Moving to Ukraine: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

43,922,939

Population Growth Rate

-0.63%

Urban Population

68.900000

Population in Major Urban Areas

• KYIV (capital) 2.829 million
• Kharkiv 1.451 million
• Dnipropetrovsk 994,000
• Odesa 1.01 million
• Donetsk 959,000
• Zaporizhzhya 771,000

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Age Structure

15.510000

Median Age

40.300000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

10

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

15.75

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.29

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

66.7%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

66.7%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

23.1

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.1

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.070000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.07

Ethnic Groups

Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8%

Language Note

Ukrainian is the official language. Minorities including Hungarian, Polish and Romanian may speak their own languages. Ethnic minorities now have the legal right to use their own language in public and judicial matters.

Nationality Noun

Ukrainian(s)

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Literacy - total population

99.4%

Literacy - male

99.8%

Literacy - female

99.6%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

6.2%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

15.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

68.930000

Infant Mortality Rate

8.240000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

8.240000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

32

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

3.52

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

8.7

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

7.3%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.3%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

98.100000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

96.500000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

0.9%

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Economic Overview

After Russia, the Ukrainian Republic was the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic.

Its fertile black soil accounted for more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics.

Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied unique equipment such as large-diameter pipes and vertical drilling apparatus and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR.

Shortly after independence in August 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking.

Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level.

Outside institutions - particularly the IMF encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms to foster economic growth.

Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy.

From 2000 until mid-2008, Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite the political turmoil between the prime minister and president.

The economy contracted nearly 15% in 2009, among the worst economic performances in the world.

In April 2010, Ukraine negotiated a price discount on Russian gas imports in exchange for extending Russia's lease on its naval base in Crimea.

Ukraine’s oligarch-dominated economy grew slowly from 2010 to 2013 but remained behind peers in the region and among Europe’s poorest.

After former President YANUKOVYCH fled the country during the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine’s economy fell into crisis because of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, military conflict in the eastern part of the country, and a trade war with Russia, resulting in a 17% decline in GDP, inflation at nearly 60%, and dwindling foreign currency reserves.

The international community began efforts to stabilize the Ukrainian economy, including a March 2014 IMF assistance package of $17.5 billion, of which Ukraine has received four disbursements, most recently in April 2017, bringing the total disbursed as of that date to approximately $8.4 billion.

Ukraine has made progress on reforms designed to make the country prosperous, democratic, and transparent, including the creation of a national anti-corruption agency, an overhaul of the banking sector, the establishment of a transparent VAT refund system, and increased transparency in government procurement.

But more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, improving the business environment to attract foreign investment, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and land reform.

The fifth tranche of the IMF program, valued at $1.9 billion, was delayed in mid-2017 due to a lack of progress on outstanding reforms, including adjustment of gas tariffs to import parity levels and adoption of legislation establishing an independent anti-corruption court.

Russia’s occupation of Crimea in March 2014 and ongoing Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine have hurt economic growth.

With the loss of a major portion of Ukraine’s heavy industry in Donbas and ongoing violence, the economy contracted by 6.6% in 2014 and by 9.8% in 2015, but it returned to low growth in 2016 and 2017, reaching 2.3% and 2.0%, respectively, as key reforms took hold.

Ukraine also redirected trade activity toward the EU following the implementation of a bilateral Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, displacing Russia as its largest trading partner.

A prohibition on commercial trade with separatist-controlled territories in early 2017 has not impacted Ukraine’s key industrial sectors as much as expected, largely because of favorable external conditions.

Ukraine returned to international debt markets in September 2017, issuing a $3 billion sovereign bond.

Industries

coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-11%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$516,680,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$8,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-11%

GDP - official exchange rate

$155,082,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 69.1% government
• consumption: 22.1% investment in fixed
• capital: 9.8% investment in
• inventories: 0% exports of goods and
• services: 60.2% imports of goods and
• services: -61.2%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

13.3%

GDP by Sector- Industry

24.4%

GDP by Sector- services

62.7%

Industrial Growth Rate

8%

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Inflation Rate

9.8%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

hryvnia (UAH)

Currency Name and Code

Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

16%

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Labor Force

22,060,000

Unemployment Rate

8.4%

Unemployment - note

officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers

Major Industries

coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)

Agriculture Products

grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk

Population Below Poverty Line

35%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

356,213

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

7%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

5.6%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

26%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

68.4%

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Annual Budget

$23,590,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

18%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-5.2%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

32.7%

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Full Country Name

none

Country Name

Ukraine

Local - Long

none

Local - Short

Ukraina

Former Name

Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Etymology- history of name

name derives from the Old East Slavic word "ukraina" meaning "borderland or march (militarized border region)" and began to be used extensively in the 19th century

originally Ukrainians referred to themselves as Rusyny (Rusyns, Ruthenians, or Ruthenes), an endonym derived from the medieval Rus state (Kyivan Rus)

Independence

• 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
• notable earlier dates: ca. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus)
• 1199 (Principality (later Kingdom) of Ruthenia formed)
• 1648 (establishment of the Cossack Hetmanate)
• 22 January 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 24 August (1991); note - 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence from Soviet Russia, and the date the short-lived Western and Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day

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Government Type

semi-presidential republic

Constitution

• history: several previous; latest adopted and ratified 28 June 1996
• amendments: proposed by the president of Ukraine or by at least one third of the Supreme Council members; adoption requires simple majority vote by the Council and at least two-thirds majority vote in its next regular session; adoption of proposals relating to general constitutional principles, elections, and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote by the Council and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on personal rights and freedoms, national independence, and territorial integrity cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2019

Legal System:

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (since 20 May 2019)
• head of government: Prime Minister Yulia SVYRYDENKO (since 17 July 2025)
• cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, approved by the Verkhovna Rada election/appointment
• process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister selected by the Verkhovna Rada most recent election
• date: 31 March and 21 April 2019
• election results: 2019: Volodymyr ZELENSKYY elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (Servant of the People) 30.2%, Petro POROSHENKO (BPP-Solidarity) 15.6%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (Fatherland) 13.4%, Yuriy BOYKO (Opposition Platform-For Life) 11.7%, 35 other candidates 29.1%; percent of vote in the second round - Volodymyr ZELENSKYY 73.2%, Petro POROSHENKO 24.5%, other 2.3%; Denys SHMYHAL (independent) elected prime minister; Verkhovna Rada vote - 291-59 2014: Petro POROSHENKO elected president in first round; percent of vote - Petro POROSHENKO (independent) 54.5%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (Fatherland) 12.9%, Oleh LYASHKO (Radical Party) 8.4%, other 24.2%; Volodymyr HROYSMAN (BPP) elected prime minister; Verkhovna Rada vote - 257-50 expected date of next
• election: scheduled for March/April 2024, but not held because Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022
• note: a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC was created in 1992 and tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a presidential administration helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; 225 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 225 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 21 July 2019 (next to be held on 29 October 2023)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - Servant of the People 43.2%, Opposition Platform-For Life 13.1%, Batkivshchyna 8.2%, European Solidarity 8.1%, Voice 5.8%, other 21.6%; Servant of the People 254, Opposition Platform for Life 43, Batkivshchyna 26, European Solidarity 25, Voice 20, Opposition Bloc 6, Svoboda 1, Self Reliance 1, United Centre 1, Bila Tserkva Together 1, independent 46;
• Note: voting not held in Crimea and parts of two Russian-occupied eastern oblasts leaving 26 seats vacant; although this brings the total to 424 elected members (of 450 potential), article 83 of the constitution mandates that a parliamentary majority consists of 226 seats
• Note: Legislative and presidential elections cannot be held under martial law.;the Verkhovna Rada declared martial law in February 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court judges recommended by the High Qualification Commission of Judges (a 16-member state body responsible for judicial candidate testing and assessment and judicial administration), submitted to the High Council of Justice, a 21-member independent body of judicial officials responsible for judicial self-governance and administration, and appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; High Anti-Corruption Court judges are selected by the same process as Supreme Court justices, with one addition – a majority of a combined High Qualification Commission of Judges and a 6-member Public Council of International Experts must vote in favor of potential judges in order to recommend their nomination to the High Council of Justice; this majority must include at least 3 members of the Public Council of International Experts; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 6 each by the president, by the Congress of Judges, and by the Verkhovna Rada; judges serve 9-year nonrenewable terms
• subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; district courts
• note: specialized courts were abolished as part of Ukraine's judicial reform program; in November 2019, President ZELENSKYY signed a bill on legal reforms

Regions or States:

• Summary: 24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities** (mista, singular - misto) with oblast status; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol), Dnipropetrovsk (Dnipro), Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad (Kropyvnytskyi), Kyiv, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn (Lutsk), Zakarpattia (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); plans include the eventual renaming of Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad oblasts, but because these names are mentioned in the Constitution of Ukraine, the change will require a constitutional amendment note 2: the US Government does not recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol, nor their redesignation as the "Republic of Crimea" and the "Federal City
• of Sevastopol"
• neither does the US Government recognize Russia's claimed annexation of Donetsk
• Kherson
• Luhansk
• and Zaporizhzhia oblasts

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) [Yuliya TYMOSHENKO]
• European Solidarity or YeS [Petro POROSHENKO]
• Holos (Voice or Vote) [Kira RUDYK]
• Opposition Bloc [Evgeny MURAYEV] (formerly known as Opposition Bloc — Party for Peace and Development, successor of the Industrial Party of Ukraine, and resulted from a schism in the original Opposition Bloc in 2019
• banned in court June 2022
• ceased to exist in July 2022) Opposition Bloc or OB (divided into Opposition Bloc - Party for Peace and Development and Opposition Platform - For Life in 2019
• ceased to exist in July 2022)
• Opposition Platform - For Life [Yuriy BOYKO] (resulted from a schism in the original Opposition Bloc in 2019
• activities suspended by the National Security and Defense Council in March 2022
• dissolved in April 2022)
• Platform for Life and Peace [Yuriy BOYKO]
• Radical Party or RPOL [Oleh LYASHKO]
• Samopomich (Self Reliance) [Oksana Ivanivna SYROYID]
• Servant of the People [Olena Oleksiivna SHULIAK]
• Svoboda (Freedom) [Oleh TYAHNYBOK]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ukraine dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

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Capital Name

Kyiv (Kiev is the transliteration from Russian) note: pronounced KAY-yiv

Capital - geographic coordinate

50 26 N, 30 31 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Daylight Savings Time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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International Organization Participation:

• Australia Group
• BSEC
• CBSS (observer)
• CD
• CE
• CEI
• CICA (observer)
• CIS (participating member
• has not signed the 1993 CIS charter)
• EAEC (observer)
• EAPC
• EBRD
• FAO
• GCTU
• GUAM
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• LAIA (observer)
• MIGA
• MONUSCO
• NAM (observer)
• NSG
• OAS (observer)
• OIF (observer)
• OPCW
• OSCE
• PCA
• PFP
• SELEC (observer)
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNFICYP
• UNIDO
• UNISFA
• UNMIL
• UNMISS
• UNOCI
• UNOOSA
• UNWTO
• UPU
• Wassenaar Arrangement
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Bridget A. BRINK (since 2 June 2022)
• Embassy: 4 A. I. Igor Sikorsky Street, 04112 Kyiv
• Mailing Address: 5850 Kyiv Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
• Telephone: [380] (44) 521-5000
• FAX: [380] (44) 521-5544
• Email: kyivacs@state.gov
• Website: https://ua.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Oksana MARKAROVA (since 7 July 2021)
• Chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Telephone: [1] (202) 349-2963
• FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
• Email: emb_us@mfa.gov.ua
• Website: https://usa.mfa.gov.ua/en
• Consulate(s) General: Chicago, New York, San Francisco

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Geographic Location

Europe

Geographic Coordinates

49 00 N, 32 00 E

Total Area

233,031 Square Miles 603,550 Square Kilometers

Land Area

223,679 Square Miles 579,330 Square Kilometers

Water Area

9,351 Square Miles 24,220 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

2,837 Miles 4,566 Kilometers

Border Countries

Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 526 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 97 km

Coastline

1,729 Miles 2,782 Kilometers

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Terrain

most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

Highest Point

2,061 Meters

Highest Point Location

Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

Lowest Point Location

Black Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land

Irrigated Land

8,398 Square Miles 21,750 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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Climate

The Ukraine climate is similar to the wheat-producing regions of Canada and is characterized by abundant precipitation and cloudy skies, especially in fall and winter.

Snow can start as early as October and not end until April.

The mean temperature in summer is 87°F (30°C) and in winter 16°F (-8°C).

Although summers are short, the temperature can soar to the 90s.

Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south.

Terrain

most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

Location

Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

Total Area

233,031 Square Miles 603,550 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 526 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 97 km

Environment - Current Issues

• inadequate supplies of potable water
• air and water pollution
• deforestation
• radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

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Exports

$49,710,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$53,540,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

Major Imports

energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Top Export Partners

Russia 17.8%, Turkey 6.9%, Italy 4.7%, Germany 4.2%

Top Import Partners

Russia 37.6%, Turkmenistan 11.2%, Germany 9.9%

Export Partners

Russia 17.8%, Turkey 6.9%, Italy 4.7%, Germany 4.2%

Import Partners

Russia 37.6%, Turkmenistan 11.2%, Germany 9.9%

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Country Description

Ukraine continues to experience significant political and economic changes.

In recent years, the amount and types of goods and services available in Ukraine have increased, and facilities for travelers have improved.

Nonetheless, the quality of travel and tourist services remains uneven throughout the country, and it can still be difficult to find some of the goods and services commonly available in the United States.

Ukrainian is the official language with Russian being widely used in Eastern and Southern Ukraine; English is not widely used.

Safety & Security

Prior to wartime conditions, Ukraine is a safe country to visit, with the little anti-U.S. sentiment.

Large demonstrations occasionally occur in bigger cities, such as Kyiv, and are usually sponsored by political organizations.

Most protests are peaceful but you should avoid them if at all possible.

Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can become violent and unpredictable.

Be alert and aware of your surroundings and pay attention to what the local news media report.

If the Embassy obtains information about a planned protest ahead of time, an announcement will be posted on the Embassy website.

Several bombings targeting public areas have occurred in Ukraine in the last year and caused damage or injury.

While the bombings in Ukraine are not related to terrorism and have not targeted U.S. citizens, the Embassy reiterates the necessity to maintain high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase your security awareness.

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Crime

Street crime remains a serious problem in Ukraine.

The country continues to undergo significant economic, political, and social transformation, and income differences have grown accordingly.

As a result, you and other foreign visitors may be perceived as wealthy and become easy targets for criminals.

United States citizens often stand out in Ukraine, and are therefore more likely to be targeted than in Western European countries where incomes are higher and U.S. citizens may blend in better.

The police are poorly paid, motivated, trained, and equipped, and also are considered to be one of the most corrupt organizations in Ukraine.

Ukrainian police and emergency services remain generally below Western European and U.S. standards in terms of training, responsiveness, and effectiveness.

Ukrainian law enforcement and emergency officials rarely speak English and interpreters are not readily available.

Most street crimes reported to the Embassy are non-violent and non-confrontational, and range from various scams to simple pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, and theft of personal items from parked cars.

Many of these crimes occur in downtown Kyiv or on the public transport system, including the subway (metro).

Muggings, armed robberies, harassment, or the drugging of unsuspecting victims at nightspots and bars (where they are then robbed) have been reported, but less frequently.

Cases of assaults in apartment building corridors, elevators, and stairwells, as well as armed break-ins and crimes involving small-caliber firearms have also been reported, but are rare; most criminals do not carry guns, but may have other weapons.

When violent assaults do occur, they usually involve punches and kicks, with an occasional bottle or similar item used as a club.

A commonly reported scam in Kyiv is the “wallet scam,” which involves a person dropping a wallet or a packet of money near you.

After you pick up the wallet/packet and attempt to give it back to the individual who dropped it, the scam artist claims that the wallet is missing money and accuses you of stealing it.

The individual either threatens to call the police if you don’t pay or asks you to show your wallet to prove that you did not take any money.

When you show your wallet, the thief grabs your money and flees.

A very common variant involves a second person who intercedes and claims to be a police officer, often flashing a badge.

The second person also asks to see your wallet, grabbing the money and fleeing or, through sleight of hand, stealing your money.

Many variants exist: two wallets, three or more thieves, etc.

All variants involve the victim picking up something and returning it to the person who dropped it.

U.S. citizens have reported being robbed by people posing as police officers.

Police officers in Ukraine, including plain clothes officers, routinely stop people on the street to check identity documents and U.S. citizens are required to carry their passports and produce them on request.

However, if you have doubts about the legitimacy of a police officer, you can ask to see their photo ID.

While most travelers do not encounter problems with crime in Ukraine, there have been hate crimes directed at ethnic and religious minorities, and members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities (please see more on LGBT issues under Special Circumstances section ).

Many of these incidents are perpetrated by “skinheads” or neo-Nazis and have been reported throughout the country.

In Kyiv, these incidents have occurred without provocation in prominent downtown areas commonly frequented by tourists.

The majority of people targeted have been of Asian, African, or other non-European descent.

Racial minorities may also be subject to various types of harassment, such as being stopped on the street by both civilians and law enforcement officials.

Individuals belonging to religious minorities have been harassed and assaulted in Kyiv and throughout Ukraine.

The police and governme

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Ukraine, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

If you violate Ukrainian law, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

U.S. citizens who have been arrested in Ukraine have faced extended periods, even years, in pre-trail detention before their case comes to trial.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Ukraine are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Ukrainian prison conditions, while improved in recent years, are generally far below the norm in the United States. or Western Europe.

Cells are crowded and contact with the outside world is limited (no phones, Internet, or television).

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Ukraine, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Languages Ukrainian is the official language.

Minorities including Hungarian, Polish and Romanian may speak their own languages.

Ethnic minorities now have the legal right to use their own language in public and judicial matters.

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Medical Facilities

If you are ill or infirm, we strongly recommend that you do not travel to Ukraine.

Ukraine is not a disabled-friendly environment, with little or no accommodations to ease access.

Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities.

State ambulance service is inadequate and it can take hours to get a response even in an emergency.

Ambulance crews have asked for bribes before agreeing to transport critically ill patients to the hospital.

The U.S.

Embassy maintains a list of hospitals and clinics with some English-speaking staff.

A few facilities have only limited English speakers, and most have none at all.

No hospitals in Ukraine accept U.S. health insurance plans for payment, and the level of medical care is not equal to that found in U.S. hospitals.

(Some facilities are adequate for basic services.) If you are hospitalized, you or someone acting on your behalf must supply bandages, medication, and food.

The U.S.

Embassy also recommends that you obtain private medical evacuation insurance prior to traveling to Ukraine.

If you do not have Ukrainian medical insurance, you may be asked to pay in cash for medical services and hospitalization before you are treated.

Many private insurance companies in Ukraine offer short-term medical coverage for visitors.

Medical evacuation often remains the best way to secure Western medical care.

This option, however, is very expensive and can take several hours or longer to arrange.

You should buy medical evacuation insurance prior to travel or have access to substantial lines of credit to cover the cost of medical evacuation.

The U.S.

Embassy has information on various air ambulance companies that provide medical evacuations to Europe or to the United States.

More information can be found on the U.S.

Embassy's website in the document “ Medical Services in Kyiv.” Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Ukraine.

There have been several outbreaks of measles in Ukraine in recent years.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Health currently reports suspected cases of the illness are increasing, particularly in Western Ukraine.

The CDC provides regularly updated measles information.

Travelers to Ukraine should make sure they have been vaccinated against measles (and that their other vaccinations are up-to-date) in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

HIV levels in Ukraine are well above regional and worldwide averages.

The CDC website publishes the latest news on HIV in Ukraine, along with information on HIV prevention.

Ukraine has experienced several outbreaks of H1N1 influenza, most recently in November 2009.

These instances were among birds and poultry only and no known human cases have occurred.

Traffic Safety

While in Ukraine, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Generally, roads in Ukraine outside major urban areas are in poor condition and are poorly lighted.

U.S. visitors to Ukraine can drive using their U.S. driving licenses for up to 60 days after entering the country; those planning to stay longer need to obtain a Ukrainian driving license.You should drive defensively at all times, since local drivers often disregard traffic rules.

Drivers are often poorly trained; many drive without a valid driver's license.

Drivers can also be dangerously aggressive and normally do not respect the rights of pedestrians, even at clearly marked pedestrian crossings, and regularly drive on the sidewalks.

Pedestrians should also be aware of cars driving or attempting to park on sidewalks.

Many cars, including some taxis, do not meet the safety standards common in the United States.

There is no tolerance for driving under the influence, and penalties can be steep.

Fines are associated with driving while talking on a cell phone.

Due to heavy traffic and congested roads, vehicle accidents happen often in larger Ukrainian cities, especially in Kyiv.If you are involved in an accident in Ukraine, do not move the vehicle from the site of the accident unless it presents a clear safety concern (causing a traffic jam is not considered a safety concern).

In practice, this means that even moving a vehicle to the side of the road after an accident may be considered a criminal offense.

Local police must be notified and will report to the scene to conduct an investigation.

You must wait until the police arrive and complete their report, no matter how long it takes; often this can take several hours.

When police arrive, they will decide responsibility, take the drivers’ personal information, and file an accident report.

In the vast majority of cases, the police reporting to the scene of an accident will not speak English.

Cross-country travel at night and in winter can be particularly dangerous.

The

7 facts — expand for details.

Airports - total

187

Airports with Paved Runways

108

Heliports

9

Roadways- total

105,443 Miles 169,694 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

103,207 Miles 166,095 Kilometers

Waterways

124 Miles 200 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Berdyans'k, Feodosiya, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev (Kyyiv), Kiliya, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni, Sevastopol', Yalta, Yuzhnyy

3 facts — expand for details.

Pipelines: Gas

22,817 Miles 36,720 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

2,805 Miles 4,514 Kilometers

Pipelines: Refined Products

2,711 Miles 4,363 Kilometers

7 facts — expand for details.

Telephones

13,026,000

Cell Phones

55,240,000

Internet Users

10,000,000

Internet Country Code

.ua

Internet Hosts

1,098,000

Broadcast Media

• Ukraine's state-controlled nationwide TV broadcast channel (UT1) and a number of privately owned TV networks provide basic TV coverage
• multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available
• Russian television broadcasts have a small audience nationwide, but larger audiences in the eastern and southern regions
• Ukraine's radio broadcast market, a mix of independent and state-owned networks, is comprised of some 300 stations

Telephone System

• assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile-cellular system
• domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair; more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied; telephone density is rising and the domestic trunk system is being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digital and a majority of regional centers now have digital switching stations; improvements in local networks and local exchanges continue to lag; the mobile-cellular telephone system's expansion has slowed, largely due to saturation of the market which has reached 125 mobile phones per 100 people
• international: country code - 380; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and 3 Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems

12 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

134,600,000,000

Electricity Exports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,000,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

182,400,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

56,200,000,000

Natural Gas Exports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

2,600,000,000

Natural Gas Imports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

44,800,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

19,800,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

1,104,000,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

320,600

Oil Imports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

155,300

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

85,660

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

395,000,000

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Anthem History

• music adopted 1991, lyrics adopted 2003
• song first performed in 1864 at the Ukraine Theatre in Lviv
• the lyrics, originally written in 1862, were revised in 2003

Anthem Lyrics

Shche ne vmerla Ukraina, ny slava, ny volja, Shche nam, brattja - ukraincy, usmyzhnetjsja dolja, Zginutj nashi voryzhenjki, jak rosa na soncy, Zazhivemo y mi, brattja, u svoij storoncy.

Chorus: Dushu j tylo mi polozhim za nashu svobodu Y pokazhem, shcho mi, brattja, kozacjkogo rodu.

Stanem brattja, vsi za volju, vyd Sjanu do Donu, V rydnym kraju panuvati ne damo nykomu.

Chorne more shche vsmykhnetjsja, dyd Dnypro zradye, Shche na nashyj Ukrainy dolenjka dospye.

Chorus A zavzjattja pracja shchira svogo shche dokazhe, Shche sja voly v Ukrainy pisnj guchna rozljazhe.

Za Karpati vydybetjsja, zgomonitj stepami, Ukraini slava stane pomizh garodami.

Chorus

Anthem Lyrics English

Ukraine is Not Yet Dead Ukraine is not yet dead, nor its glory and freedom, Luck will still smile on us brother-Ukrainians.

Our enemies will die, as the dew does in the sunshine, and we, too, brothers, we'll live happily in our land.

We'll not spare either our souls or bodies to get freedom and we'll prove that we brothers are of Kozak kin.

We'll rise up, brothers, all of us, from the Sain to the Don, We won't let anyone govern in out motherland.

The Black Sea will smile yet, grandfather Dnipro will rejoice, Yet in our Ukraine luck will be high.

Our persistence, our sincere toil will prove its rightness, still our freedom's loud song will spread throughout Ukraine.

It'll reflect upon the Carpathians, will sound through the steppes, and Ukraine's glory will arise among the people.