We had a great time in Ukraine - definitely recommend everyone to visit!

Ethno-Tour to the Carpathian Mountains

Everything was maticulously organized by Ornamental Tours. Olena was in constant contact with us. When borders closed, Olena offered to help us. She cancelled the train fare and was able to get half of our fare reembursed. She booked taxis for us when we had to change our plans because of corona virus. Her company also paid for our last taxi to make it easier for us to return to Canada. Our tour to the Carpathian Mountains was excellent. Our guide was excellent. He personalized our tour to not duplicate and added places of interest if he thought we would be interested. He made sure we had supplies for our supper food needs He helped us purchase SIM cards to enable us to phone our airline when we needed to get back to Canada by translating in Ukrainian/ English for us. We would recommend TourRadar - Ornamental Tours with full ratings of 10/10

Fantastic Western Ukraine Tour 20/21 - Small Group

I had a great tour of Ukraine. Alexandr was quite helpful and he even helped me to purchase and take home a bandura. Everything was quite organized. There was a local guide to show you around in every city. I highly recommend JC Travel be used if you are considering traveling to Ukraine. Safety was not an issue in any city. The food was quite similar to other European cities.

A GREAT CARPATHIANS TOUR

Ukraine Unbreakable. Lviv-Kyiv

Looking for tours beyond just ukraine.

Explore tours with itineraries going through multiple countries, including Ukraine.

Week in Historical City

Olena and Julia were awesome in Kiev lots of information on the tour's. Olena was always in touch even on Sunday's . And helped navigate the train system. Diane in Lviv was awesome helped me find the hidden hotel. And showed me some really cool places and helped get back to train on time and in the right place. I 100 percent recommend them. For any tours they offer and definitely will use them again on furture trips to the Ukraine.

Western Ukraine

Tour took me to places I would have never visited on my own! Taras was a tremendous guide and our whole family is thinking about which tour we'll do next. Thanx Cobblestone!!

• River Cruise

Kiev to the Black Sea Kiev to Odessa

Highlights of Ukraine Trip - 7 Days

Kiev to the Black Sea Odessa to Kiev

Highlights of Western Ukraine

Great Ukraine

Travelling to Ukraine was such a great experience! Cobblestone has a way of making their tours unique exposing you to rich cultural experiences. I always felt safe and relaxed, yet energized by amazing sites, cuisine, music, dancing and the rich culture Ukraine has to share. I have been on several Cobblestone Freeway Tours. I recommend this one if you have not been to Ukraine before as it covers many parts of the country highlighting specialties in each, but all their tours have been amazing. Cobblestone is also very supportive if you are trying to track down a family village or archives. Their guides are knowledgeable in so many ways, and fluent in English, and often many other languages.

Intro to Ukraine

What people love about ukraine tours, ukraine destinations.

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• Fully Guided (8)
• Hiking & Trekking (7)
• Spring 2024 (2)
• Summer 2024 (2)
• Fall / Autumn 2024 (1)
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International Versions

• Deutsch: Rundreisen in der Ukraine
• Français: Circuits et voyages en Ukraine
• Español: Circuitos y viajes por Ucrania
• Nederlands: Oekraïne Rondreizen

Ukraine Travel Guide

Your complete ukraine travel guide, with our tips, ideas on things to do, and best things to see in the ukraine. great for first time travellers..

Ukraine is definitely one of Europe’s last genuine travel frontiers.

One of Europe’s biggest country (not counting Russia), it is a country full of diversity where travelers can’t shake the feeling of being elsewhere while actually still being in Europe.

It is a country that is known for its hospitable locals, interesting (and yes a little bizarre) Soviet legacy, diverse landscape and gorgeous landmarks that seem frozen in time.

This Ukraine travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular City Guides

• Haunting Chernobyl Pictures

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Table of Contents

Fast Facts about Ukraine

• Ukranian power voltage is 220 V 50Hz; Plug C & F
• The Ukrainian currency is the Ukrainian Hryvnia and is around 22 UAH to 1 USD.
• Beware of scam artists. If a “transport inspector” asks to see your ID, ask for your own proof of identification otherwise he may try to fine you for not having the right ticket. Also make sure to watch your wallet, too!
• WARNING: There are risks in traveling to eastern Ukraine because of the war between the Russian irregular forces and the Ukrainian forces in the eastern areas of Luhansk and Donetsk.
• It is illegal to take any items of historical importance out of the country. This includes badges, medals, icons, historical paintings, etc. This law is strictly enforced at all exit points.
• Drink vodka! The Ukrainian specialty is horilka (the local name for vodka) with pepper. Other kinds of vodka that are popular are linden (tilia), honey, birch, wheat.

Things to See and Do in Ukraine

• Hike Mount Hoverla  – This is a tough hike out of Yaremche, but you’ll be rewarded with amazing views when you get to the top of the mountain.
• Go paragliding  – There are plenty of places in the countryside where you can go paragliding over the land for a fun adventure.
• Learn about Chernobyl  – Take a tour to this historic site to see the remains of Chernobyl, the site of a nuclear reactor meltdown in 1986.
• Kiev Planetarium  – Space lovers will enjoy exploring the planetarium that has been up since the 1950s. You can learn about space, look for planets at night, and watch movies.
• Museum of Scythian Gold  – When you’re in Kyiv, stop by the Museum of Scythian Gold. You’ll see hundreds of beautiful treasures and learn about the mysterious Scythians.

Ukraine Travel Guides

7 Unusual Things to Do in Kyiv, Ukraine

• 25 Haunting Chernobyl Pictures – 30 Years after the Disaster
• Essential Tips for Driving The Mongol Rally

Accommodation

Budget:  Ukraine has a variety of hostels for about 140-430 UAH per night. These hostels come with dormitories, shared kitchens, bicycle rentals in the summer, free Wi-Fi, and storage lockers. The Dream House hostel in Kiev even organizes group tourist activities for its members.

Mid-Range:  Mid-range hotels will cost around 580-2,400 UAH per night. Enjoy cable TV in your room, free Wi-Fi and breakfast, a hot tub, sauna, a hotel restaurant and bar, and an airport shuttle.

High-End:  For five-star hotels, expect to pay around 2,520-7,562 UAH per night. Take in the best with top-of-the-line hospitality, room service, decorated rooms, and suites with terraces and kitchenettes, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, multiple hotel restaurants serving fine dining, and playrooms for children.

The cuisine of Ukraine favors grains, dairy, meat, vegetable oil, nuts, and fruits and vegetables as staples. The national dish is borsch (sour soup made with beetroots). Other popular dishes include varenyky (dumplings) and holubtsi (cabbage leaves stuffed with meat or vegetables).

When out and about, look for supkultura (portable soup) in Kiev or go to Odessa for falafel, or head to a restaurant to try more Ukrainian cuisine. In total, expect to pay around 180 UAH per day for food.

The Best Ways to Get Around Ukraine

Getting to ukraine:.

Flights:  Ukraine’s main airport is the Kiev Boryspil Airport, located 25 miles from the city center of Kiev. Odessa also has its own international airport and is 7 miles from the downtown area, though it mainly serves European flights. You can check for the best flights to Ukraine on  Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Train:  The trains in Ukraine link most cities and towns. Go from Kiev to Odessa in roughly 10 hours for 650 UAH. To get the best prices, book in advance by at least a week or two, if not more.

Metro:  Kiev has its own metro and is a fast and affordable way to travel throughout the city. Prices start at 2 UAH and trains come every 2-10 minutes. The metro runs daily from 6 AM to midnight.

Buses:  Buses are an excellent way to travel, and tickets cost about 8 UAH. Tickets can be bought when boarding or at a kiosk.

Funicular:  Kiev has a funicular, which is a type of rapid carriage, and goes from uptown to downtown. This is a scenic, not to mention a unique, way to travel and costs 3 UAH.

Taxis:  For major cities like Kiev, taxis have a typical starting fee of 45 UAH and increase 11 UAH per mile traveled, though it varies slightly for each taxi company.

Car Rental:  To rent a car, you need to be at least 21-25 years old and have an international driver’s license. A typical price for a standard car is 1010 UAH per day.

Uber:  Uber is available throughout Ukraine.

When to go To Ukraine

The best time to visit for good weather is between June through September, where the weather is sunny and perfect for many outdoor activities. If you are looking to save some money, go in April or October.

Both of these months are in the off-season, so there will be fewer crowds, but still fairly pleasant weather for roaming around or heading to a beach by the Black Sea.

Where to Stay in Ukraine

Premier Hotel Rus:   When in Kiev, stay at this highly rated hotel. Just a short walk to numerous shops and about a mile from the Golden Gate replica, choose from a variety of rooms (regular to suites with whirlpool tubs and separate rooms), enjoy the hotel restaurant and sushi bar, get a drink at the cocktail bar or at the café, or order room service. St. Sophia’s Cathedral and Independence Square are both a short bus trip away.

Chichikov :  Stay at this great hotel in Kharkiv. Just a short walk to the metro station and just a mile from Gorky Park, the hotel comes with rooms and suites with flat-screen TVs and minibars, free breakfast, room service, a Mediterranean restaurant, and a lobby bar.

Panorama De Luxe :  If you’re in Odessa, this is a great hotel to stay at. Across from the Black Sea and near many local cafes, this five-star hotel has numerous amenities, including a heated outdoor pool, private rooms with sea views, suites with whirlpool tubs, complimentary breakfast, a spa and sauna, and a rooftop bar.

What to Pack for Ukraine

Ukraine has a temperate continental climate with cold snowy winters and warm summers. The only exception is the southern coast of Crimea, where the climate is subtropical of the Mediterranean type.

The southern coast of Crimea is the warmest place in Ukraine with temperatures reaching 39 – 40 degrees Celsius in the summertime and often not dipping below 20 degrees throughout the year.

• Classic Basic items  – You do not need to be a fashionista to blend in. The key is in embracing neutral toned items that can be mixed and matched easily. Avoid logos, baseball caps, shorts, hoodies, flip-flops, and running shoes as these items scream  tourist!
• Layers –  You could possibly be sweating all afternoon and then be freezing by nightfall! Make sure to stock up on the layers. If you plan on heading to Ukraine during the winter make sure to pack the winter essentials: Warm, high, waterproof, fleece-lined boots big enough to wear with heavy wool socks, hat, waterproof gloves and thermal long underwear.
• Rain boots  – It rains a lot during fall and spring and since there aren’t always a lot of sidewalks, make sure to bring a good pair of boots to splash around in.
• Shoes  – a good pair of sturdy shoes are a must. Ukraine isn’t known for being a flat country and Kyiv especially has a lot of inclines.
• Personal Safety products  – Certain areas in Kyiv are known as pickpocket hotspots. Before leaving for your trip, make sure to pack some  personal safety products , like money belts and locks, so that you can keep your valuables safe on your trip.
• Read our Packing for Europe – Tips That Will Make Your Travel Life Easier

Check out our  Packing List  for more ideas on what to bring with you.

Ukraine Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

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An awesome guide on travelling to Ukraine! I visited there three times. As an American, I can say that information you provided is useful and attractive. Keep on that track! ?

Raw Travel TV Blog

My summer in ukraine announced.

• Post author By Rob
• Post date January 17, 2024

RAW TRAVEL’S “MY SUMMER IN UKRAINE” SERIES TO PREMIERE IN APRI

Four-Part Docuseries to Premiere on Broadcast TV Before Hitting Film Festival Circuit 

NEW YORK, NY: January 18, 2024 – AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (AIM TV) , producers of the nation’s most-watched travel show,  Raw Travel,  announced plans to premiere a four-part docuseries entitled “ My Summer in Ukraine ”  beginning  April 27 for four weeks through May 19, 2024,  on broadcast syndication. Later, a film version will tour a film festival circuit. 

Based on Raw Travel Producer and Host Robert G. Rose’s travels in Ukraine in the summer of 2023, the film explores what it’s like to travel in a war zone as Rose profiles various humanitarians, filmmakers, soldiers, and inspirational Ukrainians.

Rose traveled to several hotspots such as  Odesa, Mykolaiv ,  Kharkiv,  and a harrowing trip to  Kherson City , where he and his cohorts came under mortar fire from Russian munitions. 

The trip coincidentally timed during some key moments, including arriving just days after the Russian explosion of Ukraine’s  Kakhovka Dam , which flooded numerous farms and villages, killing dozens and displacing tens of thousands of Ukrainians. Rose and his friends were also just a few miles from the Russian border when Wagner head  Yevgeny Prigozhin  made his ill-fated coup attempt against Russian dictator  Vladimir Putin . 

Rose and his crew were able to film evidence of Russian war crimes and atrocities, as well as garner rare access to an early version of a Ukrainian Kamikaze Drone School and a top-secret military hospital where recent amputee soldiers were undergoing therapy. They spoke to numerous individuals held captive by Russian troops or with traumatic tales of survival. 

However, “My Summer in Ukraine” is far from a sprawling tragedy. Rose filmed heartwarming scenes at orphanages and humanitarian centers, and a particularly moving moment when Raw Travel Ukrainian refugee videographer Anastasia Zui reconnected with her father in Kharkiv after he’d spent many harrowing and dangerous weeks fighting in Bakhmut. 

A trailer is at  MySummerInUkraine.com , and a newly launched website,  RawTravelUkraine.com,  features content, tips, and information on ways to take action to help Ukraine while learning crucial history and facts. The site will also be a portal for booking media interviews or engagements of vetted experts with unique stories to share. 

“Opinion polls and social media likes don’t inform my morals. Assisting Ukraine in its fight for freedom is the honor of my lifetime so far,” Rose said. “They have sacrificed so much. I’ll never abandon them, and we will help them with their fight for victory and rebuilding for as long as it takes. Ukraine must and will win, and the US and the rest of the civilized world must continue our support and never normalize Putin’s brutal tyranny and horrific war crimes,” Rose continued.

ABOUT RAW TRAVEL TV

Raw Travel is an adventure travel & lifestyle series showcasing socially and environmentally aware, independent travel. The series weaves together themes of eco-tourism and voluntourism (giving back) with underground music and authentic culture uniquely. Since 2013, the show has raised funds and highlighted dozens of non-profit organizations helping the unhoused, orphaned children, people with disabilities, displaced refugees, etc., as well as encouraging earth stewardship, sustainable living, and travel with a purpose. 

Each weekend the show is broadcast in 185 U.S. cities on major broadcast affiliates and several international territories (Asia, Africa, Europe…). It can also be found on several major airlines. AIM Tell-A-Vision Group produces the show and oversees its domestic and international distribution. Visit  RawTravel.tv  for more information. 

ABOUT AIM TELL-A-VISION GROUP

AIM Tell-A-Vision (AIM TV) Group is an independent production, content, and distribution company founded by media veteran and entrepreneur Robert G. Rose. Since 2000, AIM TV has produced and distributed positive, compelling content that reflects a mission of presenting “Media That Matters.” Visit  AIMTVGroup.com  for more information.

ABOUT ROBERT G. ROSE

Robert G. Rose is an independent media entrepreneur and travel journalist. During his travel journalism career, Rose has traveled to dozens of challenging, politically charged destinations to film, including Haiti, Cuba, China, and Vietnam (all while undercover), Colombia, Georgia (including Russian-occupied territories), as well as Russia (2010) and Ukraine before and during Russia’s full invasion. Rose spent a month in the summer of 2023 filming in Ukraine, documenting his experience traveling with volunteers, interviewing soldiers and civilians, some while subject to Russian bombs and munitions. 

ABOUT “MY SUMMER IN UKRAINE”

“My Summer in Ukraine”  is a four-part documentary series filmed during Robert G. Rose’s travel to Ukraine in the summer of 2023 with Anastasia Zui, a Ukrainian-based cinematographer, as they traveled through various parts of Ukraine, such as Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Irpin, Bucha and more with humanitarians, soldiers and more.  The documentary seeks to show a unique side of war that most are not aware. Tragedy, resilience, sorrow, and exceeding joy. “ My Summer in Ukraine”  will premiere on April 27 ,  through May 19, 2024, on broadcast TV before hitting the film festival circuit. 

Short History of Ukraine PDF

• Post date January 15, 2024

ROBERT ROSE TO BE FEATURED AT WARM UP UKRAINE

• Post date October 5, 2023

  – Travel Producer & Host to Speak at Fall 2023 Fundraiser for Ukraine in San Francisco –

NEW YORK, NY: October 5th, 2023 – AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (AIM TV) , the producers of the internationally syndicated television series Raw Travel® , announced that Robert G. Rose , the Executive Producer and Host of the series will be a featured presenter at Warm Up Ukraine: Fall , a multimedia fundraising event to showcase Ukrainian culture through music, art, talks, and activities.

The event will occur on Saturday, October 14 th, from 11 AM until 8 PM at the Midway in San Francisco. From 11 AM until 3 PM , the event willfeature talks on “Transformations for Good” from Ukrainian and American veterans, doctors, documentarians, volunteers, tech entrepreneurs, and more.   

During his talk, Rose will premiere the official trailer of “ My Summer in Ukraine” from the forthcoming travel documentary series to debut via Raw Travel in 2024 and photos and inspiring anecdotes from his travel to Ukraine in the summer of 2023 during an intense time of war.

“I’m honored to be able to share my life-changing experience traveling through Ukraine this summer to help raise awareness and funds for such a great cause,” said Rose. “I went to Ukraine to give something of myself, but I received so much more in return. Good people of good conscience cannot stand idly by while others suffer needlessly. I hope we can inspire more people to help a country and people who need our support and assistance, now as much, or more than ever,” Rose Continued.

Warm Up Ukraine’s mission is to raise funds for urgent causes and create a positive influence in Ukraine and among the community in the Bay Area. The funds raised from ticket sales and donations will help provide critical supplies to battlefield medics in Ukraine and bring innovative professional education to Ukrainian veterans.

In addition to TED-style talks and presentations, attendees can enjoy live performances by renowned Ukrainian and international musicians and DJs, discover and acquire authentic Ukrainian artworks, taste delicious Ukrainian-inspired food and drinks, and attend a series of classes for adults and children.

Other presenters include Evgeniy Maloletka , Pulitzer prize-winning Ukrainian journalist and photographer, who will discuss documenting war crimes, and Yuliia Matvieieva , a therapist, discussing communicating with war-scarred veterans. Also presenting are T.J. Collins and Lesya Kalynska from the documentary film “ A Rising Fury,” speakers and companies working with people with physical impairments and PTSD, representatives from the End Violence Partnership, and many more.

Among the artists whose prints will be for sale include Iryna Babanina, Maryna Maliarenko, Slava Babanin, Tetiana Kopytova , and Vidro (Andrii Bunyak) and the music program will feature the Fima Chupakhin Trio and more.

Warm Up Ukraine: Fall is organized by and will benefit Leleka Foundation and New Horizons Hub , 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Ticket sales and donations are tax-deductible. For tickets and more information, please visit www.warmupukraine.org .

Raw Travel is an adventure travel & lifestyle series showcasing socially and environmentally aware, independent travel. The series weaves eco-tourism and voluntourism (giving back) themes uniquely with underground music and authentic culture. Since 2013, the show has raised funds and highlighted dozens of non-profit organizations helping the unhoused, orphaned children, people with disabilities, displaced refugees, etc., as well as encouraging earth stewardship, sustainable living, and travel with a purpose.

The show is broadcast in 185 U.S. cities on major broadcast affiliates and several international territories (Asia, Africa, Europe…) each weekend. It can also be found on several major airlines.

AIM Tell-A-Vision Group produces the show and oversees its domestic and international distribution. Visit  RawTravel.tv  for more information. 

ABOUT LELEKA FOUNDATION & NEW HORIZONS HUB

Leleka Foundation is a non-profit that supports Ukrainian military medics with equipment and supplies. Since 2014, Leleka has raised over $8 million and provided thousands of first aid kits, backpacks, medical evacuation vehicles, and hospital supplies. With Leleka Ukraine, we work with front-line medics and are recognized as one of the most trusted and effective organizations in this area. Funds from Warm Up Ukraine: Fall will be used for equipment and supplies for field medics. Visit https://www.leleka.care/ for more information.

New Horizons Hub is a non-profit organization that supports veterans in rebuilding their lives by providing them with the education and essential skills needed to pursue a rewarding career in the tech industry. Visit https://www.horizonshub.org/ for more information.

• Tags aim tv group , bay area , california , eastern europe , fundraiser , press release , raw travel , raw travel tv , robert g. rose , robert rose , russia invasion , san francisco , ukraine , voluntourism , war , war crimes , war in ukraine , warm up ukraine

RARE ACCESS TO UKRAINE DRONE SCHOOL

• Post date June 30, 2023

Just when I think things can’t get any more surreal in Ukraine, the next day one-ups the previous. We were allowed rare access to a drone-flying school where we hung out with soldiers of various platoons for a full day, some fresh from the front and returning there the next day. This realization put me in a solemn mood.

It was final exam day, and the students had all passed with flying colors and received diplomas at the end of the day.

We took part in some of the drone-flying games out in the field. It occurred to me I was a legitimate Russian military target now. Still, if past history predicted future actions, the Russians were more likely to bomb a restaurant, hospital, daycare center, or playground than a military target.

It was a beautiful spring-like day. I could hear roosters crowing, mixing in with gunfire from a practice range a few miles away. Whenever the joy of the day’s beauty hit me, I was reminded of destruction, misery, and war. I was up and down all day.

One field exercise included hitting a target, kamikaze style. There were no bombs on these, as that would eat up too many drones during practice. But the drones had been souped up, built from scratch, and could scream through the air at incredible speeds. In the first round, I was taken to the practice field in a brand-new fancy Audi car, unsuitable for the barely-there dirt path and bumpy and muddy terrain. On the second, it was a junker that the soldiers and I could barely fit into, and the trunk kept popping open every time we hit a bump. It was apparent these were civilian cars being used for military purposes. These guys need more trucks.

Whether in a car or on foot, we stuck to the same route each time. The instructor informed me that we wanted to be careful not to veer off the path in case there were any unexploded ordinances, as we were on land that Russians once occupied.

The instructor knows what he speaks. He is from the Donbas region, which Russia invaded with the assistance of separatists in 2014. He recounted that he was captured by the Russians when he was just 17 years old and a minor, so they let him go… in the middle of a minefield.

At the time, apparently, the Russian military at least pretended to care about war crimes and didn’t want to kill a minor, so they hoped a minefield would do the job for them, giving them deniable plausibility. He disappointed them and somehow made it across the field in one piece. Now they’ve created a mighty enemy. I was reminded that this “special military operation” of Putin’s has been happening for almost ten years. But it’s even older, as Russia has attempted to destroy the Ukrainian people, culture, and language for centuries.

Later that day, the instructor who relayed this information to me found out one of his peers, a fellow instructor at another school and a good friend, had his right hand blown off by an unexploded ordinance and needed blood. He sent me a photo of the poor kid (very young looking) in a hospital bed, smiling… it was the anesthesia talking. Maimed Ukrainians will be just part of the Russian legacy and a long-time reminder of the shame that we should never allow them and their supporters to forget.

Next, we were shown a demonstration of drone flying skills on the homemade indoor course. It demonstrated the precision with which these machines are flown and the skill of Ukrainian drone pilots.

Drones are an inexpensive and efficient way to save lives. Soldiers’ lives are saved by allowing the pilot to be further away from the action. But there are challenges, not the least that the primary maker of drones, DJI, a Chinese company, has stopped manufacturing and importation to Ukraine and severely restricted neighboring countries’ importations.

Officially, the same policy from DJI applies to Russia. However, unofficially, according to Ukrainians, DJI supports Russia. I believe this is true. Anastasia purchased a brand new DJI Steadicam, and she could not download the software and app to use it for more than the 24-hour trial period simply because she is Ukrainian. Thankfully, I was with her and could download it on my phone in order to use her new gear.

The Chinese government doesn’t seem to care about morality, the systematic and state-sponsored murder of innocent children, or right or wrong, but only about money and geopolitics. While some may argue the same applies to the United States of America, and while the US history of intervention isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I don’t buy it here.

The “what about” and “both sides-isms” is just a way for weak-minded people unable to distinguish nuance and feel better about supporting what deep down they know is evil. Again, 1,000 plus Ukrainian children were killed versus zero Russian children. I could list dozens more facts like this but isn’t that all you really need to know. Arguments stop there. There is no justifying the unjustifiable.

And the Russian people are not totally innocent in these atrocities. One other journalist on location, a Ukrainian photojournalist, recounted an all too familiar story of a family torn apart by the war. His father lives in Moscow and believes Russia is correct in invading Ukraine. It’s common to write off this widespread belief that everyday Russians do not have accurate information on the war, BUT his son lives in Ukraine. He knows the facts of civilian carnage and the killing of innocent children and the elderly (presumably pensioners like the father).

He’s been told of the maiming, orphaning, and kidnapping of Ukrainian children by Russia, and he CHOOSES to believe what Putin has to say. Indeed, some in the USA believe that we should “listen to what Putin has to say” (Rock Musician turned Country Artist Loon, Aaron Lewis of the 2000s band Staind, Tucker Carlson, formerly with FNC, a variety of right-wing politicians, and their ignorant and ill-informed followers).

Anastasia’s Ukrainian soldier boyfriend has a cousin who lives in Russia and believes Russia should kill Ukrainians until Ukraine “comes to its senses.” You can’t reason with people with such beliefs; you can only defeat them.

As the students received their diplomas, I noticed the cheerful atmosphere. It dawned on me that most of these men hadn’t even known each other 11 days prior (school is only 10 days long) and now were jocular and jovial with each other and me. They shared a bond of war, sadness, and now of drone school and joy.

I, however, had to struggle with my emotions, understanding that some of these men I’d grown to admire over the past few hours might not make it back in one piece.

But eventually, at the ad hoc barbeque celebration that evening, I let go of my somber mood. For a moment, I was in high school again, back home in Tennessee, hanging with my buddies by a bonfire. Indeed, many of these men could have passed for avid hunters down south with their beards, bowie knives, and humor… I felt completely at home though only a couple (former IT or businesspeople in civilian life) spoke any English.

As the evening wore on, it got windy, chilly, and cold. Someone loaned me a hoodie to keep me warm. They ensured my plate and my glass was filled, even though I was a visitor, not accounted for when they bought the provisions.

A couple had eyed me slightly suspiciously all day, probably because they were wary of having their image taken by a foreign journalist. That can be dangerous here, for them if captured, or their families live in occupied territory. I, of course, was very conscientious of this fact. Still, ALL warmed up to me that evening.

As they recounted stories from the battlefield, comrades and family members lost, with translations made for my sole benefit, I tried to keep it together. They were stoic and strong, So I must try. I felt a kinship with these men, along with a deep admiration. I said so in my toast, which Anastasia translated for me. But I couldn’t find the words in English, much less translate them to Ukrainian to fully express my feelings. Still can’t. War absolutely sucks, but witnessing Ukraine’s fight for freedom is THE noblest cause I have ever been a part of. I feel so blessed and humbled to have played even a small role.

PLEASE NOTE: Though I have permission to post photos, out of an abundance of caution, I’ve decided not to include faces or landmarks that might give away ANY sensitive information.

• Tags drone school , help ukraine , raw travel , robert g. rose , russia , slava ukraine , ukraine

Helping the Flooded Villages in Kherson Ukraine

• Post date June 21, 2023

JULY 19th, 2023 – Driving from Kyiv to the Southern parts of Ukraine, I can see that farmland is everywhere and that Ukraine is the world’s breadbasket. Wheat is ripening. Fruit is in season. Farms, as far as their eyes can see, make the flooding brought on by the Russian destruction of the Kakhovka Dam so unspeakably harmful.

Yesterday Mark & Hymie arranged for us to embed with the Red Cross offices of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv to help them assess and help the victims of the flooding of their neighbors in Kherson Oblast (Oblast is like a state in the U.S.) caused by the June 6th eco-terrorism event from the Russians destroying the Kakhovka dam.

After a briefing, some coffee, and some getting lost, we finally made our way from Mykolaiv to a small community where a local school now serves as a relief site where distressed locals can pick up food, clothing, water, etc. The children’s playground was full of lovely little kids playing under the watchful eyes of their mums. (Yes, I’m talking a bit British these days, thanks to a few days in the van with Hymie, who hails from London).

Just across the street was a destroyed building with a man selling fruit next door. I have mostly stopped taking photos or videos of demolished buildings as it is becoming redundant and a common site. But it was not lost on me that it was directly across the street from a school. I posted something on Instagram (you can follow at Instagram.com/RawTravelTV ) about taking a risk jogging by a Russian military target, a playground recently because so many Ukrainian children have been killed or maimed on them by the Russians, who seem not to value anyone’s life or humanity. I digress.

The Soviet-style playground for the school was like a look back into the 1970s or 80s at the height of the cold war, today all painted blue and yellow, Ukrainian colors, which would not have been allowed back then. Of course, I toured the outdoor toilet. Too bad “Don’t Skip the Loo” is already in “the can,” as it would have been good footage. At the school, we loaded a big water bladder capable of holding 10K liters of water to act as a water tank for two villages. This would be a test run; if successful, more would roll out.

In all, we visited two villages with the Red Cross. The smells in the villages where the water had now receded were intense, where the flood water had receded. The first village was unique in that when the Russians once occupied it, the village head did not flip to the Russians to save his skin but stayed loyal to Ukraine.

The seemingly tight-knit community gathered around to collect water and gossip. The town is luckier than most because electricity has been restored, though some are afraid to turn it on because many of the homes are still wet.

Hymie donated one of her brand-new laptops, courtesy of the Royal Bank of Montreal, to the “mayor” and the administrative center.

The next village was far away over some bumpy roads and not a very pleasant ride in the backseat of a cargo van. As we rolled up, it was apparent it had been completely devastated by the flood and the adjoining farmland, on which I assume the village once depended.

We dropped off the water bladder and toured a couple of the homes. The first home I toured had a giant collapsed sinkhole right next to the house.

Valentina is the sweetest grandmother, and she immediately grabbed me and started talking to me as she pulled me into her home, speaking in Ukrainian the entire time. I got the feeling she wanted me to witness her pain and what the Russians had done to her home as she encouraged me to film.

When Hymie walked in, she continued but broke into tears, with Hymie comforting her and me fighting back my own (something I’m getting used to as well) as I continued to film.

Artem, one our Kharkiv Red Cross bi-lingual contacts, translated for us. Valentina had been in this house for 54 years and raised a family with her husband. Some of her children had become medical professionals, but most were teachers. It was all gone within just 12 hours as the water rose and destroyed their home along with their garden upon which they depended.

You could see carefully saved items out in the front yard and on the upper reaches of the house, out of reach from the flood waters, containing beautiful religious imagery and lovely chandeliers. This was once a lovely home put together and was tended with tender loving care by its owners, who likely weren’t even remotely wealthy as they were subsistence farmers. Still, it was obvious that they took excellent care of what they had been blessed with.

A family photo album was drying in the sun out front, which was particularly upsetting. Luckily the photos seemed in good shape.

Valentina’s adult daughter, Natalia, came in and spoke a little English. I toured the home with both of them and picked up some words here and there. Somewhere in the conversation, I tried to ask if they spoke Ukrainian or Russian so I could figure out if it was better to say “Dyakuyu” (“thank you” in Ukrainian) or “Spasiba” (“thank you” in Russian) since we were in Southern Ukraine where Russian was also spoken. (Russian was the only language taught in schools during Soviet times as the Soviet government tried mightily to stamp out the Ukrainian language and all signs of Ukrainian culture and identity).

I couldn’t verbalize it properly, so I did what I always do when I run into an awkward silence with folks and let out a “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine), to which they both brightened, smiled, and even laughed as they let out the response “Heroyam Slava” which means “Glory to the heroes.” When we left Valentina’s uninhabitable home to tour other homes, Valentina was far from defeated. She was a bit defiant. Talking about how the Russians would never win and that they would rebuild as soon as she got the materials in hand.

I tried to give them a little money, but they staunchly and vehemently refused. I can’t understand much of Ukrainian, but I understood that they just want the building materials and will rebuild themselves. While inspiring, I’m not sure how true that may be because the farmland all around the village, on which they rely for a living, has been ruined for decades. The smell alone was toxic, and I was unsure when the air would be safe.

With the village leaders (a woman this time), we toured around the rest of the village, where I saw a boat sitting in the middle of the street and a ruined honeybee colony. The next house was in much worse shape than Valentina’s and was well beyond repair, so they had yet to bother with any cleanup.

The air was so dank and horrific I used my shirt to cover my nose and mouth and watched carefully where I stepped. There was very little salvaged from the house, but a well-fed dog whined as I passed by. I felt the same way. The smell became overwhelming, and I realized I might be breathing in toxic chemicals, not to mention walking around in it, so we left off touring the flooded homes to do something to actually help these folks and install the water tank.

It reminded me a bit of the public works projects I often see, where it appears a couple of folks are doing all the work. Everyone else is standing around, but I have a new perspective now. Everyone had a role in driving, manual labor, or engineering. And everyone did their part when it was time. Village members made their way over to offer their help or just opinions. It was a relaxed atmosphere. I filmed everyone getting some big stones to serve as the roadblock to keep anyone from driving over the flaccid bladder of the water tank lying on the pavement, waiting to be filled with H2O. We had a little world-central kitchen food the Red Cross folks had brought in, which was welcomed (support those guys if you can). We were on high ground, away from the flooded area and toxic air.

All was peaceful and tranquil when we heard what sounded like thunder. I know by now that it was not thunder. Mark, our group’s retired marine and military expert, commented that it must have been a big blast to carry all that way.

A few minutes later, I wandered off to a field to record a video diary and noticed plumes of smoke on the horizon. They grew bigger and whiter as the day wore on, and Mark was afraid the Russians may have bombed a Ukrainian ammunition dump. Turns out, it may have been the other way around, as I read later. I hope so.

Either way, the realization that most likely people (be it Ukrainian or Russian, it’s a tragedy in my eyes) died when I heard that first thunderous boom sobered me even more.

On this day, in this small village tour with the Red Cross, we were told we didn’t need our body armor, and I think that was a correct call. Though visible and within hearing distance, the bombing was far away and was likely a targeted missile. However, we read in reports that a 27-year-old man had been killed in his home in Kherson, the town we visited the day before. I’m not 100% sure of the odds, but it feels a bit like getting struck by lightning. Your odds of getting hit are stronger in a raging thunderstorm, and the thunderstorm rages constantly in Kherson and near the front. The further you are away from the front, the less likely you are to get struck.

I’m torn between showing war and devastation or the normalcy we feel most of the time in most of the country. Both are true, and both are realities. I don’t want to glibly pretend that life is pleasant in Ukraine or that it’s constant fear and danger here. I simply wish to show the reality as I experience it, not on the front lines, but as a DIY travel journalist embedded with volunteers.

As we drove to Mykolai to spend the night before returning to Kyiv the next day, I reflected on the last three days and how I’d changed.

I was no longer nervous or afraid… now I was just profoundly sad yet somehow content… and an odd mix that adds a new perspective to the cliche of “mixed feelings.”

And I wondered how it would have been such a great road trip if only no war had been raging.

KHERSON OBLAST – Is a “state” in Southern Ukraine, partially controlled by Ukraine and partially Russian Occupied. The city of “Kherson” is fully controlled by Ukraine after several months of Russian occupation in 2022 and is about five miles from the “front.”

• Tags flooding , Kakhovka , kherson , mykolaiv , russian occupation , Russian terrorism , ukraine

Return to Przmesyl, Poland

June 9th, 2023 – Day two of my trip, I was so tired that I spent 15 minutes thinking I was locked IN my apartment share because I was pushing a pull door. I was JUST about to call the apartment owner when I figured it out. Thank goodness. The language barrier is terrible enough without her thinking I’m just plain dense. So don’t expect this written account to be anything one would write home about.

Still, making my way from Krakow (Crack-of for the pronunciation police) to Przemyśl almost a year after our filming here was moving. Leaving Krakow by train was NOT easy. I got yelled at twice at the Krakow train station, once by the ticket agent and another by the security guard. They were angry I spoke English and didn’t know where I was going. I suppose. Touristy places always have a resentful local or two, and I get it; I’m the same way in NYC. Still, I don’t yell at people who ask me a question. I wonder if they realize how much their salary depends on travelers like me.

But Valentina came in to save the day. Valentina (Pictured with me) is 1/2 Polish and 1/2 Italian. She was traveling to visit her grandparents for the summer, something she’s done summer after summer for many years. She also spoke good English, helped translate for me, and ensured I got on the correct train because the information was sparse. We were in the same car coincidentally, so I paid her back by helping her with the luggage.

But boarding the train at Krakow was the biggest disorganized circus I have EVERY seen. And so unnecessary too! Everyone has an assigned seat; what’s with the stupid chaos? Is this a roller derby match or an MMA event?

I have a nice shin injury from a roller suitcase slamming me during the scrum. People filed onto our car from both ends, meeting in the middle in a too-narrow aisle that would not allow either to pass the other with luggage. We were at a standstill for a good five to ten minutes with no one willing to back down before I jumped in, in English, and began ordering people around. They listened to me?! and thanked me! I couldn’t believe it. Then they asked ME where to get off for THEIR stop, and I was like, “Whoa, that’s enough now… this is my first time taking a train from Krakow to Przmesyl. And maybe my last.

Also on the train were two very sweet Ukrainian refugee women (sisters or maybe a YOUNG grandmother and daughter) with a young baby in tow. Unlike the Polish ticket agent and Security Guard, they were exceedingly helpful in getting me on the right train. They said they were worried they had “lost me” when they saw me on board afterward.

So by the time the train was halfway to Przemyśl, I felt I knew 1/2 the car, though hardly anyone spoke English, and just an hour earlier, I knew NO ONE. That’s travel. That’s why I love it.

The World Central Kitchen Volunteers are gone at the Przemyśl train station. In fact, I didn’t see a single volunteer of ANY organization welcome the exhausted and on-edge refugees who were on the train from Krakow and, like me, heading back to Ukraine. There is a war still going on, you know? In fact, it’s worse than before in my observations thus far. People are STRESSED to the limit.

Elderly women and ladies with tired children dragging their massive suitcases up and down flights of stairs disheartened me. I saw two disturbing bouts of distress, one from an elderly lady upset about something with her, I assume, adult daughter… and another young girl, 8 or 9, I’d say, also scarily upset and causing a scene and evidently super stressed with her family about something. The psychological toll of this horror show has yet to be played out, but I saw a sneak preview today, and it was NOT good.

I missed Anastasia’s language skills several times today, not just on getting from Point A to Point B but also on more practical matters. I had to buy dental floss at the Pharmacy and test my charade skills. Deodorant was fun too. Thankfully…. all stocked up on toilet paper, but I’ve got the perfect charade move ready to go should I need to get some.

Walking to the San River, I met a colorful “anti-war” protestor on the bridge. Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand precisely how the war might be ended (since Russia is 100% in charge of that situation) as his English was minor and my Polish was nil. Not suitable for such a complex subject.

If Mr. Ant-War Protester has any good ideas on how to end this madness and ensure that this NEVER happens again (we know that won’t happen if Putin wins), I’m all ears because witnessing people mentally breaking down is not fun to watch; not to mention the physical toll I’m ABOUT to see first-hand.

Still reminiscing in Przemyśl (Shey-mish for the pronunciation police) has been fulfilling. I wish I could stay longer, but I hope to see it again on the return trip in a few weeks.

Tomorrow, I’m off to cross the border back to L’viv for a few days before continuing into Kyiv. Nervous and excited, of course. I have some plans. It will be very different this trip. More on that later.

Sorry for the stream of consciousness, but I don’t have time to write correctly. I have more push doors to try to pull open.

• Tags aim tv group , periogies , poland , przmesyl , raw travel , raw travel tv , return to poland , robert g. rose , robert rose , russia , stop putin , stop war , ukraine , voluntourism , war

Raw Travel Wins Two Telly Awards for Steadfast in Ukraine

• Post date May 31, 2023

RAW TRAVEL WINS TWO TELLIES FOR “STEADFAST IN UKRAINE” – For Ten Seasons I resisted nominating Raw Travel for any awards, for a variety of reasons I won’t get into. However, I felt it was finally time to allow the people who worked on the very special “Steadfast in Ukraine” to garner some well-deserved recognition. Some shows may be titled “Solo in…” but they are anything but. Television is a collaborative medium, and thankfully so, as I enjoy nothing more than working with fellow creators to hopefully create something of value.

Congratulations to Creador Pictures (Editing), BtOVEN Music (Sound Design), Chaliwa Music + Sound (Audio Mix), Anastasia Zui (Videographer) Julia Avramenko (Consulting Producer), for winning the Silver in “TV – Travel & Tourism” and the Bronze for “TV – Video Journalism.”

Also, a shout out to fellow Telly Award winner Mickela Mallozzi of “Barefeet with Mickela” who convinced me to apply, proving she’s broad-minded and big-hearted enough to know it’s all about “coopertition”, not competition. Press Release Below:

RAW TRAVEL’S “STEADFAST IN UKRAINE” WINS AWARDS Visit to Ukraine During Wartime Wins Two Telly Awards in Two Categories NEW YORK, NY: May 31st, 2023– AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (AIM TV), producers of the nation’s most-watched travel show, Raw Travel®, announced their episode “Steadfast in Ukraine,” featuring a visit to wartime Ukraine garnered two Telly Awards. The episode won a Silver Telly in the Television, Travel and Tourism category and a Bronze Telly in the category of Television, Video Journalism. The special episode featured Executive Producer, Writer, and Host Robert G. Rose as he and Ukrainian refugee videographer Anastasia Zui traveled from Poland to film in Western Ukraine. Anastasia, a talented cinematographer and regular member of the Raw Travel crew, is a twice-displaced refugee from the Donbas region. In the episode, she continues from Lviv to Kyiv to reunite with her mother for the first time since fleeing the country with her young brother. At the same time, her father serves in the military. The episode also documents the difficulty and misery of crossing borders during wartime and an impromptu “off-camera” interview with an anonymous escapee from then-Russian-occupied Melitopol. There is also a life-affirming on-camera exchange with a recently injured Ukrainian soldier and an emotional visit to the ever-expanding Lychakiv Cemetery, where recently killed soldiers are buried. All set among the unpredictability, suspense, and drama of air-raid sirens as Russia fires missiles into Ukraine. But the show’s primary theme is the Ukrainian people’s steadfast, optimistic, and hopeful spirit as they bravely fight for survival and freedom.

In addition to Anastasia and Robert providing videography and direction, the episode was edited by Renzo Devia, Executive Producer at New York City-based Creador Pictures, and sound designed by New York City-based BtOVEN Music. The episode was audio mixed by Chaliwa Music + Sound in Miami, Florida. Julia Avramenko, a Ukrainian television professional living in New York City, provided Consulting Production services. “Winning awards is never our objective, especially in this case,” says Robert G. Rose, Producer and Host. “However, I felt it was important for the creatives on this special episode to be recognized for their work and professionalism, especially under the circumstances. I’m grateful for the Tellys for recognizing their achievements,” Rose continued. Raw Travel is currently in its Tenth Season of broadcast syndication and can be viewed in 180 U.S. cities in over 96% of US TV homes. Viewers have thus far helped raise over $20,000 to support grassroots organizations such as Care4Ukraine.org and Keep the Kids Learning, two organizations led by Joseph Nichols, an American logistics professional living in Ukraine. Viewers may visit RawTravelGiveBack.com to learn more and donate. ###

• Tags aim tv group , anastasia zui , bronze telly , btoven music , chaliwa music + sound , julia avramenko , press release , raw travel , raw travel tv , renzo devia , robert g. rose , silver telly , steadfast in ukraine , Telly award , travel and tourism , video journalism

TEN WAYS TO HELP UKRAINE

• Post date January 17, 2023

This site was put up rapidly in 2022 to respond quickly to the Russian full invasion of Ukraine. RawTravelUkraine.com is currently re-designing for a longer-term expansion, with the new site set to debut in December 2023, so please stay tuned.

The new site will feature a repository of our extensive and growing content emanating from and dedicated to Ukraine, research, resources, and various ways you can help, from monetary to volunteering, to militarily and politically.

In the meantime, here are TEN tangible ways you can help now!

1) TRAILER: View and share the “My Summer in Ukraine” trailer.

2) VIEW OTHER UKRAINE VIDEOS: Videos produced before and after the full invasion HERE:

3) SEE PHOTOS : See photos from “My Summer in Ukraine” HERE.

4) READ BLOG 2023: “My Summer in Ukraine” 2023 HERE .

5) READ BLOG 2022: Summer of 2022 travel to Ukraine HERE

6) TAKE ACTION POLITICALLY: Please tell our politicians to continue to support Ukraine. You can visit this link for an easy way to do this. It takes less than two-minutes and is very effective (and needed). https://www.votervoice.net/RAZOMFORUKRAINE/Campaigns/107413/Respond

7) BUY MERCH : Empathy = Strength, Let Freedom Ring shirts and merch save lives. Order your Official Raw Travel “Empathy = Strength” Shirts and Mugs HERE

Order the Empathy = Strength T-shirt that Rob wears on the show, and $10 of every order will support our efforts to help those in Ukraine directly, including our videographer, Anastasia’s father’s troop, who desperately need essential supplies.

Your “Empathy = Strength” T-shirt, Sweatshirt or Hoodie will literally save lives.

Or check our new Coffee Mugs as well. Same deal. All profits (approximately $10) will go to help our pals at Care4Ukraine.org and Keep the Kids Learning.

Order your shirt and Mugs HERE

8) DONATE DIRECTLY: If you prefer to donate directly, you may do so at our GoFundMe page at the link below: https://gofund.me/ad765274

9) MORAL SUPPORT: Like & Follow on Social Media. Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media for more frequent updates @RawTravelTV on Facebook , Twitter Instagram and Threads

10) SPREAD THE WORD: Help us reach more people by spreading the link RawTravelUkraine.com on your social media.

• Tags aim tv group , care4ukraine , eastern europe , Empathy , empathy equals strength , help ukraine , how to help ukraine , joseph nichols , keep the kids learning , putin , raw travel , raw travel helps ukraine , raw travel tv , robert g. rose , robert rose , russian war , shirt , Strength , t-shirt , voluntourism

Raw Travel Presents – Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine!

• Post date May 31, 2022

RAW TRAVEL TV TO HELP FREEDOM RING IN UKRAINE!

Multifaceted Media Campaign Poised to Help Ukraine for the “Long Haul” –

NEW YORK, NY: June 1 st , 2022  –  AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (AIM TV) , producers of the nation’s most-watched travel show,  Raw Travel®,  announced  “Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine”  to help Ukrainian refugees. The multi-platform and multi-faceted initiative will provide grassroots, long-term financial, and tangible assistance to externally and internally displaced Ukrainian refugees and citizens affected by the Russian invasion. 

In June, producer, and host,  Robert G. Rose  will be filming in Paris, France, and then at the border of Poland and Ukraine with Raw Travel videographer and displaced Ukrainian refugee  Anastasia Zui . Conditions permitting, they hope to go into Ukraine embedded with  “Keep the Kids Learning”  and “ Help 4 Ukraine,”  two small, independent organizations founded by American logistics engineer  Joseph Nichols,  living in Ukraine, and other Expatriates. The grassroots organizations are dedicated to helping keep Ukrainian refugee children and teachers in school and moving needed medicines and medical supplies from the US and Europe into Ukraine. 

On  July 2nd and 3rd,   2022 just before USA Independence Day, Raw Travel will premiere a special episode entitled “ Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine.”  The special will feature updated, relevant Ukrainian segments that showcase the country before the 2022 invasion, along with updated narration and ways viewers can help. The episode will re-air  on August 27th-28th. 

“Raw Travel offered valuable context to viewers when filming in Ukraine and the border areas of Russian-occupied Georgia in 2019,” said  Robert G. Rose, Executive Producer and Host  of the series. “Given our past coverage of Russian aggression’s consequences in both Georgia and Ukraine, we feel we can offer a unique perspective,” Rose continued. “I think we can show a different, potentially more uplifting angle of this tragedy that may inspire people to help the many good folks and organizations helping Ukraine on the ground, long after the raw emotion of Russia’s 2022 invasion has subsided, but the need persists.”

The  “Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine”  effort has already begun in a limited capacity

with on-air billboards and social media posts encouraging viewers to visit 

RawTravelGiveBack.com . The special web page is a constantly evolving, dedicated entry point for concerned viewers. There, they can get updates about Ukrainians featured in the show and donate directly to vetted organizations or buy specially designed Raw Travel “Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine” merchandise (shirts, mugs, glasses, etc.) benefitting the efforts of these organizations. 

Raw Travel’s milestone Season 10 begins September 19th, 2022. A trailer of Raw Travel’s Let Freedom Ring episode can be viewed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl88AHSCsGo

Raw Travel is an adventure travel & lifestyle series showcasing socially and environmentally aware, independent travel. The series weaves together themes of eco-tourism and voluntourism (giving back) with underground music and authentic culture in a unique way. Each weekend the show is seen in 174 U.S. cities on major broadcast affiliates and several international territories (Asia, Africa, Europe…). It can also be found on several major airlines. AIM Tell-A-Vision Group produces the show and oversees its domestic and international distribution. Visit  RawTravel.tv  for more information. 

AIM Tell-A-Vision (AIM TV) Group is an independent production, content, and distribution company founded by media veteran and entrepreneur Robert G. Rose. Since 2000, AIM TV has been producing and distributing positive, compelling content that reflects a mission of presenting “Media That Matters.” Visit  AIMTVGroup.com  for more information.

ABOUT KEEP THE KIDS LEARNING AND CARE 4 UKRAINE

Joseph Nichols is a US Citizen and logistics expert that has lived and worked in Ukraine since 2014. He and other US Expatriates are raising money for medical supplies and medicines distributed to Internally Displaced People (IDPs – Ukrainians displaced within Ukraine). They are also purchasing computers, books, and supplies to set up learning centers in Lviv, Ukraine, for children that the conflict has displaced. They have established transport lines across the Ukrainian/Polish border into most areas of the country and have received donations of supplies, equipment, and medicines. They are also offering space on trucks to other aid groups. Visit  https://gofund.me/13be73ab  and  https://gofund.me/06fa1840  for more information on Keep The Kids Learning and Care 4 Ukraine. 

• Tags aim tv group , eastern europe , help ukraine , let freedom ring , press release , putin , raw travel , raw travel tv , robert g. rose , russian war , tv special , tv to help ukraine , ukraine , voluntourism , war crimes , war in ukraine

Let Freedom Ring Coffee Mugs

• Post date April 28, 2022

Thanks everyone for your donations and for buying the exclusive Raw Travel designed “Let Freedom Ring” T-Shirts and Pint Glasses based on my photo of Freedom Square in Kyiv that I took in 2019.

You can order yours at our special merch page

or if you prefer, you may also donate at our GoFundMe Page

I’m including below the latest update from Joseph there, who is planning a trip back to the USA to gather medical supplies, etc. to take back. I hope to catch up with him in person or by zoom. My trip to Ukraine has been delayed a bit until early June, but it’s still on.

Thank you for all your support once again!

Here’s the latest update from Joseph at Care4Ukraine / Keeps Kids Learning.

As you might know, the areas we are starting these “pop-up” classrooms are located in the western region of Ukraine. Not only have IDP’s relocated from where the intense fighting is concentrated to cities like Lviv, Ternopil, and Uhzgorod, but also to the smaller villages. Recent attacks in the west have knocked out power in many places and our sister-site on GoFundMe – “Care4Ukraine” is beginning to address needs of IDP’s in these areas. Many refugees are returning to Ukraine as the war drags on. Issues like the higher cost of living and separation from family takes it toll, and the choice to return begins to look better than being a refugee in a foreign country. It is now estimated that there are eight million IDPs in Ukraine, economic output is down more than 50%, and the conflict is growing more intense each day.

Thank you for your help. Joseph

UPDATE May 2nd, 2022 –

ROB INTERVIEWS JOSEPH NICHOLS OF “KEEP THE KIDS LEARNING” FROM UKRAINE – Rob caught up with Joseph via zoom, while Joseph was making a quick trip to Chicago to pick up some medical supplies to take back to Ukraine.

• Tags help ukraine , help4ukraine , kyiv , let freedom ring , medical supplies , nato , putin , raw travel , refugee education , refugees , russian invasion , stop putin , tragedy , ukraine , war , war crimes

• From Ukraine

UA Service portal ABOUT UKRAINE 24/7

How to safely visit and travel to ukraine.

Martial law is in effect in Ukraine and air traffic has been suspended, however, the entry and exit of foreign citizens by land is allowed.

Checkpoints on the border with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova are open and safe. Checkpoints with the russia, Belarus and Transnistria are closed.

Crossing the state border of Ukraine is possible with:

• a valid passport document (the passport must be valid for the entire stay in the country);

! Citizens of Turkey and Georgia can enter Ukraine on the basis of an ID card.

• availability of an entry visa, if required ;

• a residence permit, the term of which expired after February 24, 2022,  gives the right to enter Ukraine ;

• availability of a  health insurance policy . Insurance in Ukraine is mandatory.

For journalists, reporters, correspondents, opinion leaders, as well as media representatives, this is enshrined in the Law of Ukraine on Insurance (Article 7).

Visit Ukraine also strongly recommends that you take out medical insurance covering military risks for the entire stay in Ukraine. This policy guarantees monetary compensation in the event of an accident as a result of passive military risks, terrorist acts, including repatriation of the insured person (or his body, in case of death) from the place of stay to the place of his permanent accommodation.

Options such as emergency care, outpatient treatment, hospitalization, etc. are included in health insurance contracts.

Recommendation! Be prepared to  confirm the purpose of your entry  and stay in Ukraine.

PREPARATION FOR A VISIT TO UKRAINE:

1.  Check whether the Embassy of your country has resumed work on the territory of Ukraine. Write down his address and contacts so you always have access .

2.  Make electronic copies of all your documents and store them on an electronic device .

3.  Find out in advance the curfew time in the region  where you are going.

4.  Be ready for the sound of air alarms. The threat of a missile attack can happen in any region or city of Ukraine . Download the "Air Raid" mobile application (from  Google Play Market  or  AppStore ) to instantly receive notifications of air raid alerts in the selected city.

5. If possible, choose a hotel where you stay, with its own shelter or near a bomb shelter.

6.  Give your relatives and loved ones a detailed itinerary of your trip, when and where you intend to stay or stop .

7. Be sure to  take out medical insurance with extended coverage  for the entire period of stay in Ukraine.

All important and exclusively verified news from reliable sources are published in the  Blog section  and official  Telegram channel Visit Ukraine

No registration, no personal data or geolocation collection. 

App sends extremely loud notifications about air raid, chemical, technogenetic or other types of alert of civil defence even if your phone in soundless or sleep regime.

In order to receive notifications:

1. Set up app in Google Play or AppStore;

2. Allow it to send you notifications and warnings;

3. Choose region you want to receive alerts about;

4. Follow start and end of air alert.

You can change region or disable notifications whenever you want.

There are currently no cities in Ukraine that are completely safe. And although the main fighting is concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, the entire country is constantly under rocket fire. 

If you do decide to visit Ukraine, remember the basic safety rules:

- Always carry an identity document with you.

- Strictly observe the curfew . During the curfew, it is forbidden to be in public places, to move around on foot or by transport. 

- Air raid alert - we recommend installing the application of the same name on your smartphone and immediately go to the nearest shelter when you receive the signal. You should also do the same if you hear the corresponding signal on the street.

- Keep a record of your blood type and any possible health problems in your clothing pocket.

- Always keep your cell phone and power bank charged.

- There are checkpoints on the roads of all cities in Ukraine. Be prepared to be stopped and have your documents checked.

- Do not wear army uniforms, camouflaged clothing, or clothing with chevrons.

- Do not take photos or videos of people in uniform, checkpoints, or any military vehicles or military equipment.

- For accommodation in Ukraine, choose hotels, hostels, private houses, etc. with a basement. In case of danger, it can serve as a shelter. 

For additional questions about entering or staying in Ukraine, contact the VisitUkraine.Today hotline.

VisitUkraine.Today website guide

Rules for staying in cities.

We invite you to an unforgettable journey through Ukraine - a country of rich history, cultural diversity, unsurpassed hospitality and unique cities that can surprise even the most demanding tourists. 

📌 A selection of the best tours in Ukraine:

1.  Individual tour: all over Ukraine

2.  Tour of ancient Kyiv

3.  Lviv in the evening

4.  Donation tour to the hero city of Mykolaiv

5.  Kryvyi Rih: a short individual tour

6.  Mega-tour to the Carpathians. 7 days of vacation in Vorokhta

7.  Escort Kyiv region + Chernihiv

8.  Secrets of the Odesa catacombs

9.  Underground Khreshchatyk: individual tour

10.  Hutsul Carpathians + Bukovel (spring version)

Independent organization of a trip to Ukraine requires considerable preparation, taking into account a large number of nuances and limitations, and therefore, if you do not have extensive experience in organizing independent travel, we recommend that you do not neglect your own safety and rely on professionals. The Visit Ukraine team has already helped more than 1000 foreign tourists organize a comfortable and safe trip to Ukraine under martial law, so you can fully rely on us to plan and implement your trip! 

👉🏻  Following this link , you can choose ready-made safe tours to Ukraine, or create an individual tour together with a manager that will fully meet your needs, preferences and desires. You can contact Visit Ukraine managers via the  hotline  daily from 08:00 to 02:00 (Kyiv time).

• Kyiv and Kyiv region – 00:00 - 05:00;
• Dnipropetrovs'k region - 00:00 - 5:00 (Nikopol district - 23:00 - 4:00. Synelnykivskyi district - 22:00 - 5:00);
• Chernivtsi region - 00:00 - 4:00;
• Vinnytsia region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Volyn region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Donetsk region - 21:00 - 5:00;
• Zhytomyr region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Zaporizhzhia region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Ivano-Frankivsk region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Kirovohrad region - 00:00 - 4:00;
• Luhansk region - 21:00 - 5:00;
• Lviv region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Mykolaiv region - 00:00 - 5:00 (Ochakiv territorial community - 23:00 - 5:00);
• Odesa region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Poltava region - 00:00 - 4:00;
• Rivne region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Sumy region - 23:00 - 4:00;
• Ternopil region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Kharkiv region - 23:00 - 5:00;
• Kherson region - 20:00 - 6:00;
• Khmelnytsky region - 00:00 - 5:00;
• Cherkasy region - 00:00 - 4:00;
• Chernihiv region - 00:00 - 4:00.
• Republic of Poland: Jagodyn (passenger cars are temporarily not allowed), Ustilug, Ugrinow, Rawa Ruska, Gruszew, Smelnica, Krakowiec, Shegyni.
• Slovak Republic: Maly Berezny, Uzhgorod (no pedestrian passage), Maly Selmentsy (open from 09:00 to 21:00).
• Hungary: Tisza (no pedestrian passage), Zvonkovoe (open from 08:00 to 19:00), Kosino (open from 08:00 to 20:00), Luzhanka, Wilok.
• Romania: Diakovo, Solotvino, Porubnoe and Krasnoilsk.
• Republic of Moldova: Mamalyga, Kelmenci, Rossoshany, Sokiriani.
• All checkpoints on the western border, except for those indicated, operate 24 hours a day.
• Checkpoints with russia, Belarus and Transnistria are closed.

• Inform the Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine about the movement of Russian troops, saboteurs and equipment

• Report to the National Police  about enemy road markings and the movement of Russian troops

• • Queues at international checkpoints:  regular updates
• • Queues at checkpoints TO ENTER Ukraine: useful resources for tracking congestion
• • Important information and  contacts about crossing the Ukrainian border
• •  Search and purchase of railway tickets
• • Volunteering in Ukraine:  a list of opportunities
• •  Online consultations of doctors
• • Explosion hazard:  a site with tips on what to do in case of finding unexploded ordnance
• • Services  for searching for those missing during the war
• •  Official portal of humanitarian aid:  for those who want to provide humanitarian or financial assistance to Ukraine to support the population, business and the state during the war
• • Provide video evidence of the war in Ukraine for the world to see at the link
• • Services for finding psychological help
• • Help for animals (contacts of organizations, specialists, charities that help four-legged friends)
• • For friends of foreigners ( trusted media for foreigners, how they can help Ukraine, etc .)
• • Military stores in Europe

• Become an ambassador of Ukraine – show Ukraine to the world

• We transfer 25% of each purchase to the Armed Forces of Ukraine

• Worldwide shipping (up to 10 days)

Rules, useful information and insurance

Exploring Ukraine with us is easy and safe, because Visit Ukraine is your reliable guide. We offer you a selection of 500 different tours to safe regions of Ukraine. 

Find out the types, work schedules, checkpoint loading and other useful information

We offer cooperation to guides and tour operators who conduct a tour of Ukraine. Namely, free placement of your tours on our website. To get additional information about cooperation - please fill out the form and our manager will contact you!

• What COVID documents do I need to have with me when entering Ukraine now? On July 1, 2023, the Ukrainian authorities lifted the quarantine and other restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From now on, you do not need to provide proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test result or wear a protective mask to enter Ukraine.
• Is it safe to visit Ukraine during the war? Recently, the number of foreign travelers has increased in Ukraine. They visit the country for various purposes: volunteering, participating in humanitarian programs, filming reports or documentaries, setting up a business, etc. There are currently no cities in Ukraine that are completely safe. And although the main fighting is concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, the entire country is subject to regular rocket attacks.
• What are your safety recommendations before traveling to Ukraine? Here are some important tips: • Make electronic copies of all documents and save them on your electronic device so that you always have access to them. • Find out in advance the curfew time in the region where you are going. • Install the Air Alert app on your smartphone and, upon receiving the signal, immediately go to the nearest shelter. You should also do the same if you hear the corresponding signal on the street. • When choosing a hotel, consider the availability of bomb shelters. • Inform your family and friends about your route and keep in touch with them. • Take out health insurance with extended coverage.
• Do foreigners need to register their stay in Ukraine? No, if the period of stay in the country is no more than 90 days. If a foreigner arrives for a period longer than 90 days, in this case, he or she needs a temporary or permanent residence permit, as well as registration at the place of residence.
• What should I do if I have been banned from entering Ukraine? If you become aware of a ban on entry to Ukraine while trying to pass passport control at the border of Ukraine, you should politely ask for a decision to refuse to cross the border, indicating the specific reason for the entry ban. You can appeal the decision to deny entry within 30 days from the date of familiarization with it. It is strictly forbidden to argue with border guards or violate the rules of stay at the checkpoint, otherwise you may be held administratively liable. You should remember the rules of staying at the checkpoint.
• Is insurance required to enter Ukraine? All foreign citizens are required to have an insurance policy covering the costs of Covid-19 treatment in Ukraine.
• For how long do I have to take out an insurance policy? According to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1236, an insurance policy must be issued for the entire period of stay in Ukraine. The minimum period is not specified.
• Where can I get acquainted with the terms of the insurance contract? You can familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of the insurance contract on our website in the section on insurance policy issuance.
• Is it necessary to buy an insurance policy for children? Yes, if a child has foreign citizenship, regardless of age, he or she must have an insurance policy for the entire period of stay in Ukraine.
• What should I do if I provided incorrect data when applying for an insurance policy? You can always contact the portal hotline and we will make the necessary changes to the insurance policy free of charge and promptly.

The simultaneous stay of visitors in the hotel lobby not more than one person per 10 square meters of serviceable area is allowed.

Persons can visit hotels and stay there (outside hotel room) only if they wear respirator or face mask (including homemade mask), so that the nose and mouth are covered.

Hotel guests are obliged to keep the 1.5 meters distance.

Online check-in making in advance is recommended to avoid queues at check-in to hotel.

Meals in hotels are provided through meals delivery service to rooms upon prior order or at hotel restaurants situated inside or in open areas, provided the distance of at least 1.5 meters between seats at adjacent tables.

Not more than 4 clients are allowed to stay at the table (excluding children under 14 years old). Unless these tables are separated by a special partition;

Self-serve is not allowed.

Refund policy

Public offer

VisitUkraine.Today is a service portal for tourists traveling to Ukraine and Ukrainians planning a trip abroad.

• On the portal you can order the following products/services:
• •  medical insurance for entry into Ukraine with coverage of military risks;
• •  travel and health insurance for leaving the country;
• •  legal advice (professional legal support on visa and migration issues);
• •  Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad

To order, you need to fill out an electronic form and make a payment, after which the finished insurance document will be sent to the specified e-mail within 30 minutes.

• The website also contains the necessary and most up-to-date information on:
• • rules of crossing the Ukrainian border by foreign citizens;
• • rules of entry of Ukrainians to 200 countries of the world for tourism, work (business), study or immigration purposes;
• • visa information.

All information on the website is updated daily and is available in three languages - Ukrainian, English and Russian.

Customer support (English speaking) is available - online chats (around the clock) and a call center (09:00-21:00 Kyiv time) - if you need clarification of the information provided or prompt assistance in resolving problems and misunderstandings related to ordering.

• The portal was developed by the Ukrainian organization Visit Ukraine.
• VisitUkraine is a public union that, since 2018, has been engaged in the promotion and popularization of Ukrainian tourism on the domestic and foreign markets, but the war made its adjustments. Now we are working on the information front.

Ukraine travel guide

Ukraine tourism | ukraine guide, you're going to love ukraine.

Travelers who like off-the-beaten-track experiences will love Ukraine, a country where people are warm-hearted and rich in traditions.

What to do in Ukraine

1. explore kiev.

A visit to Ukraine must start at the capital Kiev where you can visit numerous churches, such as Saint Sophia's cathedral, or hang out at Independence Square.

2. Admire the Architecture of Lviv

Walk around this pebbled city, visit St George's cathedral, watch a show at the Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet theater, and go to Mountain High Castle for a nice panoramic view.

3. Get Romantic in the Tunnel of Love

Visit this old railway, which has been transformed and surrounded with green arches and goes for a few miles. It's a great place for a romantic walk or a photo session.

4. Go on a Guided Tour of Chernobyl

Known for the nuclear disaster that struck in 1986, Chernobyl is now a fascinating ghost city that you can visit by taking a 1-day or a 2-day tour.

5. Go for a Walk in the Carpathian Mountains

Hiking and nature lovers will love the beautiful scenery of the national park. Make sure you visit Synevyr Lake, which was formed because of an earthquake.

When to visit Ukraine

Ukraine gets very cold in winter, and the most pleasant months for a visit weather-wise are May to September. If you prefer being away from tourists, avoid July and August.

How to Get to Ukraine

Entry requirements.

A number of countries, including the EU countries and the USA, can enter Ukraine without a visa for a period of 90 days. Citizens of most countries need a visa, some of which can get one on arrival, while others need to apply for it prior to leaving their respective countries.

The most convenient way to get to Ukraine by plane is by flying to one of the Kiev airports, Boryspil and Zhuliany. Nonstop flights are offered from a large number of countries.

Direct trains are available from a number of European cities to Kiev and Lviv, including Berlin, Vienna, Belgrade, Warsaw, Budapest, Sofia and Bucharest.

You can enter Ukraine by car from Poland passing by Przemysl, and from Slovakia through Uzhhorod-Vysne Nemecke and Malyj Bereznyj-Ubla crossings. Long lines are expected when crossing the border.

Direct buses are available from Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Moldova. Buses are available on a daily basis with services such as Flixbus.

A limited number of ferries are available from Istanbul in Turkey, Varna in Bulgaria and from Georgia.

Popular airports in Ukraine

Where to stay in ukraine.

The best options for accommodation in Ukraine are either mid-range to 5-star hotels or furnished apartments, which can be rented online prior to arriving. Both options are available in all the main touristy areas.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ukraine

Most booked hotels in ukraine, how to get around ukraine, public transportation.

A metropolitan system is available in 3 cities, including the capital Kiev, while most cities operate on trams, buses or trolleybuses.

Train travel is available throughout the country with local rail company Ukrainian Railways. A lot of trains are not equipped with air conditioning, so if you're traveling during the summer, a trip by train can get hot. You may be required to show an ID document prior to boarding the train.

Bus travel is available throughout the country via bus companies Avtolux and Gunsel. Buses run to and from Kyiv, with prices for further trips going up to about 220 UAH (9 USD).

It is easy to rent a car and drive in Ukraine. However, please beware that a lot of the road signs are not available in the Latin alphabet.

Getting around the country by plane is not a very common method; however, it is convenient and saves time, with cheap flights available from Ukraine International Airlines if you book in advance.

Best car rental deals in Ukraine

2 Adults, 2 Bags

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

The Cost of Living in Ukraine

The average price for a cheap meal in Ukraine is about 120 UAH (5 USD), while a sit down meal will be about 250 UAH (10 USD) per person. Local public transport costs about 7 UAH (0.30 USD) for a one-way trip, while a week of groceries will cost around 1000 UAH (40 USD). If you plan to use a credit card, Mastercard, Visa, Maestro and Circus are the most widely accepted cards.

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Raw Travel Presents – “Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine!”

RAW TRAVEL TV TO HELP FREEDOM RING IN UKRAINE!

Multifaceted media campaign poised to help ukraine for the “long haul” –.

  NEW YORK, NY: June 1 st , 2022  –  AIM Tell-A-Vision® Group (AIM TV) , producers of the nation’s most-watched travel show,  Raw Travel®,  announced  “Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine”  to help Ukrainian refugees. The multi-platform and multi-faceted initiative will provide grassroots, long-term financial, and tangible assistance to externally and internally displaced Ukrainian refugees and citizens affected by the Russian invasion.

In June, producer, and host,  Robert G. Rose  will be filming in Paris, France, and then at the border of Poland and Ukraine with Raw Travel videographer and displaced Ukrainian refugee  Anastasia Zui . Conditions permitting, they hope to go into Ukraine embedded with  “Keep the Kids Learning”  and “ Help 4 Ukraine,”  two small, independent organizations founded by American logistics engineer  Joseph Nichols,  living in Ukraine, and other Expatriates. The grassroots organizations are dedicated to helping keep Ukrainian refugee children and teachers in school and moving needed medicines and medical supplies from the US and Europe into Ukraine.

On  July 2nd and 3rd,   2022 just before USA Independence Day, Raw Travel will premiere a special episode entitled “ Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine.”  The special will feature updated, relevant Ukrainian segments that showcase the country before the 2022 invasion, along with updated narration and ways viewers can help. The episode will re-air  on August 27th-28th. 

“Raw Travel offered valuable context to viewers when filming in Ukraine and the border areas of Russian-occupied Georgia in 2019,” said  Robert G. Rose, Executive Producer and Host  of the series. “Given our past coverage of Russian aggression’s consequences in both Georgia and Ukraine, we feel we can offer a unique perspective,” Rose continued. “I think we can show a different, potentially more uplifting angle of this tragedy that may inspire people to help the many good folks and organizations helping Ukraine on the ground, long after the raw emotion of Russia’s 2022 invasion has subsided, but the need persists.”

The  “Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine” effort has already begun in a limited capacity with on-air billboards and social media posts encouraging viewers to visit

RawTravelGiveBack.com . The special web page is a constantly evolving, dedicated entry point for concerned viewers. There, they can get updates about Ukrainians featured in the show and donate directly to vetted organizations or buy specially designed Raw Travel “Let Freedom Ring in Ukraine” merchandise (shirts, mugs, glasses, etc.) benefitting the efforts of these organizations.

Raw Travel’s milestone Season 10 begins September 19th, 2022.

A trailer of Raw Travel’s Let Freedom Ring episode can be viewed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl88AHSCsGo

  ABOUT RAW TRAVEL TV

Raw Travel is an adventure travel & lifestyle series showcasing socially and environmentally aware, independent travel. The series weaves together themes of eco-tourism and voluntourism (giving back) with underground music and authentic culture in a unique way. Each weekend the show is seen in 174 U.S. cities on major broadcast affiliates and several international territories (Asia, Africa, Europe…). It can also be found on several major airlines. AIM Tell-A-Vision Group produces the show and oversees its domestic and international distribution. Visit  RawTravel.tv  for more information.

ABOUT AIM TELL-A-VISION GROUP

AIM Tell-A-Vision (AIM TV) Group is an independent production, content, and distribution company founded by media veteran and entrepreneur Robert G. Rose. Since 2000, AIM TV has been producing and distributing positive, compelling content that reflects a mission of presenting “Media That Matters.” Visit  AIMTVGroup.com  for more information.

ABOUT KEEP THE KIDS LEARNING AND CARE 4 UKRAINE

Joseph Nichols is a US Citizen and logistics expert that has lived and worked in Ukraine since 2014. He and other US Expatriates are raising money for medical supplies and medicines distributed to Internally Displaced People (IDPs – Ukrainians displaced within Ukraine). They are also purchasing computers, books, and supplies to set up learning centers in Lviv, Ukraine, for children that the conflict has displaced. They have established transport lines across the Ukrainian/Polish border into most areas of the country and have received donations of supplies, equipment, and medicines. They are also offering space on trucks to other aid groups. Visit  https://gofund.me/13be73ab  and  https://gofund.me/06fa1840  for more information on Keep The Kids Learning and Care 4 Ukraine.

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U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory: Ukraine – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Information for u.s. citizens in ukraine:, resources for refugees and asylum-seekers.

UKRAINE IN WASHINGTON and beyond…2021

UKRAINE IN WASHINGTON and beyond…2020

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What we know about the container ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge

• The ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday was the Singapore-flagged Dali.
• The container ship had been chartered by Maersk, the Danish shipping company. 
• Two people were recovered from the water but six remain missing, authorities said.

A container ship crashed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing its collapse into the Patapsco River.

A livestream showed vehicles traveling on the Francis Scott Key Bridge just moments before the impact at 1:28 a.m. ET.

Baltimore first responders called the situation a "developing mass casualty event" and a "dire emergency," per The Associated Press.

James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore Fire Department, said in a press conference that two people had been recovered from the water.

One was uninjured, but the other was transported to a local trauma center in a "very serious condition."

Wallace said up to 20 people were thought to have fallen into the river and some six people were still missing.

Richard Worley, Baltimore's police chief, said there was "no indication" the collision was purposeful or an act of terrorism.

Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, declared a state of emergency around 6 a.m. ET. He said his office was in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary.

"We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration," Moore added.

Understanding why the bridge collapsed could have implications for safety, in both the shipping and civil engineering sectors.

The container ship is the Singapore-flagged Dali, which is about 984 feet long, and 157 feet wide, per a listing on VesselFinder.

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said that the ship "lost propulsion" as it was leaving port, ABC News reported.

The crew notified officials that they had lost control and warned of a possible collision, the report said, per the outlet.

The Dali's owner is listed as Grace Ocean, a Singapore-based firm, and its manager is listed as Synergy Marine, which is also headquartered in Singapore.

Shipping news outlet TradeWinds reported that Grace Ocean confirmed the Dali was involved in the collapse, but is still determining what caused the crash.

Related stories

Staff for Grace Ocean declined to comment on the collision when contacted by Business Insider.

"All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution," Synergy Marine said in a statement.

The company did not respond to a request for further comment from BI.

'Horrified'

Maersk chartered the Dali, with a schedule for the ship on its website.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," the Danish shipping company said in a statement.

Maersk added: "We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed."

Per ship tracking data, the Dali left Baltimore on its way to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, at around 1 a.m., about half an hour before the crash.

The Port of Baltimore is thought to be the largest in the US for roll-on/roll-off ships carrying trucks and trailers.

Barbara Rossi, associate professor of engineering science at the University of Oxford, told BI the force of the impact on one of the bridge's supporting structures "must have been immense" to lead to the collapse.

Dr Salvatore Mercogliano, a shipping analyst and maritime historian at Campbell University, told BI: "It appears Dali left the channel while outbound. She would have been under the control of the ship's master with a Chesapeake Bay pilot onboard to advise the master.

"The deviation out of the channel is probably due to a mechanical issue as the ship had just departed the port, but you cannot rule out human error as that was the cause of the Ever Forward in 2022 just outside of Baltimore."

He was referring to the incident two years ago when the container ship became grounded for a month in Chesapeake Bay after loading up cargo at the Port of Baltimore.

The US Coast Guard found the incident was caused by pilot error, cellphone use, and "inadequate bridge resource management."

Claudia Norrgren, from the maritime research firm Veson Nautical, told BI: "The industry bodies who are here to protect against incidents like this, such as the vessel's flag state, classification society, and regulatory bodies, will step in and conduct a formal investigation into the incident. Until then, it'll be very hard for anyone to truly know what happened on board."

This may not have been the first time the Dali hit a structure.

In 2016, maritime blogs such as Shipwreck Log and ship-tracking site VesselFinder posted videos of what appears to be the stern of the same, blue-hulled container vessel scraping against a quay in Antwerp.

A representative for the Port of Antwerp told BI the Dali did collide with a quay there eight years ago but couldn't "give any information about the cause of the accident."

The Dali is listed as being built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea.

Watch: The shipwreck at the center of a battle between China and the Philippines

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The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses, 6 feared dead

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In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images hide caption

In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday.

At least six people are presumed dead following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, officials said.

The bridge fell into the Patapsco River after it was struck by a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship, sending several people plunging into the frigid waters below.

During a news update Tuesday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard told reporters they are ending an active search and rescue operation for the six people left unaccounted for at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said that based on the length of time since the bridge collapsed and the water temperatures, they don't believe that search teams are going to find any of these individuals still alive.

More from WYPR in Baltimore:

• Construction worker says friends, colleagues missing in bridge collapse
• Federal government pledges full support to rebuild FSK bridge, reopen port

For the latest from member station WYPR in Baltimore head to wypr.org

Gilreath told reporters that the Coast Guard is not leaving, but is going to "transition to a different phase."

The recovery phase will begin at 6 a.m. local time Wednesday when divers will begin searching for remains of all missing victims , Gilreath said.

Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., Secretary of Maryland State Police, told reporters the conditions have changed and made it dangerous for first responders and divers to be in the water.

He emphasized that police will still have surface ships out in the water overnight.

"We're hoping to put those divers in the water and begin a more detailed search to do our very best to recover those six missing people," Butler said.

The collision set off a rapid search-and-rescue operation. Eight people from a construction crew that was working to repair potholes on the bridge are thought to have fallen into the water, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told reporters.

Authorities did not believe any drivers were submerged in their cars, Wiedefeld said.

The bridge collapsed instantly

Eyepress/Reuters

The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, collapsed around 1:30 a.m. when it was struck by a massive cargo vessel named the Dali. Dramatic video of the collision shows the hulking ship–the length of more than three football fields– slamming into one of the bridge's pillars, and then an expanse of the bridge falling into the water instantly.

The Dali, a Singapore-flagged ship, had left Baltimore at 1 a.m. and was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to Marine Traffic , a maritime data site.

The Picture Show

Photos: baltimore's key bridge collapses; search and rescue efforts continue.

Synergy Marine Group, the company that manages the ship, said in a statement that all 22 crew members are accounted for and that there were no injuries resulting from the crash. The company also said there was no pollution to the water.

In a briefing for the media, Moore said the crew of the container ship had notified authorities about a power outage onboard shortly before the collision. The crew notified authorities of "a power issue," Moore said, confirming earlier reports that they had lost power on the ship.

The ship was traveling at approximately 8 knots when it hit the bridge, Moore said. In the immediate aftermath of the collision, officials feared motorists might be submerged in the river, but Moore said that a mayday signal was issued with enough time for authorities to stop the flow of traffic coming over the bridge.

A collapsed section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is seen in the waters of the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot-long cargo ship. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

A collapsed section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is seen in the waters of the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot-long cargo ship.

"I have to say I'm thankful for the folks who once the warning came up, and once notification came up that there was a mayday, who literally by being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives," Moore said.

FBI and state officials said the preliminary investigation points to an accident and that there was no credible evidence of any terrorist attack. Moore said the Francis Scott Key Bridge was fully up to code and there was no structural issue with the bridge.

"In fact, the bridge was actually fully up to code," Moore said.

The ship has had at least one previous accident

Vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest on the East Coast, was suspended "until further notice," port officials announced, as search-and-rescue operations continued and the preliminary investigation into the crash was getting underway.

"This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is closed," port officials said in a statement. "Trucks are being processed within our marine terminals."

Gov. Moore declared a state of emergency and said his office was in close communication with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The secretary was due to arrive in Baltimore to visit the crash site and receive updates on the investigation.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, speaks during a news conference as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) looks on near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Steve Ruark/AP hide caption

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, speaks during a news conference as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) looks on near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate what happened, announcing on X (formerly Twitter) that it was launching a "go team" to Baltimore.

Prior to the crash, the ship had completed 27 inspections, according to a database by the maritime safety site Equasis. In one inspection at a port in Chile last year, the ship was determined to have a deficiency related to "propulsion and auxiliary machinery," according to Equasis.

In 2016, an inspection found "hull damage impairing sea worthiness" after the ship hit a dock on its way out of the port of Antwerp. Video of the incident shows the stern of the ship scraping against the quay as it attempted to exit the North Sea container terminal.

The bridge is an important travel route with a deep history

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board listen to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speak during a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board listen to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speak during a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

The bridge's collapse leaves Baltimore and travelers along the East Coast without a vital transit corridor for the foreseeable future. The four-lane, 1.6-mile-long bridge carries some 11.3 million vehicles each year, according to state data, and is one of three ways to get through Baltimore on the interstate.

Reconstructing the bridge will be a "long-term build," Moore told reporters.

Speaking from the White House, President Biden said he intends for the federal government to "pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge."

"We're gonna get it up and running again as soon as possible," Biden said. "Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we're gonna do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers."

The bridge isn't just a vital transportation route. It also has a special historical significance.

It opened to the public in March 1977, but its history goes much deeper than that. Scholars believe it stood within 100 yards of the site where its namesake, Francis Scott Key, witnessed the failed British bombardment of Fort McHenry in September 1814.

Key, an American lawyer, watched the battle from the British warship he had boarded to negotiate the release of a detained American civilian. The awe he felt at seeing the flag rise the next morning inspired him to write "Defense of Fort McHenry," which was later renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and became the U.S. national anthem in 1931.

Shippers are scrambling to re-route their cargo

Roughly $80 billion worth of cargo passes through the Port of Baltimore each year. But with the port's shipping channels now closed indefinitely due to the accident, shippers have been left scrambling to find alternate routes to transport their goods to and from the East Coast.

Some vessels have already been diverted to Norfolk, Va., Margie Shapiro, who runs a freight handling business in Baltimore, told NPR . Other traffic could be re-routed through New York or Philadelphia.

The Dali was being chartered by Maersk and carrying cargo for Maersk customers, the shipping giant said in a statement . The company said it would be omitting Baltimore from its services "until it is deemed safe for passage through this area."

Cargo already at the Port of Baltimore will have to travel overland, but truck traffic will also be snarled by the loss of the bridge.

"The whole ecosystem is going to be a little bit off," Shapiro said. "When the ecosystem gets messy, things get messy. Freight rates go up. The world gets a little bit chaotic."

NPR's Dave Mistich and Scott Horsley contributed to this report.

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Russia-Ukraine latest: Europe in a 'pre-war era'; Russia launches 12 drones into Ukraine

Europe is currently in a "pre-war" era, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. Meanwhile, Russia fired four missiles and 12 Shahed drones into eastern Ukraine overnight, Ukraine's air force reports.

Saturday 30 March 2024 23:00, UK

• Europe in a 'pre-war era', Donald Tusk warns 
• Kyiv region 'fortified with 10,000 dragon's teeth'
• Russia fires 12 drones into Ukraine
• Ukraine will retreat 'in small steps' without US aid, Zelenskyy says
• Poland scrambles fighter jets after Russian strikes on western Ukraine
• Explained: How the war has strayed outside Ukraine's borders
• Listen to the Daily podcast above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts

We will be back soon with more updates on the war in Ukraine.

In the meantime, you can scroll back to read today's coverage. 

Russian attacks have damaged or destroyed nearly all the power plants of Ukraine's largest private energy firm and seen 80% of its generating capacity lost.

DTEK executive director Dmytro Sakharuk said on Ukrainian national television that five out of six of its stations had suffered severe damage, with some completely destroyed.

Repairs could take up to 18 months, Mr Sakharuk said.

DTEK meets nearly a quarter of Ukraine's energy needs. Its stations and other sites have been repeatedly targeted in Russian attacks during the war.

Mr Sakharuk said the cost of the losses amounted to $300m  (£238m) for equipment alone, before any labour costs were taken into account.

"We have determined that 80% of the available generating capacity is not working now," he said.

In southern Ukraine, frontline troops are continuing to defend against Russian attacks.

These pictures capture soldiers, in an undisclosed location, firing a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions.

The Russian Orthodox Church has declared Russia's invasion a "holy war" against Ukraine as it looks to form "wider nationalist ideology" around the conflict, according to military analysts.

The declaration was made in a new document adopted by the the World Russian People's Council, led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the ROC and an ally of Vladimir Putin.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War says the description of a "holy war" marks an escalation in the rhetoric used by Vladimir Putin and his allies. The Kremlin does not use the term "war," and instead refers to the conflict as Russia's "special military operation".

The document - titled "The Present and Future of the Russian World" - argues that "Holy Russia" is being defended from globalism and victory of the West, which it accuses of falling into "Satanism", and states that the lives, freedom and statehood of Russian citizens are at stake.

It describes the conflict as a new stage in the Russian people's "struggle" for national liberation in "southwestern Russia" - in reference to eastern and southeastern Ukraine.

It also suggests that the war will end in the entire territory of modern Ukraine falling under Russian influence.

Offering its analysis of the text, the ISW said it could "elicit support" from Russians who see the Kremlin's "restrained" descriptions of the war "uninspiring".

The US-based thinktank also suggested that while it may not "fully align itself" with the "ultranationalist ideology" put forward by the church, the Kremlin will "highly likely borrow from it" and use it to generate support for the war and acts of aggression against its neighbours and the West.

For context:  Patriarch Kirill has been a vocal supporter of the war and previously said Russia was fighting against "evil forces" in Ukraine.

Ukraine's interior ministry placed him on its wanted list in December after accusing him of abetting the conflict. The symbolic move put Patriarch Kirill under no threat of arrest.

At least two people have been killed in an explosion in central Ukraine.

Ukraine's state emergency service said an "unknown object" exploded in a five-storey residential building in the city of Bila Tserkva, in the Kyiv region, earlier today.

Crews rescued three people, including a child who was taken to hospital, it said.

A body was discovered in the rubble earlier, and another has been discovered this evening.

Around 17 people are being treated following the incident with work ongoing, the emergency service said.

Russian forces have launched "almost two-dozen" attacks on the southern Ukrainian district of Nikopol today, according to an official.

Dnipro regional governor Serhii Lysak said Russian troops have been "prowling" and "terrorising the district" with artillery and drones.

Mr Lysak said there were no casualities, but "lots of destruction" was reported.

Three apartment buildings and 10 private houses were hit, as well as a farm, entertainment centre, infrastructure objects and power lines, he said.

Nearly 10,000 concrete pyramids known as "dragon's teeth" have been installed around the Kyiv region as a line of defence against Russian forces, according to the local governor.

Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv regional state administration, said the goal was for residents to feel "as safe as possible".

He said the fortifications being built will include "an extensive system of trenches, dugouts and other types of shelters".

An anti-tank ditch has already been built in addition to the 10,000 "dragon's teeth", Mr Kravchenko said.

"We do not stop work for a single day, we have all the necessary materials and equipment," he said on Facebook .

Earlier this month, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine was building 2,000km of fortifications across three lines of defence in the country.

Defence troops have downed a Russian missile targeting Ukrainian territory, Ukraine's air force has said.

In a post to Telegram, the air force said the Kh-59 missile was destroyed along with a reconnaissance and combat drone earlier today. 

It also published footage purporting to show one of the weapons being shot down.

It comes after Russia launched 12 drones at several Ukrainian regions overnight, nine of which were shot down, while four missiles were fired at eastern Ukraine (see 7.37 post).

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed one of his senior aides and several other advisers as he continues his reshuffle of top government officials.

A decree published on the Ukrainian presidential website this morning confirms Serhiy Shefir has been removed from the post of first assistant - a position he had held since May 2019.

Mr Zelenskyy also dismissed three advisers and two presidential representatives.

No immediate explanation was given for the latest round of changes. 

They follow the replacement of top security official Oleksii Danilov earlier this week, and former armed forces head Valerii Zaluzhnyi in February.

The UK's deputy head of mission to Russia was among the foreign diplomats who laid flowers at Crocus City Hall today (more in 13.39 post).

Many attended with bouquets of red flowers, which they laid on top of a makeshift memorial which emerged in the wake of the attack last Friday.

In a post to X, the British embassy in Russia said: "Together with the Russian people, we mourn the victims of the terrorist attack."

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Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 765

As the war enters its 765th day, these are the main developments.

Here is the situation on Saturday , March 30, 2024.

• At least one person has been killed and two were injured after a drone crashed into an apartment building in Russia’s Belgorod region. Authorities there said they evacuated more than 3,500 children following a spate of Ukrainian attacks.
• Russia targeted Ukraine’s key energy infrastructure in escalated shelling, firing dozens of drones and missiles and injuring at least six people, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine’s Air Force said 99 missiles and drones were fired, but 84 of them were intercepted.
• Ukraine introduced emergency blackouts in three regions – Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia and Kirovograd – because of the attacks, and the authorities urged consumers in other regions to limit electricity consumption.
• The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office says the country’s law enforcement agencies have uncovered 280 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops in the war-torn country, including 101 cases concerning violence against men.
• Vladimir Tsimlyansky, the deputy head of the Russian General Staff’s main organisational and mobilisation department, said 130,000 conscripts were called up in its army draft late last year, according to state news agency TASS.
• Tajikistan’s state security service detained nine people for suspected contact with the perpetrators of last week’s attack by gunmen on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed 144 people, according to Russian state media. Russia has insisted Ukraine was involved in the attack, although Kyiv has denied the allegations.

Politics and diplomacy

• Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Kyiv’s 10-point peace formula ahead of a proposed summit in Switzerland. The plan demands the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called it “pointless”.
• Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of the “real” threat of conflict in Europe, saying that for the first time since the end of World War II, the continent has entered a “pre-war era”. Tusk, whose country has been one of the staunchest supporters of neighbouring Ukraine, said that if Kyiv lost, “no one” in Europe would feel safe.
• French authorities are “seriously” studying the option of building a plant to convert and enrich reprocessed uranium to cut reliance on Russia. The only plant in the world that currently converts reprocessed uranium for use in nuclear power plants is located in Russia and France is majorly dependent on nuclear energy.
• Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv received a $1.5bn tranche of funding under a World Bank programme – $984m from Japan and $516m from the United Kingdom. The funds are set to cover budget spending for social and humanitarian needs and reconstruction in the country.
• President Joe Biden said the United States will “impose costs” for Russia’s “appalling attempts” to use US citizens as “bargaining chips”, on the anniversary of the jailing of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich .
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said if his country does not get promised US military aid blocked by disputes in Congress, then its forces will have to “retreat, step by step, in small steps”.
• US authorities asked American companies to stop shipping goods to more than 600 foreign parties over fears the items could be diverted to Russia for use in its invasion of Ukraine. The US Department of Commerce sent letters to at least 20 companies that make and sell products found in missiles and drones recovered inside Ukraine.

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Naples soccer players take knee to support teammate juan jesus after alleged racial abuse.

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Players from the Naples soccer team took a knee before their match Saturday to show support for teammate Juan Jesus, who was allegedly racially abused during a match earlier this month.

The protest comes days after an Italian sports judge ruled that Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi will not face sanctions for allegedly calling Jesus, who is black, a racial slur at a Serie A match over lack of proof.

The team took a knee on the field at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples ahead of its match against Atalanta.

During the March 17 game against Inter Milan, Jesus told the referee that Acerbi directed a racial slur at him.

Acerbi has repeatedly denied he used the offensive word.

The Italian soccer federation prosecutor questioned players and witnesses last week. The judge also reviewed images, video and audio from the game before making his decision Tuesday.

The judge found that while it was clear Acerbi had insulted Jesus, the “minimum level of reasonable certainty” had not been reached to prove it was race-related.

Naples called the ruling “astonishing.”

“Napoli will no longer take part in anti-racism and anti-discrimination initiatives run by football institutions that are merely symbolic, but we will continue to organize them ourselves, as we have always done, with renewed conviction and determination,” the club responded in a statement.

Jesus said he was feeling “very bitter” about the decision.

Jesus, a 32-year-old Black Brazilian, looked visibly upset when he walked up to the referee in the Milan match and pointed to his shirt sleeve which had “Keep Racism Out” badge — part of the league’s anti-racism campaign.

After the game, Jesus said that Acerbi, 36, apologized.  

“What happens on the field, stays on the field … he is a good guy,” he said.

Acerbi was sent home from the Italy national team’s training camp the next day — but coach Luciano Spalletti and his teammates said they were certain “there was no defamatory, denigrating or racist intent on his part.”

Inter Milan was also reportedly mulling cutting Acerbi if the judge had found him guilty.

With Post Wires

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