Ukraine is situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe and has its own territory, government, national emblem, flag and anthem. It borders on Russia, Byelorussia, Moldova, Slovakia, Roumania, Hungary and Poland on land and Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Roumania and Turkey on sea.
The territory of Ukraine is mostly a level, treeless plain, calls "steppe". There are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean peninsula and the Carpathians in the west, but they are not very high. Mixed forests of pine and fir-trees, beeches, limes, oaks and elms cover the mountains, but the thickest woods can still be found in the northern part of the republic, in Volyn. Kiev and Cherkassy lie in the midst of Ukrainian southernmost pine forest. The main Ukrainian river is the Dnieper. It is one of the longest European rivers and one of the republic's main source of hydroelectric power. The Dnieper and its tributary the Ross had been the cradle of the Ukrainian and Russian people in time immemorial.
The climate of the country is moderate. Winter is rather mild, with no severe frosts but with regular snowfalls everywhere except the south. The rivers and lakes freeze in winter. The average winter temperature varies -20 Centigrade in the north to -3-5 in the south. Summer is quite hot and dry, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The fertile black soil is well watered in spring and autumn and gets plenty of sunshine in summer.
Due to favorable climatic conditions, Ukraine is traditionally an agricultural area. It grows wheat, maize, buckwheat and other corn, red and green vegetables, all kinds of fruit, melons and berries.
Ukraine is one of the world's main centers of sugar production. It produces sugar both for her own needs and for export.
The country is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore, coal, color metal, oil, gas, mineral salts, clay and potential water power. It has developed a varied industry, concentrated mostly in and around big cities, such as Kiev, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Dnyeprodzerzhinsk, Odessa, Kharkov, Lviv, Nickolayev and other. It produces planes and ships, lorries and buses, motorcars and locomotives, computer and electronic equipment, precision instruments and agricultural machines, TV and radioset, chemicals and textiles and various consumer goods. Odessa, Sebastopol, Nickolayev, Kherson and Kerch are main ukrainian ports.
NOTE : winters have become unusually cold.
Money
The Ukrainian hryvnia (usually pronounced gry-vnya instead of the correct hry-vnya, or even just greev) is divided into 100 kopecks. Coins come in denominations of one, five, 10, 25 and 50 kopecks, plus one hryvnia. Notes come in one, two, five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 hryvnia.
That said, there is a chronic shortage of change throughout the country, so try to give the correct money whenever you can. Be patient, too. If someone seems reluctant to give change, or asks you for more money (to make up an even sum), they’re probably genuinely out of change, rather than trying to cheat you.
In some places, particularly in Crimea, people quote prices in roubles instead of hryvnia. Don’t be confused; it’s just force of habit.
After the Orange Revolution, Ukraine dropped its strict hryvnia–US dollar peg, but the local currency has remained fairly stable at about 5uah per US dollar. Many prices, particularly for hotel rooms, continue to be listed in dollars.
Officially, you can only pay for air tickets and foreign visas in US dollars. Some hotels and travel agencies will also let you pay in dollars or euros, although they probably shouldn’t. Your change will come in hryvnia.
It’s virtually impossible to buy any hryvnia before you get to Ukraine.
Medecine, be ready !
Ukraine’s health service is under-resourced and decidedly primitive by Western European standards, so it’s important to be prepared. Bring extra supplies of any medication you are taking and familiarise yourself with the Latin name if it’s not on the label.
In Ukraine this is often written in the Roman alphabet alongside any medicine’s local name. Although most Ukrainian hospitals now use disposable syringes, supplies can be short, so it doesn’t hurt to bring your own in a sterilised first-aid kit.
Medical checklist
Pharmacists in Ukraine are the first port of call for many people suffering minor complaints, and they will usually perform a diagnosis if you can explain or point to the problem. Most common medicines are available, but it might be handy to bring the following.
- Adhesive tape
- Antibacterial ointment (for cuts and abrasions)
- Antidiarrhoeal drugs (eg loperamide)
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (eg Ibuprofen)
- Antihistamine (for hay fever and allergic reactions)
- Aspirin or paracetamol
- Bandages, gauze, gauze rolls
- DEET-based insect repellent for the skin
- Eye drops
- Insect spray containing pyrethrin, for clothing, tents and bed nets
- Oral rehydration salts
- Scissors, safety pins, tweezers
- Sun block
- Thermometer
Stay safe !
Avoiding this is largely a matter of common sense. Ukrainians can usually spot foreigners at 10 paces, and no matter how hard you try to blend in, you will stand out as a ‘rich’ Westerner, so don’t compound matters by flashing your money around. Watch your wallet and belongings, particularly on public transport and in crowded situations. Stay low-key in appearance and have more than one place on your body where you stash your cash. Avoid being alone at night in parks or secluded places.
There’s one famous scam and growing credit-card fraud. However, the sort of organised robberies on trains that occur in many other parts of Europe don’t happen on domestic routes here. Keep your valuables with you at all times, of course, and travel in 2nd class if you don’t want to draw too much attention to yourself. However, no one is likely to release knock-out gas into your compartment while you sleep.
Although Ukraine remains largely a cash economy, credit cards are increasingly accepted by up-market hotels, restaurants and shops both in and outside Kyiv. Unfortunately, some embassies have warned of a concomitant rise in credit card fraud. They suggest you use your card only as a last resort, and only in reputable locations. Take all the usual precautions to make sure no one sees or copies down your PIN.
Canadien Embassy
Emergency services
We are here to help you in case of an emergency.
After-Hours Emergency Contact
Call collect from any country to (613) 996-8885 to reach the Emergency Operations Centre.
This section provides information on some difficult situations that Canadian travellers may encounter while abroad, and includes issue-specific recommendations to assist you in dealing with them.
Customs and Co.
Baggage/What if your luggage lost or delayed on international flight
Since 2008 a lot of foreigners who visit Ukraine have complained to us at KharkovRent about such an unpleasant fact as their overseas airlines lose or delay their luggage – very often it simply does not arrive at Kiev or Kharkov along with the passenger, or airlines deliver their luggage a day or two later. If it happens to you, don’t panic, just fill out a claim form for lost or damaged luggage prior to leaving the Borispil airport or Kharkov airport baggage area. Leave them the number of your mobile phone and the address of the apartment you rent, so that they could deliver luggage to your apartment rental and we can help coordinate this process. Note that some airlines do not provide delivery to apartment’s address, instead you will have to pick up your luggage in the destination airport on the day of its arrival (when they finally find your luggage and it arrives at Kharkov). Usually it arrives next day or in a day.
We recommend you to carry your personal things, medication and a change of clothing in your carry-on in case of having your baggage lost or delayed while you travel in Ukraine.
Passing through Ukraine Customs hassle-free
International Travelers to Ukraine must pass through Ukrainian passport control and customs upon arrival. A customs declaration form will be supplied to you on the airline prior to landing in Ukraine (either Borispil or Kharkov airport).
Questions Ukraine custom officer may ask You
When passing through passport control be ready to answer such questions as to where you intend to stay while in Ukraine, what is the name of person you are visiting, how much money you have with you etc. We advise you to carry on your rented apartment address with you.
You are allowed to bring in up to $10,000.00 USD without any special documentation.
Should the funds you bring in exceed this amount then you will be required to complete a special form requesting information on the purpose of your bringing in such a large amount and to whom the money will be transferred.
It is very important to keep this declaration form, and any other forms they may supply you with, in safe keeping and be prepared to present any and all of them when leaving the country.
Customs inspection is a personal matter between you and the customs officer
Here are some suggestions to make this process go smoothly for you. It is strongly suggested that you be completely truthful when declaring the amount of money you are bringing on your trip to Ukraine (even if you bring in lets say 2.5 thousand, always tell the officer the exact amount you bring in, when he asks you). This also pertains to items of value.
On your departure from Ukraine you will be required to complete an exit declaration form. All items of value should be the same as upon arrival except for the cash. You should not leave the country with more cash than what you entered with.
Money/Credit cards/ATMs in Ukraine
Ukraine is still most a cash economy. Credit cards are gaining wider acceptance in larger cities, so if you travel to Ukraine to Kiev or Kharkov, or Odessa , you will find places that accept your VISA, while in shops and restaurants you still can pay only in local currency - grivna. Use of credit cards is limited to the better hotels, Western-style restaurants, international airlines and select stores. American Express, MasterCard, and Visa are commonly accepted.
Make sure your bank knows you are traveling to Ukraine – some US banks automatically prohibit use of their credit cards in certain number of countries including Ukraine as a measure against fraud etc.
Be sure to carry an ample supply of grivna with you, as almost all stores do not accept foreign currency for purchases. Exchange booths are plentiful, just watch for signs with black numbers and icons for currencies. One should avoid exchanging currency with individuals on the street. It is illegal and dangerous.
Important Tip on bills! Be sure your U.S. dollar bills or Euros are clean and not wrinkled, free of marks and tears and not worn out too much. Even tiny magic marker strokes used by many North American banks can be cause for refusal to accept your bills in exchange booths. Also do not pay for your apartment or interpreter in worn out bills – later it is difficult or not possible to exchange such into grivna.
Personal checks do not yet exist in Ukraine.
To be on the safe side, make a copy of your passport and airline tickets and keep one copy in your luggage and one copy with yourself.
Etiquette in Ukraine
Here are a few simple rules of etiquette that may help you out of trouble or embarrassment when visiting Ukraine:
- If invited into a family home, it is traditional to bring a gift: a bottle of wine, a cake. A bouquet of flowers is customary. If you bring flowers - make sure it is an uneven number of flowers. If there is a child in the house, it is appropriate to provide him/her with a small gift as well.
- Do not shake hands across the threshold of a door. It is considered bad luck.
- When shaking hands, take off your gloves!
- Be prepared to remove your shoes upon entering a home.
- To keep apartments or homes clean, most hosts will provide you with a pair of slippers called "tapochki". The "i" at the end of "Tapochki" is pronounced as in "hit".
- On public transportation give up your seat to mothers with children, the elderly or the infirm.
- At the entrance of upscale restaurants, expect that a coatroom attendant will check your coat, briefcase or baggage.
- When eating dinner at someone's home, casual dress is recommended.
- Be ready to give toasts at dinner, for guests are often asked to do so.
- Offer to share your snacks and cigarettes with those around you.
- Be prepared to accept all food and drink offered you when visiting friends or relatives. Ukrainians are known for their generous hospitality when it comes to feeding others. Turning down food may be considered rude.
- For business, dress should be conservative. Men should not take off their jacket unless asked to do so.
- In Orthodox churches women wear scarves or hats, and men take off their hats.
- Don't put your thumb between your first two fingers -this is a very rude gesture. It's called "Doolya" and has been used as a symbol of defiance against Ukraine's invaders and oppressors for centuries. If you feel you must make this gesture, be certain your hand remains hidden in your pocket!
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