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Dernière mise à jour le : 27 mars 2024 - Information toujours valide le : 17 septembre 2024

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Sécurité, entrée / séjour, santé, infos utiles, voyages d’affaires.

Date de publication : 27 mars 2024

Urgence Attentat – Vigilance renforcée pour les ressortissants français à l’étranger

Publié le 26/03/2024

Compte tenu du relèvement, sur l’ensemble du territoire national, de la posture du plan Vigipirate au niveau Urgence attentat, une vigilance renforcée est recommandée à l’ensemble de nos ressortissants résidant ou de passage à l’étranger.

Frappes aériennes fréquentes sur l’ensemble de territoire ukrainien

Les campagnes fréquentes de frappes aériennes russes sur le territoire ukrainien incitent, en cas d’alerte, à la plus grande vigilance et au respect des consignes locales de sécurité. Les Français sont donc invités à rester à l’abri et à éviter tout déplacement jusqu’à la notification de fin d’alerte.

Par ailleurs, le ciblage systématique des infrastructures essentielles depuis déjà plusieurs semaines entraine de très fortes perturbations, voire l’absence, des réseaux électriques, de chauffage, de communication, d’eau.

La période hivernale conjuguée aux attaques précitées rendent les conditions de vie particulièrement difficiles, dans une situation qui peut être amenée à se dégrader encore. Dans ce contexte, les Français sont invités à prendre leurs dispositions pour se mettre en sécurité et ne pas demeurer en tout état de cause dans les zones privées d’électricités et de services essentiels.

Situation sécuritaire (19/12/2022)

La situation sécuritaire reste très dégradée et volatile dans l’ensemble du pays. Aucun point du territoire n’est à l’abri de frappes ou d’opérations militaires.

L’Ukraine dans la totalité de son territoire demeure une zone de guerre.

Dans ce contexte, il reste formellement déconseillé de se rendre en Ukraine quel qu’en soit le motif.

Une cellule de crise a été ouverte à l’ambassade, joignable au 00 380 32 297 08 31.

Zones de vigilance

Zones formellement déconseillées.

Dans le contexte de guerre en cours depuis le 24 février et compte-tenu de la mise en place de l’état d’urgence décidée le 23 février par le Parlement ukrainien et reconduit le 15 août dernier, l’intégralité du territoire ukrainien est formellement déconseillé.

Risques encourus et recommandations associées

Criminalité.

Les étrangers, facilement repérables, sont des cibles privilégiées des vols et escroqueries. Aussi convient-il de suivre les recommandations suivantes :

• éviter de porter de grosses sommes d’argent dans les marchés, gares, et autres lieux publics ;
• faire attention aux pickpockets dans les lieux publics et les transports en commun : surveiller les sacs, portefeuilles et objets de valeurs (bijoux, appareils photos, etc.) ;
• retirer les valeurs du vêtement avant de le laisser sur le dossier d’une chaise ou de le mettre au vestiaire ;
• être particulièrement prudent dans les trains de nuit, où des bandes de malfrats ou de personnes ivres sont susceptibles d’agir (louer de préférence un compartiment à plusieurs voyageurs) ;
• être vigilant dans les hôtels et les appartements loués et veiller à verrouiller la porte pendant la nuit ;
• être vigilant dans le choix de ses fréquentations, notamment lors de nouvelles rencontres, se méfier en particulier des formes dissimulées de prostitution ; éviter les bars de rencontre (où arrivent la plupart des incidents signalés à l’ambassade) ;
• vigilance accrue lors de la consommation de boissons dans des lieux publics (bars, etc.) : plusieurs cas signalés concernant des ressortissants français qui ont été victimes de vols et/ou menacés après avoir ingéré des substances chimiques paralysantes ou soporifiques mélangées à leur insu dans leurs boissons ;
• à Kiev : des vols ont été signalés à plusieurs reprises dans le quartier de la gare ferroviaire.

Risques nucléaires ou industriels

Le risque nucléaire a sensiblement diminué depuis la mise à l’arrêt définitif, en décembre 2000, du dernier réacteur de type Tchernobyl. Quatre centrales nucléaires sont en activité en Ukraine (à Zaporishshya, Rivne, Sud-Ukraine, Khmelnistsky) équipées de réacteurs de type VVER, proches de ceux existant en France. Le risque industriel est en revanche réel à travers le pays, du fait de la forte concentration d’industries lourdes dans un contexte de basses normes environnementales, de stocks de carburants, de dépôts d’armes et de munitions anciens et mal entretenus.

Précautions de base à respecter en cas d’accident nucléaire : rejoindre un lieu clos et se mettre à l’abri, brancher la télévision ou la radio afin de connaître l’origine de l’accident, les informations ou les consignes diffusées par les autorités locales, et contacter l’ambassade de France ; ne pas sortir de chez soi tant que l’alerte n’est pas levée.

Pour plus d’informations, consulter la fiche «  Risque nucléaire  ».

« Coup du portefeuille »

À Kiev, plusieurs bandes pratiquent dans le centre-ville le « coup du portefeuille ». Des individus, feignant d’avoir découvert un portefeuille sur le trottoir, repèrent un étranger à qui ils proposent d’en partager le contenu. Un comparse se présentant alors comme le propriétaire du portefeuille, accuse les uns et les autres de vol, et exige de vérifier les portefeuilles des intéressés. En quelques instants, le pickpocket subtilise l’argent et les cartes bancaires des touristes.

Utilisation des cartes de paiement

L’utilisation des cartes de paiement pose souvent des problèmes en Ukraine. Des cas d’opérations frauduleuses ainsi que de piratage sont régulièrement signalés. Il est donc recommandé :

• dans toute la mesure du possible, de privilégier les règlements en numéraire ;
• de ne jamais laisser un employé s’éloigner avec une carte bancaire et de bien suivre les différentes étapes du paiement ;
• de contrôler régulièrement les montants des retraits et paiements effectués et, le cas échéant, signaler rapidement à la banque toute anomalie.

Escroquerie sur Internet

Un grand nombre d’agences matrimoniales sont spécialisées dans les contacts entre jeunes femmes ukrainiennes et ressortissants étrangers. Certaines de ces agences, qui travaillent sur internet, proposent à leurs clients des forfaits couvrant un ensemble de services (transfert depuis l’aéroport de Kiev, achat de billets d’avion sur les lignes intérieures, réservations d’hôtel ou location d’un appartement, organisation de rencontres avec des jeunes femmes) moyennant un prépaiement par carte de crédit depuis l’étranger. Après le versement des sommes demandées, le "prestataire" disparaît.

Compétitions sportives

L’agression en marge d’un match de football de plusieurs dizaines de supporteurs français à l’arme blanche, en décembre 2014 dans le centre de Kiev, tout comme les incidents survenus au stade Olympique de Kiev à l’occasion d’une rencontre en février 2015, doivent inciter les voyageurs envisageant de se rendre en Ukraine dans le cadre d’une manifestation sportive à faire preuve de vigilance. Il est recommandé d’être particulièrement prudent, discret, et de se tenir à l’écart des rassemblements sur la voie publique.

Le ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères déconseille formellement le déplacement de supporteurs de clubs de football français en Ukraine.

Formalités d’entrée et de séjour

Conditions d’entrée sur le territoire.

Les ressortissants de l’Union européenne sont dispensés de visas pour les séjours n’excédant pas trois mois sur une période de 180 jours. Ils sont autorisés à entrer sur le territoire ukrainien munis d’un passeport valide 3 mois au minimum après la date du retour et comportant au moins deux pages libres, à l’exclusion de tout autre document. L’administration du Service d’État du contrôle aux frontières dispose d’une base de données sur les étrangers n’ayant pas respecté la durée de séjour légale. En cas de dépassement, les contrevenants s’exposent à un refus d’admission sur le territoire ukrainien.

Pour tout séjour d’une durée supérieure à 90 jours, le visa est obligatoire et doit être obtenu avant le départ car il ne peut être délivré sur le territoire ukrainien.

Les contrôles par les gardes-frontières ukrainiens à l’entrée sur le territoire sont strictement appliqués. Il est vivement recommandé aux ressortissants franco-ukrainiens de s’abstenir de se rendre en Ukraine : la double nationalité n’étant pas reconnue, tout voyage sur place comporte des risques inhérents à cette situation (impossibilité de ressortir d’Ukraine, mobilisation pour les ressortissants de sexe masculin…).

L’Ukraine demeurant une zone de guerre dans la totalité de son territoire, il reste formellement déconseillé à l’ensemble des ressortissants français de se rendre en Ukraine quel qu’en soit le motif.

Deux situations en particulier sont à signaler  :

• Le titulaire d’un passeport ayant été déclaré perdu ou volé, et finalement retrouvé, est invité à ne pas utiliser ce titre de voyage pour se rendre en Ukraine, au risque de se voir refoulé.
• Il est conseillé aux voyageurs transitant par l’Ukraine d’être munis d’un passeport plutôt que d’une carte nationale d’identité. En effet, en cas de correspondance manquée ou de retard des vols, les voyageurs munis d’une carte nationale d’identité ne sont pas autorisés à entrer sur le territoire ukrainien et doivent rester en zone internationale jusqu’à leur départ.

Formalités d’enregistrement

Les ressortissants étrangers résidant en Ukraine de façon permanente (stages, études, engagements professionnels, etc.) doivent impérativement se faire enregistrer auprès des services du ministère de l’Intérieur (OVIR).

Règlementation douanière

Importation de devises étrangères.

Toute importation comprise entre 3 000 et 15 000 USD (ou équivalent) doit faire l’objet d’une déclaration. Au-delà de cette somme, une autorisation est nécessaire. A la sortie du territoire, les sommes non déclarées et supérieures à 3 000 USD peuvent être saisies par les douaniers.

Déclarations douanières

Sont à déclarer :

• les bijoux dont la valeur excède 122 € ;
• l’alcool à partir d’un litre, ou à partir de deux litres pour le vin ;
• le tabac (cigarettes, cigares) : à partir de 200 g ;
• les armes, explosifs, objets d’art et antiquités ;
• certains animaux, plantes, fruits, légumes ;
• les appareils à haute fréquence.

Un séjour à l’étranger implique pour tout voyageur de prendre certaines précautions en matière de santé. La rubrique ci-dessous mentionne les indications essentielles. Elles ne dispensent toutefois pas le voyageur d’une consultation chez son médecin traitant et/ou dans un centre hospitalier, suffisamment longtemps avant la date de départ pour permettre le rappel des vaccins.

Avant le départ

Frais d’hospitalisation et dépenses de santé.

Afin de faire face aux frais d’hospitalisation et aux dépenses de santé, parfois très élevés à l’étranger, il est vivement recommandé de disposer d’un contrat d’assistance ou d’une assurance permettant de couvrir tous les frais médicaux (dont la chirurgie et l’hospitalisation) et de rapatriement sanitaire, au risque de ne pas avoir accès aux soins, y compris en cas d’urgence vitale. Ces frais ne pourront en aucun cas être pris en charge par l’ambassade de France sur place.

Recommandations pour sa santé

Consulter si besoin son médecin traitant ou un centre de vaccinations internationales pour faire une évaluation de son état de santé et bénéficier de recommandations sanitaires, notamment sur les vaccinations. Consulter éventuellement son dentiste avant le départ.

Constituer sa pharmacie personnelle en conséquence et n’emporter que les médicaments nécessaires ; ne jamais consommer des médicaments achetés dans la rue (risque de contrefaçons). Pour plus d’informations, consulter la fiche Informations pratiques .

Vaccinations

• S’assurer d’être à jour dans vos vaccinations habituelles ainsi que celles liées à toutes les zones géographiques visitées.
• La mise à jour de la vaccination diphtérie-tétanos-poliomyélite (DTP) est fortement recommandée ; elle reste obligatoire pour les voyageurs partant depuis l’Ukraine vers des pays d’endémie ou d’épidémie de poliomyélite : la vaccination doit alors avoir été réalisée depuis moins d’un an et plus d’un mois.
• La mise à jour de la vaccination rubéole, oreillons et rougeole chez l’enfant est recommandée ; la vaccination antituberculeuse est également souhaitable.
• En fonction des conditions locales de voyages, les vaccinations contre la fièvre typhoïde, la méningite et les hépatites virales A et B peuvent être recommandées.
• La vaccination contre la rage peut également être proposée dans certains cas en fonction des conditions et lieux de séjour. Demander conseil à son médecin ou à un centre de vaccinations internationales.

Risques sanitaires

Maladies transmises par les insectes, encéphalite à tiques.

L’encéphalite à tiques est une maladie virale transmise notamment par la piqûre de tiques. Les symptômes associent de la fièvre avec des troubles digestifs, et des signes méningés (maux de tête, raideur de nuque). Des troubles neurologiques divers et des paralysies peuvent être associés. La vaccination peut vous être conseillée par son médecin. Plus d’informations sur le site de l’Institut Pasteur .

Maladie de Lyme

La maladie de Lyme est transmise lors d’une piqûre de tique infectée par une bactérie. Toutes les tiques ne sont pas infectées et l’infection est souvent sans symptôme. Cependant elle peut provoquer une maladie parfois invalidante. Plus d’informations sur le site du ministère des Solidarités et de la Santé .

Prévention contre les piqures de tiques

La prévention contre les infections transmises par les tiques inclut la couverture vestimentaire et l’application de répulsifs cutanés sur les parties découvertes. Il est de plus impératif, après toute promenade en milieu rural et particulièrement en forêt dans les régions infestées, de bien s’examiner et d’examiner ses enfants pour rechercher la présence éventuelle de tiques sur le corps et sur le cuir chevelu afin de les ôter très rapidement par un tire-tique ou une pince à épiler. Plus d’informations sur le site de l’Assurance maladie .

Autres maladies

La rage est une maladie virale transmissible accidentellement à l’homme par les chiens, renards ou chauve-souris atteints du virus par morsure ou léchage d’une muqueuse. La vaccination préventive avant un séjour en zone exposée peut être recommandée. Plus d’informations sur le site du ministère des Solidarités et de la Santé .

Fièvre Typhoïde

La fièvre typhoïde est une maladie bactérienne liée aux salmonelles. Les symptômes associent notamment une forte fièvre et des troubles digestifs. Ils imposent une consultation médicale urgente car des complications graves sont possibles (voir les quelques règles simples pour se prémunir des contaminations digestives ci-dessous).

Infection par le virus VIH – IST

Au regard de la situation sanitaire en Ukraine concernant les infections sexuellement transmissibles, il est fortement recommandé de prendre toutes les précautions d’usage en la matière et d’éviter les comportements à risque.

Tuberculose

Des souches résistantes prospèrent à partir des zones à risque du sud (Odessa, Mikolaiv, Zaporijjia) et de l’est de l’Ukraine (Donetsk, Kharkiv, Tchernihiv). Il est fortement recommandé d’être à jour de cette vaccination pour se rendre en Ukraine.

Consommation d’alcool frelaté

En raison des risques liés à la consommation d’alcool frelaté (plusieurs dizaines de morts signalés), il est fortement recommandé de ne pas consommer de l’alcool de provenance douteuse ni d’acheter de l’alcool dans les commerces informels.

Recommandations pour les personnes se rendant sur le site de Tchernobyl

Se rendre à Tchernobyl ne semble pas poser de problèmes sanitaires particuliers, à condition de respecter les précautions suivantes :

En zone dite d’exclusion (30 km autour de l’installation) :

• respecter les procédures locales (port obligatoire du dosimètre passif légal ukrainien) ;
• passer par les portiques de contrôle de la contamination en sortie de site (obligation) ;
• ne pas consommer de l’eau ou de la nourriture locale.

En dehors de la zone d’exclusion : le port d’un dosimètre n’est pas nécessaire. Il est recommandé de :

• rester sur les voies de circulation prévues à cet effet ; ne pas creuser la terre (éventuelles particules présentes) et éviter les terrains boueux ;
• ne pas acheter de produits frais sur les marchés ou chez des vendeurs à la sauvette ; ne pas consommer de champignons, de baies sauvages ni de viande de gibier.
• éviter la consommation de produits alimentaires frais, légumes ou lait, produits par des particuliers et préférer les produits alimentaires achetés en supermarché ou sur le marché de Slavutich. La consommation d’eau du robinet ou la prise d’une douche ne pose a priori pas de problème.

Quelques règles simples

• Se tenir à distance des cadavres d’animaux, des animaux et de leurs déjections.
• Ne pas approcher les animaux errants et les chiens (risque de morsure et de rage) ; ne pas caresser les animaux rencontrés.
• Veiller à sa sécurité routière (port de la ceinture de sécurité, port du casque à deux-roues, siège auto pour les enfants).

Pour se préserver des contaminations digestives ou de contact

• Se laver les mains régulièrement avec des solutions de lavage hydro-alcooliques, surtout avant et après les repas ou le passage aux toilettes ;
• Veiller à la qualité des aliments, et surtout à leur bonne cuisson ;
• Ne boire que de l’eau ou des boissons encapsulées ou de l’eau rendue potable (filtration, ébullition ou, à défaut, par un produit désinfectant).
• Institut Pasteur
• Santé publique France
• Organisation mondiale de la santé

Gestation pour autrui

Le ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères met en garde les ressortissants français contre le recours, en Ukraine, à une mère porteuse.

Stupéfiants

La simple consommation, la détention et le trafic de stupéfiants sont sévèrement réprimés (tolérance 0 g). En application des articles 305 et 309 du code pénal ukrainien, les peines encourues peuvent aller jusqu’à 10 ans d’emprisonnement.

Infrastructure routière

État médiocre.

Conduire prudemment, éviter de circuler la nuit en dehors des agglomérations, être vigilant sur la conduite de la population locale, souvent peu respectueuse du code de la route et des règles de circulation en général.

L’assurance du véhicule est obligatoire. Celui-ci doit être déclaré à l’arrivée en Ukraine, lors du passage en douane.

Il est rappelé aux ressortissants français circulant dans un véhicule immatriculé en France que les infractions routières doivent obligatoirement faire l’objet d’un « protocole » (procès-verbal). Aucun paiement ne doit être effectué en numéraire au moment des faits, même si le fonctionnaire de police l’exige. Le paiement s’effectue ultérieurement, auprès d’un établissement bancaire.

Réseau ferroviaire

Des trains de nuit desservent les principales villes de province. Deux lignes de train express (5 heures de trajet) relient Kiev à Kharkiv et Kiev à Dnipro.

Transport aérien

La flotte aérienne intérieure est composée d’avions anciens. Pour les vols internationaux, il est conseillé de voyager sur les compagnies aériennes occidentales ou sur Air Ukraine International, qui dispose d’appareils répondant aux normes internationales de sécurité.

Visa d’affaires

Les ressortissants de l’Union européenne souhaitant se rendre en Ukraine sont dispensés de visa de court séjour (3 mois maximum sur une période de 180 jours) et de transit.

Les ressortissants français souhaitant se rendre en Ukraine devront être munis d’un passeport valide 3 mois au minimum après la date du retour . Ce passeport doit comporter au moins deux pages libres.

Ils devront pouvoir justifier, en cas de contrôle, de moyens financiers suffisants pour couvrir les frais de séjour en Ukraine et de retour en France (environ 150 € par jour).

Sites internet à consulter pour obtenir plus d’informations sur le régime d’entrée en Ukraine :

• Ministère des Affaires étrangères ukrainien
• Ambassade de France à Kiev

Pour plus d’informations, consultez la rubrique Entrée / Séjour de la présente fiche.

Données économiques

Avec une population d’environ 45 millions d’habitants (source : Banque mondiale, 2017), le pays dispose en 2018 d’un PIB par habitant d’environ 3 000 dollars. Après une période de crise marquée due à l’agression militaire de 2014, la croissance est de retour depuis 2016 (3,3% de croissance du PIB en 2018) tandis que les indicateurs macroéconomiques s’améliorent (baisse de l’inflation et du déficit budgétaire).

La France est le 10e fournisseur mondial de l’Ukraine avec une part de marché de 2,6 % en 2018 et enregistre un excédent commercial de 247 M EUR.

L’économie ukrainienne offre des perspectives dans les secteurs des produits de consommation, de l’agroalimentaire, des hautes technologies et la production industrielle (secteurs chimique et métallurgique notamment) . Malgré les efforts entrepris pour lutter contre la corruption, le climat des affaires peut générer des difficultés et contraintes pour les investisseurs potentiels.

Consulter la fiche repères économiques Ukraine .

Contacts utiles

Service économique.

Les Services économiques auprès des ambassades sont des services extérieurs de la Direction générale du Trésor . Ils ont pour missions l’analyse et la veille économique et financière, sur une base macroéconomique, l’animation des relations économiques, financières et commerciales bilatérales avec les pays de leur compétence, et le soutien public au développement international des entreprises.

Service économique de Kiev – Ukraine Adresse : 39, rue Reytarska, 01901 Kiev, Ukraine Tél. : +38 044 590 22 00 Télécopie : +38 044 278 87 51 Courriel : kiev chez dgtresor.gouv.fr Site Internet

Business France

Opérateur public national au service de l’internationalisation de l’économie française, Business France valorise et promeut l’attractivité de l’offre de la France, de ses entreprises et de ses territoires.

Business Fance - Ukraine Ambassade de France en Ukraine 39 rue Reitarska Kiev 01901 Kiev - Ukraine Tel :+38 044 590 22 08 Courriel : kiev chez businessfrance.fr Directeur pays : Alexis Struve - Tél. : +38 044 590 22 19

Les Conseillers du commerce extérieur de la France (CCEF) forment un réseau actif de plus de 4 000 membres dans 146 pays, au service de la présence française dans le monde. Ils apportent leur expérience pour conseiller les pouvoirs publics, parrainer les entreprises, former les jeunes aux métiers de l’international et promouvoir l’attractivité de la France pour les investissements internationaux. Président de section : Charbel Kanaan Site Internet

Les Chambres de commerce et d’industrie (CCI) françaises à l’international sont des associations indépendantes de droit local qui regroupent des entreprises françaises et étrangères . Elles constituent un réseau mondial de relations et de contacts d’affaires de plus de 32 000 entreprises françaises et étrangères dans 83 pays.

Chambre de commerce et d’industrie française en Ukraine (CCIFU) 10, rue V. Lypynskogo bureau 10 01030 Kiev - Ukraine Tél : +38 (044) 235 36 64 / +38 (0)95 692 34 73 Courriel : ccifu chez ccifu.com.ua Site internet

Atout France

Site Internet

• Bureau du représentant résident du FMI en Ukraine
• L’Ukraine et le FMI

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COVID-19 : conseils de santé pour tous les voyageurs

Conseils aux voyageurs pour l' Ukraine

Dernière mise à jour : Sécurité – ajout de renseignements sur un risque accru d’attaques de drones et de missiles à travers l’Ukraine

Date de la dernière mise à jour : 22 août 2024 16:41 ET

Sur cette page

Niveau de risque, exigences d'entrée et de sortie, lois et coutumes, catastrophes naturelles et climat, besoin d'aide, ukraine - évitez tout voyage.

Votre sécurité est grandement compromise, particulièrement si vous prenez part activement au combat.

La Russie mène des attaques de drones et de missiles contre les infrastructures civiles et gouvernementales ukrainiennes. Ces attaques visent notamment les centres-villes et les zones peuplées, y compris Kiev. L’invasion russe en cours représente un risque important pour la sécurité, même si vous n’êtes pas près des lignes de front.

Si vous êtes en Ukraine, vous devriez envisager de quitter le pays si vous pouvez le faire de façon sécuritaire.

Notre capacité à fournir des services consulaires en Ukraine est très limitée.

La réponse du Canada à l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine

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Risque accru d’attaques de drones et de missiles

Le 21 août 2024, l’ambassade des États-Unis en Ukraine a publié l’alerte de sécurité suivante : « L’ambassade des États-Unis à Kiev estime qu’au cours des prochains jours et de la fin de semaine, il y a un risque accru d’attaques, de jour comme de nuit, de drones et de missiles russes à travers l’Ukraine, en lien avec le Jour de l’Indépendance de l’Ukraine le 24 août ».

Si vous êtes en Ukraine :

• identifiez l’emplacement de l’abri anti-bombes le plus proche;
• abritez-vous dans une structure solidifiée et éloignez-vous des fenêtres lorsque les sirènes d’alerte aux raids aériens sont en cours;
• suivez les directives des autorités locales.

Invasion militaire Russe

Le 24 février 2022, la Russie a entamé une invasion militaire à grande échelle de l’Ukraine, lançant des attaques à travers le pays, y compris dans les grandes villes. Outre les cibles militaires, la Russie a attaqué et continue d’attaquer les infrastructures civiles et gouvernementales ukrainiennes dans plusieurs villes, dont Kiev.

De violents combats sont en cours dans plusieurs régions du pays. Des bombardements, des explosions et des tirs de missiles ont lieu quotidiennement. On rapporte des milliers de victimes civiles. Il y a des pénuries de denrées de base et des perturbations des services essentiels dans les zones proches des lignes de front. Les frappes et les bombardements peuvent aussi constituer une menace pour l'infrastructure énergétique nucléaire de l'Ukraine, notamment la centrale nucléaire de Zaporijia.

L’espace aérien ukrainien est fermé. Le gouvernement de l’Ukraine a décrété l’état d’urgence et imposé la loi martiale, ce qui donne aux autorités locales d’amples pouvoirs afin d’appliquer des mesures sécuritaires telles que :

• des couvre-feux;
• des contrôles de sécurité;
• l'interdiction de sortie du territoire;
• des évacuations obligatoires;
• des interdictions d’assemblées;
• la mobilisation obligatoire.

Le gouvernement de l'Ukraine a décrété la mobilisation générale. Si les autorités locales vous considèrent comme un citoyen ukrainien, vous pourriez être sujet à des obligations militaires et serez probablement empêché de quitter le pays.

L'action militaire russe en Ukraine pourrait perturber davantage les infrastructures clés et voies de transports et limiter l’approvisionnement de services essentiels dans l’ensemble du pays.

Les conditions de sécurité demeurent extrêmement instables. Votre sécurité est grandement compromise, particulièrement si vous participez activement au combat.

Si vous êtes en Ukraine, vous devriez suivre les directives des autorités locales en tout temps, y compris les sirènes d’alerte aux raids aériens, les couvre-feux et les ordres d’évacuation.

Si vous êtes à proximité des activités militaires :

• révisez quotidiennement vos mesures de sécurité personnelle;
• abritez-vous dans une structure solidifiée et éloignez-vous des fenêtres lorsque les sirènes d’alerte aux raids aériens sont en cours.

Vous devriez quitter le pays maintenant si vous pouvez le faire de façon sécuritaire. Si vous décidez de rester en Ukraine en dépit de cet avertissement :

• assurez-vous d'avoir une réserve de nourriture de base, d'eau et de médicaments;
• consultez régulièrement des sources d'information dignes de confiance pour rester au courant de l’évolution de la situation;
• rangez toujours en lieu sûr votre passeport et vos autres documents de voyage;
• informez un proche de votre emplacement;
• inscrivez-vous et mettez à jour vos coordonnées au moyen du service d'inscription des Canadiens à l'étranger et encouragez les autres Canadiens en Ukraine à en faire de même.

Notre capacité à fournir des services consulaires en Ukraine pourrait devenir très limitée. Vous ne devriez pas dépendre du gouvernement du Canada afin de quitter le pays.

Si vous êtes en mesure de quitter l’Ukraine de manière sécuritaire :

• vérifiez régulièrement les conditions d'entrée de votre destination, car de nombreux pays voisins les mettent à jour afin de répondre à la situation;
• attendez-vous à des routes très congestionnées, des postes de contrôle et des délais;
• arrêtez-vous aux postes de contrôle et aux points de blocage routier, même si ceux-ci semblent être sans surveillance;
• informez un proche de votre itinéraire;
• apportez suffisamment d’essence si vous utilisez votre véhicule.

Territoires illégalement occupés par la Russie

La Fédération de Russie a illégalement occupé et annexé la Crimée et exerce un contrôle strict sur la région. Elle occupe aussi illégalement des parties des oblasts suivants :

Ces régions sont fortement militarisées et des combats intenses s’y déroulent. On raporte des crimes de guerre et de détentions arbitraires d’étrangers.

Compte tenu de la situation actuelle, l’ambassade du Canada en Ukraine, à Kyiv, a un accès extrêmement limité aux clients consulaires. L’ambassade du Canada en Russie, à Moscou, n’est accréditée qu’en Russie et ne peut donc pas offrir de services dans les territoires ukrainiens illégalement occupés par la Russie.

Crimes mineurs

Les crimes mineurs, comme les vols à la tire, sont fréquents, surtout dans:

• les endroits bondés;
• les secteurs touristiques;
• les bars et les boîtes de nuit;
• les transports publics.

Dans le centre de Kyiv, les activités criminelles, y compris les agressions, sont plus fréquentes la nuit.

• Rangez toujours en lieu sûr vos effets personnels, y compris votre passeport et vos autres documents de voyage
• Évitez de faire étalage de richesse ou d’avoir sur vous de grosses sommes d’argent

Il arrive que des actes de violence et de harcèlement soient commis contre des personnes qui se comportent ou apparaissent comme des étrangers. Les autorités locales pourraient décider ne pas intervenir lors de situations de violence et de harcèlement à caractère racial.

Crimes violents

Des vols à main armée peuvent se produire, particulièrement dans les grandes villes.

Des armes, y compris des armes légères et des explosifs, sont présentes dans toutes les régions du pays. Le nombre et l’accessibilité des armes disponibles ont augmenté depuis l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine. Les activités criminelles sont plus imprévisibles et difficiles à repérer en raison de la guerre. Les touristes ne sont pas particulièrement visés par des incidents violents, mais vous pourriez vous retrouver au mauvais endroit au mauvais moment. Soyez sur vos gardes et restez vigilant.

Sécurité des femmes

Les femmes voyageant seules peuvent faire l'objet de certaines formes de harcèlement et d'agressions verbales. La violence fondée sur le genre est en augmentation en Ukraine.

Des agressions et des agressions sexuelles, y compris des viols, ont été signalées dans tout le pays, en particulier dans les grandes villes.

• Évitez de voyager seul, notamment après la tombée de la nuit
• Faites preuve de prudence dans la rue à proximité des bars et des boîtes de nuit.
• Soyez prudent lorsque vous traitez avec des inconnus ou des connaissances récentes, en particulier lorsque vous acceptez des promenades ou d'autres invitations

Les femmes ou autres survivants de violences fondées sur le genre peuvent être découragés ou empêchés de dénoncer leurs agresseurs aux autorités. Si vous êtes victime d'une agression sexuelle ou d'un autre crime, vous devez le signaler immédiatement à la police et au bureau canadien le plus proche.

Conseils pour les voyageuses

Des fraudes liées aux cartes de crédit et aux guichets automatiques bancaires surviennent. Faites preuve de vigilance lorsque vous utilisez votre carte de débit ou de crédit.

• Couvrez le clavier d’une main lorsque vous entrez votre NIP
• Soyez vigilant lorsque vos cartes sont manipulées par d’autres personnes pour un paiement
• Évitez les lecteurs de cartes à l’aspect inhabituel
• Utilisez des guichets automatiques bancaires situés dans des endroits publics bien éclairés ou à l’intérieur d’une banque ou d’un commerce
• Vérifiez votre relevé de compte pour y détecter toute transaction non autorisée

Fraude en matière d’investissement

Les courriels non sollicités offrant des opportunités commerciales ou financières alléchantes sont très probablement frauduleux. Ne vous rendez pas en Ukraine dans l'intention d'obtenir un dédommagement à la suite d’une fraude.

Si vous envisagez d'acheter une propriété ou de faire d'autres investissements en Ukraine, demandez des conseils juridiques au Canada et en Ukraine avant de conclure toute transaction. Les litiges reliés aux investissements peuvent être longs et coûteux à résoudre.

Les escrocs ciblent souvent des secteurs touristiques et des hôtels.

Soyez attentifs aux escroqueries de rue. Une forme d’escroquerie courante consiste à laisser tomber un portefeuille ou de l’argent au sol devant un touriste en espérant que celui-ci le ramassera. L’escroc accuse ensuite le touriste d’avoir volé une partie de l’argent. Ces escroqueries font parfois appel à plusieurs criminels dont certains se font passer pour des policiers. Si cela vous arrive, ne ramassez pas l’objet en question et poursuivez tout simplement votre chemin sans engager la conversation.

Surfacturation

Certains bars et établissements nocturnes peuvent tenter de vous facturer des prix exorbitants.

Les discussions sur la surfacturation peuvent entraîner des menaces de violence et les agents de sécurité peuvent vous obliger à payer.

• Vérifiez toujours le prix d'un article avant de le commander
• Ne laissez pas d'addition ouverte
• Évitez de demander une addition ouverte ou de confier votre carte de crédit au personnel du bar ou du restaurant
• Vérifiez l’exactitude votre facture avant de payer

Arnaques amoureuses

Des escroqueries à la romance sur des sites de rencontre ou par le biais des médias sociaux ont eu lieu. Méfiez-vous des annonces en ligne proposant des services de rencontre ou de mariage en Ukraine. Faites vos recherches et vérifiez la légitimité des services avant de payer quoi que ce soit.

• Méfiez-vous des personnes qui manifestent un vif intérêt en ligne
• Gardez à l'esprit que vous pouvez être victime d'une escroquerie si vous vous rendez en Ukraine pour rendre visite à quelqu'un que vous avez rencontré en ligne
• Rencontrez toujours de nouvelles connaissances dans un endroit sûr et familier
• Soyez attentif au risque d'inviter de nouvelles connaissances dans votre chambre d'hôtel ou votre appartement

La fraude à l’étranger

Aliments et boissons contenant des drogues

Les collations, boissons, gommes à mâcher ou cigarettes peuvent contenir de la drogue et vous exposer au risque de vol ou d’agression sexuelle.

• Méfiez-vous de ces produits offerts par de nouvelles connaissances
• Ne laissez jamais vos aliments ou vos boissons sans surveillance ou sous la responsabilité d’inconnus

Manifestations

Les rassemblements de masse, y compris les manifestations et les protestations, sont interdits selon la loi martiale.

Il existe une menace terroriste en Europe. Des terroristes ont mené des attentats dans plusieurs villes européennes et il est fort probable que d’autres attentats soient commis.

Les attentats peuvent cibler :

• les édifices gouvernementaux, y compris les écoles;
• les lieux de culte;
• les aéroports, ainsi que d’autres plaques tournantes et réseaux de transport;
• les endroits publics comme les attractions touristiques, les restaurants, les bars, les cafés, les centres commerciaux, les marchés, les hôtels et autres lieux fréquentés par les étrangers.

Soyez toujours sur vos gardes lorsque vous vous trouvez dans des lieux publics. Exercez une vigilance accrue si vous assistez à des événements sportifs, des fêtes religieuses ou d’autres célébrations publiques. Il arrive que des terroristes profitent de ces occasions pour passer à l’attaque.

Suite à la catastrophe de la centrale nucléaire de Chornobyl en 1986, une zone d'exclusion de 30 km a été établie autour de la centrale et celle-ci inclut les villes de Prypiat et de Chornobyl. La zone d'exclusion est toujours radioactive. L'accès y est strictement limité et doit être organisé par un voyagiste spécialisé. Toute personne visitant Chornobyl doit suivre les instructions de sécurité émises par l'Agence d'État de l’Ukraine pour la gestion de la zone d'exclusion.

Instructions de sécurité  - Agence d'État de l’Ukraine pour la gestion de la zone d'exclusion (en anglais)

Sécurité routière

Les déplacements par la route peuvent être dangereux. Les conducteurs ne respectent pas le Code de la route. Ils peuvent rouler à des vitesses excessives et être imprudents. Les piétons et les cyclistes doivent faire preuve d’une grande prudence.

Évitez de conduire la nuit à l’extérieur des grandes villes. La visibilité réduite, du mauvais état des véhicules et de la présence d’automobilistes en état d’ébriété constituent des dangers.

Il existe des services aux automobilistes comme des garages, mais ces services sont souvent inadéquats.

État des routes

La plupart des routes en dehors des grandes villes sont mal entretenues. Certaines routes et certains ponts peuvent être inutilisables ou endommagés par les combats de l’invasion militaire russe. Les conducteurs subissant à un niveau de stress et de la fatigue en raison des dommages causés et des conditions imprévisibles pourraient se montrent agressifs ou se livrer à des confrontations. Assurez-vous que les portes de votre véhicule soient verrouillées et les fenêtres fermées à tout moment.

Transports publics

Le métro de Kyiv est fiable. Les autobus toutefois sont généralement bondés et en mauvais état.

Les services et les infrastructures de transport public dans tout le pays sont susceptibles d'être interrompus à court et à long terme en raison de l'invasion russe de l'Ukraine.

Aux plaques tournantes, demandez un taxi à partir des endroits désignés dans le terminal des arrivées ou utilisez une application de covoiturage de confiance. Faites de même en ville en lieu de héler un taxi dans la rue. Négociez les tarifs à l'avance, car vous risquez d'être surchargé.

Il existe un risque des vols et des agressions à bord des trains, surtout dans les voitures-couchettes

• Soyez toujours sur vos gardes
• Rangez vos effets personnels et vos documents de voyage en lieu sûr
• Ne laissez pas votre compartiment sans surveillance
• Prenez soin de verrouiller la porte de l’intérieur

Transport aérien

L’espace aérien ukrainien est actuellement fermé.

combattants_etrangers

Combattants étrangers

Depuis le 18 mai 2024, les étrangers qui rejoignent les forces armées ukrainiennes doivent signer un contrat de six mois avec les forces armées ukrainiennes et ne sont pas autorisés à quitter le pays pendant cette période.

Ce sont les autorités d’un pays ou d’un territoire qui décident qui peut en franchir les frontières. Le gouvernement du Canada ne peut pas intervenir en votre nom si vous ne répondez pas aux exigences d’entrée et de sortie du pays ou territoire où vous vous rendez.

L’information contenue dans cette page a été obtenue auprès des autorités ukrainiennes. Elle peut cependant changer à tout moment.

Confirmez ces renseignements auprès des Représentants étrangers au Canada . 

Les exigences d’entrée varient selon le type de passeport que vous utilisez pour voyager.

Avant de partir, vérifiez auprès de votre transporteur quelles sont ses exigences au sujet des passeports. Ses règles sur la durée de validité des passeports sont peut-être plus strictes que les règles d’entrée du pays où vous vous rendez.

Passeport canadien régulier

Votre passeport doit être valide pendant au moins 6 mois après la date prévue de votre départ de l’Ukraine.

Passeport pour voyages officiels

Des exigences d’entrée différentes peuvent s’appliquer.

Voyages officiels

Passeport indiquant un identifiant de genre «X»

Bien que le gouvernement du Canada délivre des passeports indiquant un identifiant de genre «X», il ne peut garantir votre entrée ou votre transit dans d’autres pays. Vous pourriez faire face à des restrictions d’entrée dans les pays qui ne reconnaissent pas l’identifiant de genre «X». Avant de partir, vérifiez cette information auprès des représentants étrangers de votre pays de destination.

Autres documents de voyage

Les exigences d’entrée peuvent être différentes si vous voyagez avec un passeport temporaire ou un titre de voyage d’urgence. Avant de partir, renseignez-vous auprès des représentants étrangers du pays où vous voulez entrer.

Liens utiles

• Représentants étrangers au Canada
• Passeports canadiens

Visa de touriste : non exigé pour les séjours de 90 jours ou moins par période de 180 jours Visa d’affaires : non exigé pour les séjours de 90 jours ou moins par période de 180 jours Visa d’étudiant : non exigé pour les séjours de 90 jours ou moins par période de 180 jours Permis de travail : exigé

Si vous comptez séjourner en Ukraine plus de 90 jours, vous devez obtenir un visa avant votre arrivée. Pour plus de détails sur les visas et les permis de travail, veuillez communiquer avec l’ambassade de l’Ukraine au Canada.

Si vous vous rendez en Ukraine pour une raison autre que le tourisme, vous devez obtenir une invitation d’une entreprise ou d’un particulier de l’Ukraine. Avant de partir, communiquez avec l’ambassade de l’Ukraine la plus proche pour obtenir plus d’information sur le processus d’invitation.

• Missions diplomatiques et consulats étrangers au Canada
• Renseignements sur les visas pour l’Ukraine (en anglais) – ministère des Affaires étrangères de l’Ukraine

Autres exigences d'entrée

Les agents d’immigration peuvent vous demander de prouver que vous disposez de fonds suffisants pour votre séjour en Ukraine.

Crimée et parties des oblasts de Donetsk, Louhansk, Kherson et Zaporijia

Les zones de l’Ukraine illégalement occupées par la Russie sont des zones de combat actives et tous les points de contrôle désignés pour l’entrée et la sortie de ces zones sont fermées.

Les autorités ukrainiennes refuseront l’entrée aux étrangers qui tentent d’entrer en Ukraine depuis la Russie via la Crimée ou les régions de Donetsk, Louhansk, Kherson et Zaporijia illégalement occupées par la Russie. Vous pourriez être arrêté et détenu pour être interrogé afin de vérifier votre identité. L’entrée en Ukraine depuis ces zones illégalement occupées peut être possible par des couloirs humanitaires spécialement organisés ou en tant que réfugié.

Les enfants en voyage

Voyager avec des enfants

Fièvre jaune

Renseignez-vous sur la possibilité d’exigences d’entrée concernant la fièvre jaune (section sur les vaccins).

Conseils de santé aux voyageurs pertinents

• Avis mondial sur la rougeole - 13 mars 2024
• COVID-19 et voyages internationaux - 13 mars 2024

Cette section contient des informations sur les risques sanitaires éventuels et les restrictions régulièrement constatées ou en cours dans la destination. Suivez ces conseils pour réduire votre risque de tomber malade en voyage. Tous les risques ne sont pas énumérés ci-dessous.

Consultez un fournisseur de soins de santé ou visitez une clinique santé-voyage de préférence six semaines avant votre départ pour obtenir des conseils et des recommandations personnalisées en matière de santé.

Vaccins de routine

Assurez-vous que vos vaccins de routine , conformément à votre province ou territoire , peu importe votre destination de voyage. 

Parmi ces vaccins, citons le vaccin contre la rougeole, les oreillons et la rubéole (ROR), la diphtérie, le tétanos, la coqueluche, la polio, la varicelle, la grippe et d'autres.

Vaccins et médicaments pré-voyage

Vous pouvez être à risque de maladies évitables lors de votre voyage dans cette destination. Consultez un professionnel de la santé voyage pour savoir quels médicaments ou vaccins pourraient vous convenir, en fonction de votre destination et de votre itinéraire.

La fièvre jaune est une maladie causée par un flavivirus que se transmet par la piqûre d'un moustique infecté.

Les voyageurs se font vacciner soit parce qu'il s'agit d'une exigence pour entrer dans certains pays, soit parce qu'il est recommandé de le faire pour se protéger contre la fièvre jaune.

• Il n'y a aucun risque de fièvre jaune dans ce pays.

Les exigences liées à l'entrée*

• Une preuve de vaccination n'est pas exigée des voyageurs.

Recommandation

• La vaccination n'est pas recommandée.

*Il est important de souligner que les exigences liées à l'entrée dans un pays pourraient ne pas correspondre à votre risque de contracter la fièvre jaune à cet endroit. Il est également recommandé de communiquer avec la mission diplomatique ou consulaire de la ou des destinations où vous comptez vous rendre pour vérifier s'il y a d'autres exigences d'entrée.

À propos de la fièvre jaune

Centres de vaccination contre la fièvre jaune désignés

Il existe un risque d' hépatite A  dans cette destination. C'est une maladie du foie. Les gens peuvent contracter l'hépatite A s'ils ingèrent des aliments ou de l'eau contaminés, mangent des aliments préparés par une personne infectieuse ou s'ils ont un contact physique étroit (comme des relations sexuelles orales ou anales) avec une personne infectieuse, bien qu'un contact occasionnel entre les personnes ne propage pas l'hépatite A virus.

Prenez des précautions en matière de sécurité alimentaire et d’eau et lavez-vous souvent les mains.

 L'encéphalite à tiques constitue un risque dans certaines régions de cette destination. C'est une maladie virale qui touche le système nerveux central (cerveau et moelle épinière). Il se transmet à l'homme par la piqûre de tiques infectées ou occasionnellement lors de la consommation de produits laitiers non pasteurisés.

Les voyageurs se rendant dans les zones où l'on trouve l’encéphalite à tiques peuvent courir un risque plus élevé d'avril à novembre, et le risque est plus élevé pour les personnes qui font de la randonnée ou campent dans les zones forestières.

Protégez-vous des piqûres de tiques . Le vaccin n'est pas disponible au Canada. Il peut être disponible dans la destination vers laquelle vous voyagez.

La rage est généralement transmise par les chiens et certains animaux sauvages, notamment les chauves-souris, dans cette destination. La rage est une maladie mortelle qui se transmet aux humains principalement par les morsures ou les griffures d'un animal infecté. Pendant le voyage, prenez des précautions , notamment en vous tenant à distance des animaux (y compris les chiens en liberté) et en surveillant de près les enfants.

Si vous êtes mordu ou égratigné par un animal lors d'un voyage, lavez immédiatement la plaie avec de l'eau propre et du savon, et consultez un professionnel de la santé. Le traitement contre la rage dans cette destination peut être limité ou ne pas être disponible, et il se peut donc que vous deviez retourner au Canada pour vous faire soigner.

Avant de voyager, consultez un professionnel de la santé au sujet de la vaccination contre la rage. Elle peut être recommandée pour les voyageurs qui présentent un risque élevé d'exposition (par exemple, les vétérinaires et les travailleurs de la faune, les enfants, les voyageurs d'aventure et les spéléologues, ainsi que les personnes en contact étroit avec des animaux).

La rougeole est une maladie virale très contagieuse. Elle peut se propager rapidement d'une personne à l'autre par contact direct et par les gouttelettes dans l'air.

Toute personne qui n'est pas protégée contre la rougeole risque d'en être infectée lorsqu'elle voyage à l'étranger.

Peu importe où vous allez, consultez un professionnel de la santé avant votre départ pour vous assurer d'être entièrement protégé contre la rougeole.

L'hépatite B est un risque dans toutes les destinations. Il s’agit d’une maladie virale du foie qui se transmet facilement d’une personne à une autre par exposition au sang et aux liquides organiques contenant le virus de l’hépatite B. Les voyageurs susceptibles d'être exposés au sang ou à d'autres fluides corporels (par exemple, par contact sexuel, traitement médical, partage d'aiguilles, tatouage, acupuncture ou exposition professionnelle) courent un risque plus élevé de contracter l'hépatite B.

La vaccination contre l'hépatite B est recommandée à tous les voyageurs. Prévenez l’infection par l’hépatite B en pratiquant des relations sexuelles protégées, en utilisant uniquement du matériel médical neuf et stérile et en vous faisant tatouer et percer uniquement dans des environnements qui respectent les réglementations et normes de santé publique.

La   maladie à coronavirus (COVID-19) est une maladie infectieuse virale qui peut se propager d’une personne à l’autre par un contact direct et par des gouttelettes projetées dans l’air.

Il est recommandé que tous les voyageurs admissibles reçoivent la série complète d’un vaccin contre la COVID-19 ainsi que toute dose supplémentaire recommandée au Canada avant de voyager. Les données probantes révèlent que les vaccins sont très efficaces pour prévenir les formes graves de la COVID-19, les hospitalisations et la mort. Bien que la vaccination offre une meilleure protection contre les maladies graves, vous pouvez toujours être exposé au risque d'infection par le virus responsable de la COVID-19. Quiconque n’étant pas entièrement vacciné court un risque accru de contracter le virus qui cause la COVID-19, ainsi qu'un risque accru d'être gravement malade lors d’un voyage à l’étranger.

 Avant de voyager, vérifiez les exigences d'entrée/sortie de votre destination en matière de vaccination contre la COVID-19.Peu importe votre destination, discutez avec un professionnel de la santé avant de voyager afin de vous assurer d’être bien protégé contre la COVID-19.

La meilleure façon de se protéger contre la grippe saisonnière est de se faire vacciner chaque année. Faites-vous vacciner contre la grippe au moins 2 semaines avant de voyager.

 La grippe est présente dans le monde entier.

• Dans l'hémisphère Nord, la saison grippale s'étend généralement de novembre à avril.
• Dans l'hémisphère Sud, la saison grippale s'étend généralement entre avril et octobre.
• Sous les tropiques, l'activité grippale est présente toute l'année.

Le vaccin contre la grippe disponible dans un hémisphère peut n’offrir qu’une protection partielle contre la grippe dans l’autre hémisphère.

Le virus de la grippe se transmet d'une personne à l'autre lorsqu'elle tousse ou éternue ou en touchant des objets et des surfaces contaminés par le virus. Lavez-vous souvent les mains et portez un masque si vous avez de la fièvre ou des symptômes respiratoires.

Précautions pour la nourriture et l'eau

De nombreuses maladies peuvent être causées par la consommation d'aliments ou de boissons contaminées par des bactéries, des parasites, des toxines ou des virus, ou par la baignade dans une eau contaminée.

• Pour en savoir plus sur les précautions à prendre en matière de nourriture et d'eau pour éviter de tomber malade, consultez notre page mangez et buvez en toute sécurité à l'étranger .  Rappelez-vous : N'ingérez rien qui n'ait été bouilli, cuit ou pelé!
• Évitez de vous mettre de l'eau dans les yeux, la bouche ou le nez lorsque vous vous baignez ou participez à des activités en eau douce (ruisseaux, canaux, lacs), particulièrement après une inondation ou de fortes pluies. L'eau peut sembler propre, mais elle peut quand même être polluée ou contaminée.
• Évitez d'inhaler ou d'avaler de l'eau lorsque vous vous baignez, prenez une douche ou nagez dans des piscines ou des spas.

La diarrhée du voyageur est la maladie qui touche le plus fréquemment les voyageurs. Elle se transmet par la consommation d'eau ou d'aliments contaminés.

Le risque de contracter la diarrhée du voyageur est accru dans les régions où les conditions de salubrité et d'hygiène sont déficientes. Faites attention à ce que vous mangez et buvez.

Le traitement le plus important contre la diarrhée du voyageur est la réhydratation (buvez beaucoup de liquides). Apportez des sels pour réhydratation orale lors de votre voyage.

Préventions des piqûres d'insectes

De nombreuses maladies sont transmises par les piqûres d'insectes infectés tels que les moustiques, les tiques, les puces ou les mouches. Lorsque vous voyagez dans des zones où des insectes infectés peuvent être présents :

• Utilisez un insectifuge (insecticide) sur la peau exposée
• Couvrez-vous avec des vêtements amples, de couleur claire, faits de matériaux à tissage serré telle que le nylon ou le polyester
• Réduisez au minimum l'exposition aux insectes
• Utilisez une moustiquaire lorsque vous dormez à l'extérieur ou dans des bâtiments qui ne sont pas entièrement clos

Pour en savoir plus sur la manière dont vous pouvez réduire votre risque d'infection et de maladie causée par les piqûres, tant au pays qu'à l'étranger, consultez notre page sur la prévention des piqûres d’insectes .

Découvrez quels types d'insectes sont présents là où vous voyagez, quand ils sont les plus actifs et les symptômes des maladies qu'ils propagent.

Précautions pour les animaux

Certaines infections, telles que la rage et la grippe, peuvent être partagées entre les humains et les animaux. Certains types d'activités peuvent augmenter vos chances de contact avec des animaux, comme les voyages dans des zones rurales ou forestières, le camping, la randonnée et la visite de marchés humides (lieux où les animaux vivants sont abattus et vendus) ou de grottes.

Les voyageurs sont priés d'éviter tout contact avec les animaux, y compris les chiens, le bétail (porcs, vaches), les singes, les serpents, les rongeurs, les oiseaux et les chauves-souris, et d'éviter de manger du gibier sauvage insuffisamment cuit.

Surveillez étroitement les enfants, car ils sont plus susceptibles d'entrer en contact avec des animaux.

Infections de personne à personne

Restez à la maison si vous êtes malade et respectez les règles de l'étiquette en matière de toux et d'éternuement , notamment en toussant ou en éternuant dans un mouchoir ou dans le pli de votre bras, pas dans votre main. Réduisez votre risque de rhume, de grippe et d'autres maladies en :

• vous lavant souvent les mains
• évitant ou en limitant le temps passé dans des espaces fermés, des endroits bondés ou lors d'événements à grande échelle (les concerts, les événements sportifs, les rassemblements)
• évitant les contacts physiques étroits avec des personnes qui pourraient présenter des symptômes de maladie

Les infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST) , VIH , et la mpox se transmettent par le sang et les fluides corporels ; utilisez des préservatifs, pratiquez des rapports sexuels protégés et limitez le nombre de vos partenaires sexuels. Vérifiez auprès de votre autorité de santé publique locale avant le voyage pour déterminer votre admissibilité au vaccin mpox.

La tuberculose est une infection causée par une bactérie qui touche habituellement les poumons.

Pour la plupart des voyageurs, le risque de contracter la tuberculose est faible.

Les voyageurs qui pourraient courir un plus grand risque de contracter la tuberculose et qui doivent se rendre dans une région où il existe un risque de tuberculose devraient consulter un professionnel de la santé afin de déterminer quelles sont les mesures à prendre avant et après leur voyage.

Les personnes qui pourraient courir un plus grand risque sont celles qui se rendent ou qui travaillent dans une prison, un camp de réfugiés, un refuge pour sans-abris ou un hôpital, ou les voyageurs qui rendent visite à des amis ou à des membres de leur famille.

Services et établissements médicaux

Les normes en matière de soins de santé varient d’un endroit à l’autre du pays. Les installations sont limitées à l’extérieur des grandes villes, même dans les établissements privés. Généralement, les médecins et le personnel infirmier ne parlent pas le français ou l’anglais, et les hôpitaux offrent rarement des services de traduction.

L’invasion militaire russe pourrait perturber l’accès aux services et les capacités des établissements médicaux. Les chaînes d’approvisionnement peuvent subir des contraintes, ce qui pourrait entraîner des pénuries de produits médicaux et de médicaments. Les hôpitaux et les cliniques peuvent être confrontés à des pénuries de personnel. Les fréquents pannes de courant peuvent compromettre la capacité des établissements médicaux à stériliser correctement leurs équipements et leurs espaces.

L’évacuation médicale est souvent très coûteuse et pourrait s’avérer nécessaire en cas de maladie ou de blessure grave.

Souscrivez une assurance voyage qui couvre les frais d'hospitalisation à l'étranger et l'évacuation médicale.

Santé et sécurité à l'étranger

À retenir...

La décision de voyager appartient entièrement au voyageur. Le voyageur est également responsable de sa propre sécurité.

Soyez bien préparé(e). Ne vous attendez pas à ce que les services médicaux soient les mêmes que ceux offerts au Canada. Apportez dans vos bagages une   trousse de produits de santé   pour le voyage, en particulier si vous vous rendez dans des zones éloignées des grands centres urbains.

Vous devez vous conformer aux lois locales.

Renseignez-vous sur ce que vous devez faire et sur l’aide que nous pouvons vous apporter en cas d’arrestation ou de détention à l’étranger .

Contrôles d’identité

Les autorités locales peuvent vous demander de présenter votre passeport et votre visa à tout moment.

• Conservez sur vous une pièce d'identité en tout temps
• Gardez en lieu sûr une photocopie de votre passeport et de votre visa ou permis de séjour, en cas de perte ou de saisie
• Conservez une copie numérique de vos pièces d'identité et documents de voyage

La possession, l’usage et le trafic de stupéfiants sont sévèrement punis. Les personnes reconnues coupables de ces délits sont passibles de peines d’emprisonnement et de lourdes amendes.

Drogues, alcool et voyages

Photographies

Ne prenez pas de photographies d’installations militaires, y compris d’équipements de défense mobiles ou temporaires, ou d’autres bâtiments gouvernementaux. Cela inclut les drones volant dans l’air au-dessus, les défenses aériennes, les avions et drones/missiles écrasés, ainsi que les équipements militaires endommagés ou abandonnés.

Vous devrez être prudent lorsque vous téléchargez des photos ou des vidéos sur les médias sociaux pour s’assurer qu’aucun bâtiment ou équipement interdit n’apparaisse dans votre contenu, même en arrière-plan. Vous risquez une arrestation et une peine d’emprisonnement si vous prenez ou téléchargez des photos ou des vidéos dont le contenu interdit est visible.

Double citoyenneté

La double citoyenneté n’est pas reconnue légalement en Ukraine.

Si les autorités locales vous considèrent comme un citoyen de l'Ukraine, elles pourraient refuser de vous accorder l’accès aux services consulaires canadiens. Cela nous empêcherait de vous fournir ces services.

Vous pouvez être considéré comme un citoyen ukrainien si vous êtes né en Ukraine ou si l’un de vos parents ou les deux sont citoyens ukrainiens.

En raison de l’invasion militaire russe en cours, les hommes âgés de 18 à 60 ans possédant la citoyenneté ukrainienne ne sont pas autorisés à quitter le pays.

Citoyen ou citoyenne à double citoyenneté

Service militaire obligatoire (mobilisation)

Le service militaire est obligatoire en Ukraine pour les hommes de plus de 18 ans. En raison de l’invasion militaire russe en cours, les hommes ukrainiens âgés de 18 à 60 ans peuvent être mobilisés.

Enlèvement international d’enfants

La Convention de La Haye sur les aspects civils de l’enlèvement international d'enfants est un traité international. Elle peut aider les parents à obtenir le retour de leurs enfants lorsque ceux-ci ont été déplacés ou retenus dans certains pays en violation d'un droit de garde. La convention s'applique entre le Canada et l'Ukraine.

Si votre enfant a été déplacé ou est retenu illicitement en Ukraine et que les conditions requises sont remplies, vous pourriez être en mesure de faire une demande de retour auprès de la cour ukrainienne.

Si vous vous trouvez dans cette situation :

• agissez le plus vite possible;
• communiquez dès que possible avec l'autorité centrale de votre province ou territoire afin d'obtenir de l'information sur la préparation d'une demande en vertu de la Convention de La Haye;
• consultez un avocat au Canada et en Ukraine afin d'envisager toutes les options juridiques possibles pour le retour de votre enfant;
• informez le bureau du gouvernement du Canada à l'étranger le plus proche ou l'Unité consulaire pour les enfants vulnérables d'Affaires mondiales Canada en communiquant avec le Centre de surveillance et d'intervention d'urgence.

Si votre enfant a été déplacé depuis un pays autre que le Canada, consultez un avocat pour déterminer si la Convention de La Haye s'applique.

Prenez note que les agents consulaires canadiens ne peuvent pas intervenir dans vos affaires juridiques privées ou dans le processus judiciaire de l'autre pays.

• Liste des Autorités centrales canadiennes pour la Convention de La Haye
• L'enlèvement international d'enfants : Un guide à l'intention des parents concernés
• Enfants et voyage
• La Convention de La Haye – Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé
• Ambassades et consulats du Canada par destination
• Demander de l'aide d'urgence

Maternité de substitution

Si vous envisagez de vous rendre en Ukraine malgré cet avertissement pour obtenir des services de maternité de substitution ou de l’adoption, vous devriez considérer les difficultés potentielles liées aux démarches de maternité de substitution internationale et demander des conseils juridiques spécialisés en droit ukrainien et canadien avant de conclure une entente.

L’invasion militaire russe de l’Ukraine a augmenté le risque de complications dangereuses lors de l’accouchement. Elle a également modifié les opinions juridiques et sociales sur la maternité de substitution et l’adoption internationales. Les attaques contre l’infrastructure de l’énergie de l’Ukraine pourraient perturber les services médicaux. Les perturbations de la chaîne d’approvisionnement pourraient limiter la disponibilité des biens médicaux essentiels. Vous devez considérer les risques pour votre sécurité et celle d’un nouveau-né avant de vous rendre en Ukraine.

Vous devriez consulter le ministère d'Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté du Canada (IRCC) à propos des politiques actuelles concernant la citoyenneté par filiation, ainsi que sur la délivrance des documents de voyage canadiens.

L’Ukraine a des lois strictes sur l’adoption, y compris des critères pour les adoptants potentiels. Ces lois peuvent être différentes pour les Canadiens détenteurs de la citoyenneté ukrainienne.

L'ambassade du Canada en Ukraine ne peut pas fournir de recommandations sur la sélection des agences de maternité de substitution.

Adoption internationale – Ministère des affaires étrangères de l’Ukraine (en anglais)

Médias

Le ministère de la Défense de l'Ukraine doit accréditer tous les voyages en Ukraine pour des projets médiatiques. Vous devez consulter le ministère de la Défense avant de votre arrivée en Ukraine afin de confirmer ses avis et ses règlements.

• Comment poser des questions aux médias - Ministère ukrainien de la défense (en anglais)
• Recommandations pour les médias - Forces armées ukrainiennes (en anglais)

Personnes 2ELGBTQI+

La loi ukrainienne n’interdit pas les actes sexuels entre personnes de même sexe.

Malgré la présence de collectivités 2ELGBTQI+ nombreuses et actives dans les grands centres urbains, l’homosexualité n’est pas communément acceptée dans la société ukrainienne. Évitez les manifestations d’affection en public.

Attendez-vous à une forte présence policière lors des défilés de la Fierté et de certains événements 2ELGBTQI+. Des contre-manifestations et des actes de violence sont possibles. Assurez-vous de disposer d'un plan pour quitter la zone en toute sécurité lorsque vous participez à des défilés de la Fierté ou à d'autres événements 2ELGBTQI+.

Les voyages et votre orientation sexuelle, votre identité de genre, votre expression de genre et vos caractéristiques sexuelles

Conduite automobile

Vous devez vous munir d’un permis de conduire international.

Il est obligatoire de détenir une assurance automobile.

La conduite en état d’ébriété fait l’objet d’une tolérance zéro.

Permis de conduire international

La devise de l’Ukraine est l’hryvnia (UAH).

En raison de l’invasion militaire Russe de l’Ukraine, il y a une limite de retrait dans les banques et les guichets automatiques.

Vous pouvez changer des devises étrangères dans la plupart des banques et des hôtels, et dans les bureaux de change autorisés.

Au moment d’entrer en Ukraine ou d’en sortir, vous devez faire une déclaration aux autorités douanières si vous êtes en possession de 10 000 euros ou plus, ou l’équivalent dans d’autres devises. Les montants non déclarés dépassant l'équivalent de 10 000 euros peuvent être saisis.

Il existe des réglementations et des procédures douanières strictes concernant l'exportation d'antiquités et d'objets d'intérêt historique. Il est interdit d'exporter des antiquités, des œuvres d'art, des trésors historiques et d'autres articles similaires sans une autorisation spéciale du ministère de la Culture ukrainien.

Changements climatiques

Les changements climatiques affectent l’Ukraine. Les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes et inhabituels sont de plus en plus fréquents et peuvent affecter vos projets de voyage. Surveillez les médias locaux pour rester au courant de la situation actuelle.

Feux de forêt

Les feux de broussailles et de forêt sont courants dans l’est et le sud de l’Ukrainéen juillet et en août. En cas d’incendie majeur, tenez-vous à l’écart des zones touchées. La qualité de l’air à proximité d’un incendie peut se détériorer en raison de l’épaisse fumée.

• Respectez toujours les instructions du personnel des services d’urgence locaux
• Suivez l’évolution de la situation dans les médias locaux

Inondations

Des inondations peuvent se produire dans l'ouest de l'Ukraine pendant la fonte des neiges et à la suite de pluies abondantes et soutenues. Cela peut causer des dommages aux routes et aux infrastructures. Planifiez votre itinéraire en conséquence.

Rupture de barrages

Les infrastructures civiles ukrainiennes ont subi d’importants dégâts dus à l’invasion militaire russe de l’Ukraine. En 2023, des barrages ont été attaqués et endommagés. Certains barrages ont été détruits, notamment le barrage de Nova Kakhovka à Kherson.

Après la destruction du barrage de Nova Kakhovka, de nombreuses villes et localités de Kherson, Dnipro et Zaporijia sont confrontées aux conséquences à long terme des inondations. Des munitions non-explosées ont coulé en aval et dans les zones inondées. Les autorités locales ont émis des avis d’ébullition d’eau dans certaines régions en raison du risque de maladies transmises par l’eau.

Les services essentiels sont gravement perturbés. De nombreuses routes dans la région sont impraticables ou fermées.

Si vous êtes dans l’oblast de Kherson :

• suivez les instructions des autorités locales, y compris les ordres d'évacuation;
• suivez les nouvelles locales et les bulletins météorologiques;
• utilisez uniquement de l’eau embouteillée pour boire et cuisiner.

Tempêtes de neige et de verglas

En hiver, les avalanches, les fortes chutes de neige et les pluies verglaçantes constituent un risque. Ils peuvent rendre les routes impraticables et perturber l’approvisionnement en électricité. Ces conditions peuvent rendre difficile l'accès aux zones isolées et peuvent également limiter la capacité des premiers répondants à intervenir en cas d'urgence.

Services locaux

En cas d’urgence, composez :

• Police : 102;
• Aide médicale : 103;
• Pompiers : 101;
• Urgences générales : 112 (pour les téléphones cellulaires seulement).

Aide consulaire

Si vous êtes en Ukraine et avez besoin d’aide consulaire :

• envoyez un courriel à [email protected] ;
• ou communiquez à tout moment avec le Centre de surveillance et d'intervention d’urgence à Ottawa.

Vous devriez également vous inscrire au service d' inscription des Canadiens à l'étranger .

Avertissement

La décision de voyager est un choix qui vous appartient, et vous avez la responsabilité de veiller à votre sécurité personnelle à l’étranger. Nous prenons très au sérieux la sécurité des Canadiens à l’étranger et nous diffusons des renseignements fiables et à jour dans nos Conseils aux voyageurs, afin que vous puissiez prendre des décisions éclairées au sujet de vos voyages à l’étranger.

Le contenu de cette page est fourni à titre d’information seulement. Nous faisons tout en notre pouvoir pour vous donner de l’information exacte, mais celle-ci est fournie « telle quelle », sans garantie d’aucune sorte, ni explicite ni implicite. Le gouvernement du Canada n’assume aucune responsabilité et ne pourra être tenu responsable d’aucun préjudice découlant de cette information.

Si vous avez besoin d’aide consulaire à l’étranger, nous ferons de notre mieux pour vous aider. Cependant, certaines contraintes peuvent restreindre la capacité du gouvernement du Canada de fournir ses services.

Renseignez-vous davantage sur les services consulaires canadiens .

Niveaux de risque

  prenez des mesures de sécurité normales.

Prenez les mêmes précautions que celles que vous prendriez au Canada.

  Faites preuve d'une grande prudence

Il y a certaines préoccupations en matière de sécurité et la situation pourrait changer rapidement. Soyez très prudent en tout temps, renseignez-vous dans les médias locaux et suivez les instructions des autorités locales.

IMPORTANT: Les deux niveaux suivants constituent un avertissement officiel du gouvernement du Canada. Ils sont publiés lorsque la sécurité des Canadiennes et des Canadiens voyageant dans une région ou un pays donné ou y habitant peut être compromise.

  Évitez tout voyage non essentiel

Votre sécurité pourrait être compromise. Vous devriez vous demander s’il est nécessaire de vous rendre dans ce pays, ce territoire ou cette région en fonction de vos besoins familiaux ou professionnels, de vos connaissances du pays ou de la région ainsi que d’autres facteurs. Si vous êtes déjà sur place, demandez-vous si vous devez vraiment y être. Dans la négative, vous devriez songer à partir.

  Évitez tout voyage

Vous ne devriez pas vous rendre dans ce pays, ce territoire ou cette région. Votre sécurité personnelle est fortement compromise. Si vous êtes déjà sur place, vous devriez envisager de partir si vous pouvez le faire sans danger.

Language selection

• Français fr

Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Who can apply

• Ukrainian nationals
• family members of Ukrainian nationals (can be any nationality)

Family members are defined as

• the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national
• their dependent child
• the dependent child of their spouse / common-law partner or
• a dependent child of their dependent child

Benefits and features of the CUAET

Ukrainians and their family members coming to Canada from overseas

• can apply for a free visitor visa and may be allowed to stay in Canada for 3 years, as opposed to the standard 6-month authorized stay for regular visitors
• have the option to apply, free of charge, for an open work permit with their visa application, enabling them to find work as quickly as possible
• will have their electronic visa application processed within 14 days of receipt of a complete application, for standard, non-complex cases
• are exempt from Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination entry requirements, but must meet all other  public health requirements for travel , such as quarantine and testing. With limited exceptions, all travellers to Canada, including anyone arriving under the CUAET, must also use ArriveCAN
• are exempt from completing an immigration medical exam (IME) overseas, if applicable, but may be required to complete and pay for a medical diagnostic test within 90 days of arrival in Canada to screen for reportable communicable diseases (chest x-ray or suitable alternative and blood test)

Ukrainians and their family members who acquire or already have temporary status in Canada

• may apply to extend their temporary resident status for up to 3 years
• can leave and return to Canada at any time while their visa is valid
• may renew their work or study permit free of charge
• may apply for a new work or study permit free of charge
• are eligible to attend elementary and secondary school
• may be required to complete and pay for an immigration medical exam (IME) if they haven’t completed one on initial entry to Canada

All Ukrainians and their family members

• will have most of their application and processing fees waived, including the visa application fee, biometric collection fee, work and study permit application fees, and visitor extension, and work and study permit renewal fees
• will have all their IRCC applications prioritized for processing
• may apply for permanent residence under a variety of different immigration programs and streams if they are eligible to do so
• have access to IRCC’s dedicated service channel

All CUAET applicants remain subject to

• visa and travel requirements
• background checks (including biometrics) and security screening

Additional program details

• The CUAET is for Ukrainians and their family members who want to come to Canada temporarily due to the crisis resulting from President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and then return home when it is safe to do so. It is not a refugee immigration stream.
• Unlike applications for resettlement as a refugee and streams for permanent residence, there is no cap on the number of visa, work and study applications that we will accept under the CUAET.
• Ukrainians and their family members working and studying in Canada will be able to gain valuable Canadian work or education experience to help set them up for future success should they eventually choose to seek permanent residency through IRCC’s immigration programs and streams.
• IRCC has increased operational readiness in Europe in anticipation of an increased volume of requests. This includes relocating staff and moving additional supplies and equipment, such as mobile biometric collection kits. We are also adjusting operations in offices across our global network to ensure service continuity for Ukraine. Online options are available for most applications.
• IRCC can issue a single journey travel document and a temporary resident permit overseas to permit travel for those without a passport or those who hold an expired one. This is done on a case-by-case basis, under exceptional circumstances and depending on the situation of the applicant. IRCC also has discretionary authority to assist in-Canada applicants with missing documents.
• Recognizing that some immediate and extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may want start a new life in Canada, IRCC is developing a special family reunification sponsorship pathway for permanent residence. The details of this program will be available in the coming weeks.
• Employers wishing to support Ukrainians through offers of employment can register available jobs using Job Bank’s Jobs for Ukraine webpage . Job Bank is a free, bilingual website that provides employers with access to thousands of potential employees and offers a free and secure space for job postings.
• IRCC will continue to engage with provinces, territories and other partners as to how they can contribute and support the effort, including settlement services. More information will be available in the coming days and weeks.

For more information on the CUAET and how to apply for special visas, permits and extensions, please visit IRCC’s Ukraine immigration measures page .

Avoid becoming a victim of fraud. There is no fee to be considered for the CUAET for Ukrainians and their family members. Only the Government of Canada can request personal information or decide your eligibility for the CUAET. There are no agents or consultants acting on our behalf.

Soviet Union

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

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.

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 traditional festivals such as Easter and Christmas in an attempt to have a clean break from its Imperial Russian past.

Visitor information

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

Entry requirements

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

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

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.

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

See the Crimea article for information on visiting Crimea. 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 .

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

Despite the war, trains are still running. Direct trains run from Poland ( Warsaw , Chełm , Przemyśl ), Hungary ( Budapest , Debrecen ), Austria ( Vienna ), Slovakia ( Košice ), Moldova ( Chișinău ). You can find more information about international trains on the UZ website

• Tickets to/from Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria can be bought on the UZ website 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 .

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:

Passenger traffic is suspended because of the war. The Russian navy has previously established a blockade of Ukrainian ports. In addition, the waters are mined.

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.

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the land borders with Belarus , Russia , and Transnistria are closed and will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

From Hungary

Hungary and Ukraine share a rather short ― about 137km long ― border. The main border entry points are Záhony , Tiszabecs, Barabás, Lónya, and Beregsurány.

From Poland

The Polish-Ukrainian border is about 529km long, and the closest major city near the border is Lviv .

Traffic along the border is quite heavy; millions of people cross the border annually. Do expect long waiting times and heavy policing along the border.

• An overland journey to Lviv from Przemyśl should take you about 2 hours.
• An overland journey to Lviv from Lublin should take you about 3 hours.

From Slovakia

Slovakia and Ukraine share a rather short ― about 97km long ― border. The main border entry points are Vyšné Nemecké and Ubľa.

From Romania

The Romanian-Ukrainian border is about 614km long, and the closest major city near the border is Chernivtsi .

• An overland journey to Chernivtsi (the closest major city) from Suceava should take you about 90 minutes.

Air raid alarms

While in the city The air raid alarm signifies imminent danger from airstrikes or missile attacks, prompting immediate evacuation to shelters for safety. While you will hear it if you're in out and about in a city, you might not hear it if you're far from a city or just inside a well sound isolated. For that there are mobile apps for example the Air Alert app and you can track all of Ukraine using this website many locals are subscribed to various telegram channels like the official Ukrainian Air Force telegram which may inform earlier and with more detail on why the alarm.

Scams, robbery and other crimes

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.

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.

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 manhole covers, as these can 'tip,' dropping your leg into the hole with all the potential injuries!

Prohibitions

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.

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

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,

Infectious diseases

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.

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 the Chernobyl area itself. There are even tours to the town of Pripyat ' which is the closest one 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.

Although Ukraine has a close historical and cultural relationship with Russia, Ukrainians are not Russians; they're a separate ethnic group and would be deeply offended if you say otherwise. 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 consider the term incredibly disrespectful.

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 range from conservative to outright hostile.

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.

Blocking of Russian internet services

Russian internet services are often blocked due to sanctions against them from a side of Ukrainian government since 2017. Blocking could be easily avoided through built-in proxy in browsers, by VPNs, or by TOR. Some ISPs don't block these services either, mostly in Russian-speaking areas. Locals obviously know 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 [ dead link ]

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Ukraine travel advice

Latest updates: Safety and security – added information on an increased risk of drone and missile attacks throughout Ukraine

Last updated: August 22, 2024 16:41 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, ukraine - avoid all travel.

Russia launches missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian civilian and government infrastructure. These include attacks on city centres and populated areas, including Kyiv. The ongoing Russian invasion poses a significant security risk, even if you are not near the front lines.

If you are in Ukraine, you should consider leaving the country if you can do so safely.

Our ability to provide consular services in Ukraine is severely limited.

Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Increased risk of drone and missile attacks

On August 21, 2024, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine issued the following security alert: “The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv assesses that during the next several days and through the weekend there is an increased risk of both nighttime and daytime Russian drone and missile attacks throughout Ukraine in connection with Ukraine’s Independence Day on August 24.”

If you are in Ukraine:

• identify the location of the closest bomb shelter
• shelter in a hardened structure away from windows when air raid warning sirens are active
• follow the instructions of local authorities

Russian military invasion

On February 24, 2022, Russia began a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, launching attacks across the country, including in major cities. In addition to military targets, Russia has and continues to attack Ukrainian civilian and government infrastructure in multiple cities, including Kyiv.

Heavy fighting is ongoing in several areas of the country. Bombardments, explosions and missile launches occur daily. The invasion has directly caused thousands of civilian casualties. There are basic supply shortages and essential services disruptions in areas close to the front lines. Strikes and bombardments could also pose a threat to Ukraine’s nuclear energy infrastructure, notably the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Ukrainian airspace is currently closed. The government of Ukraine has declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law, which gives local authorities broad powers to enforce security measures including:

• security checks
• mandatory evacuation
• prohibition of assembly
• mandatory mobilization

The government of Ukraine decreed a full military mobilization. If local authorities consider you a citizen of Ukraine, you may be subject to military obligations and will likely be prevented from leaving the country.

Russian military action in Ukraine could further disrupt key infrastructure and transportation routes and limit the provision of essential services throughout the country.

Security conditions remain extremely unstable. Your safety is at high risk, particularly if you engage in active combat.

If you are in Ukraine, you should follow the instructions of local authorities at all times, including air raid warning sirens, curfews and evacuation orders.

If you are near military activity:

• review your personal security plans on a daily basis

You should leave the country now if you can do so safely. If you choose to stay in Ukraine despite this advisory:

• maintain a supply of basic food, water and medications
• monitor trustworthy news sources to stay informed on the evolving situation
• ensure that your passport and other travel documents are secure at all times
• inform a family member or friend of your whereabouts
• register and update your contact information through the Registration of Canadians Abroad service and encourage other Canadian citizens in Ukraine to do so

Our ability to provide consular services in Ukraine is severely limited. You should not depend on the Government of Canada to help you leave the country.

If you are able to leave Ukraine safely:

• verify your destination’s entry requirements regularly
• expect highly congested routes, checkpoints and delays
• make sure to stop at all checkpoints and roadblocks, even if they appear unattended
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary
• bring sufficient gasoline if you use your car

Territories illegally occupied by Russia

The Russian Federation illegally occupied and annexed Crimea and holds strict control over the area. It also illegally occupies parts of the following oblasts:

• Zaporizhzhia

These areas are heavily militarized and intense fighting is ongoing. There are reports of war crimes and arbitrary detention of foreigners.

Due to the current situation, the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine in Kyiv has extremely limited access to consular clients. The Embassy of Canada to Russia in Moscow is only accredited to Russia and therefore cannot provide services in territories of Ukraine illegally occupied by Russia.

Petty crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, occurs, particularly:

• in crowded places
• in tourist areas
• in bars and nightclubs
• on public transportation

In central Kyiv, criminal activity, including mugging, is more prevalent at night.

• Ensure that your belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Avoid showing signs of affluence and carrying large sums of cash

Harassment and assaults can happen against individuals who act or appear as foreigners. Local authorities may not respond to racially motivated violence and harassment.

Violent crime

Armed robbery and violent outbursts can occur, especially in larger cities.

Weapons, including small arms and explosives, are present in all areas of the country. The number and accessibility of available weapons increased following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Criminal activity can be harder to track and is unpredictable because of the war. Violent outbursts rarely target tourists, but you could find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Be aware of your surroundings and remain vigilant.

Women’s safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse. Gender-based violence is on the rise in Ukraine.

Incidents of attacks and sexual assault, including rape, have been reported throughout the country, particularly in major cities.

• Avoid travelling alone, especially after dark
• Exercise caution on the street near bars and nightclubs
• Be careful when dealing with strangers or recent acquaintances, especially regarding the acceptance of rides or other invitations

Women or other survivors of gender-based violence may be discouraged or blocked from reporting aggressors to the authorities. If you are a survivor of a sexual assault or other crime, you should report it immediately to the police and the nearest Canadian office.

Advice for women travellers

Credit and debit card as well as ATM fraud occurs. Be cautious when using credit or debit cards.

• Cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• Pay careful attention when others are handling your cards
• Avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• Use ATMs located in public areas or inside a bank or business
• Check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Investment fraud

Unsolicited emails offering enticing business or financial opportunities are most likely fraudulent. Don’t travel to Ukraine with the intention to obtain restitution after losing money to a scam.

If you plan on buying property, or making other investments in Ukraine, seek legal advice in Canada and in Ukraine. Do so before making commitments. Related disputes could take time and be costly to resolve.

Scammers often target tourist areas and hotels.

Be aware of street scams. A common scam sees a person dropping a wallet or a bundle of money in front of a tourist, hoping the tourist will pick it up. The scammer then accuses the tourist of stealing some of the money. These scams can involve several criminals, sometimes posing as police officers. Don’t pick up the dropped items if you face this type of behaviour. Simply walk away without engaging in conversation.

Overcharging

Certain establishments, such as bars or nightclubs, may try to inflate your bill or charge you exorbitant prices.

Discussions about overcharging have turned violent. Tourists have been threatened and forced to pay the bill by the establishment's security guards.

• Always confirm the price of an item before ordering
• Do not leave an open bill
• Avoid giving your credit card to bar or restaurant staff
• Check your bill for accuracy before paying

Romance scams

Romance scams on dating sites or through social media have occurred. Be wary of online advertisements offering dating or marriage services in Ukraine. Do your research and verify the legitimacy of services before paying for anything.

• Beware of people who show a keen interest online
• Keep in mind that you may be the victim of a scam if you go to Ukraine to visit someone that you met online
• Always meet new acquaintances in a secure and familiar location
• Be mindful of the risk of inviting new acquaintances in your hotel room or apartment

Overseas fraud

Spiked food and drinks

Snacks, beverages, gum and cigarettes may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

• Be wary of accepting these items from new acquaintances
• Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers

Demonstrations

Mass gatherings, including demonstrations and protests, are prohibited under martial law.

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities and further attacks are likely.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places. Be particularly vigilant if attending sporting events and during religious holidays and other public celebrations, as terrorists have used such occasions to mount attacks.

Following a disaster at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, an exclusion zone of 30 km was established by local authorities which includes the cities of Prypiat and Chornobyl. The exclusion zone remains radioactive. Access to this zone is strictly restricted and must be arranged through a specialized tour operator. Anyone visiting Chornobyl must follow the safety instructions issued by the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management.

Safety instructions  - State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management

Road safety

Travel by road can be hazardous. Drivers do not always respect traffic laws. They may drive at excessive speeds and be reckless. Pedestrians and cyclists should be particularly careful.

Avoid driving at night outside major cities. Limited road visibility, poor vehicle maintenance and intoxicated drivers pose hazards.

While roadside services such as repair facilities exist, they are frequently inadequate.

Road conditions

Most roads outside major cities are poorly maintained. Some roads and bridges may be unusable or damaged by fighting from the Russian military invasion. Drivers experiencing elevated stress and fatigue due to road damage and unpredictable conditions may be aggressive or confrontational. Ensure that your vehicle doors are locked and windows are closed at all times

Public transportation

Kyiv has a reliable metro system. Buses, however, are usually overcrowded and in poor condition.

Public transportation services and infrastructure across the country are susceptible to short- and long-term interruptions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

At public transportation hubs, order a taxi from a designated taxi booth within the arrivals terminal or use a trusted ride-sharing app. Do the same in the city instead of hailing a taxi on the street. Negotiate fares in advance to avoid excessive fares.

There is a risk of robbery and muggings on trains, particularly in overnight sleeper cars

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Store personal belongings and travel documents in a safe place
• Don’t leave the compartment unattended
• Ensure that the door is secured from the inside

Ukrainian airspace is closed.

foreign_fighters

Foreign fighters

Since May 18, 2024, foreigners who join the Ukrainian Armed Forces must sign a six-month contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and are not allowed to leave the country during this period.

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave from Ukraine.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period Business visa: not required for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period Student visa: not required for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period Work permit: required

If you intend to stay in Ukraine for more than 90 days, you must obtain a visa prior to entering the country. For further details on visas and work permits, please contact the Embassy of Ukraine to Canada.

You must have an invitation from a Ukrainian company or individual if travelling to Ukraine for any other purpose than tourism. Before you travel, contact the nearest Ukrainian embassy for more information about the invitation process.

• Foreign diplomatic missions and consulates in Canada
• Ukrainian visa information - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Other entry requirements

Immigration officials may ask for proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Ukraine.

Crimea and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts

Areas of Ukraine illegally occupied by Russia are active combat zones and all designated checkpoints for entry and exit to these areas are closed.

Ukrainian authorities will refuse entry to foreigners who attempt to enter Ukraine from Russia through Crimea or areas in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts illegally occupied by Russia. You may be subject to arrest and detention for questioning to verify your identity. Entry to Ukraine from illegally occupied areas may be possible via specially organized humanitarian corridors or as a refugee.

• Children and travel

Travelling with children

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a risk in some areas of this destination. It is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is spread to humans by the bite of infected ticks or occasionally when unpasteurized milk products are consumed.

Travellers to areas where TBE is found may be at higher risk  during April to November, and the risk is highest for people who hike or camp in forested areas.

Protect yourself from tick bites . The vaccine is not available in Canada. It may be available in the destination you are travelling to.

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

Medical services and facilities

Health care standards vary throughout the country. Facilities are limited outside major cities, even in private institutions. Doctors and nurses may not be able to communicate in English (or French) and not all hospitals have translation services available.

The Russian military invasion may disrupt access to medical services and the capabilities of medical facilities. Supply chains may face constraints, leading to shortages for medical products and medication. Hospitals and clinics may face staff shortages. Frequent power outages may impact the ability of medical facilities to properly sterilise their equipment and spaces.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive, and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Health and safety outside Canada

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Identification

Local police may ask to see your passport and visa at any time.

• Carry adequate identification at all times
• Keep a photocopy or digital copy of your passport in a safe place, in case of loss or seizure
• Always cooperate with local authorities and be aware that they could detain you while your identification documents are being verified

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Photography

Don’t take pictures of military installations, including mobile or temporary defense equipment or other government buildings. This includes drones flying overhead, air defenses, downed aircraft and drones/missiles as well as damaged or derelict military equipment.

You should be careful when uploading photos or video to social media to ensure that no prohibited buildings or equipment appear in your content, even in the background. You could face arrest and jail time if you take or upload photos or videos with prohibited content visible.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Ukraine.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of Ukraine, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

You may be considered a citizen of Ukraine if you were born in Ukraine or if one or both of your parents are Ukrainian citizens.

Due to the ongoing Russian military invasion, males between 18 and 60 years of age holding Ukrainian citizenship are prohibited from leaving the country.

Dual citizens

Mandatory military service (mobilization)

Ukraine has mandatory military service for males over the age of 18. Due to the ongoing Russian military invasion, Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 years may be subject to mobilization

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Ukraine.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Ukraine, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Ukrainian court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Ukraine to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• The Hague Convention – Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

Surrogacy and adoption

If you plan to visit Ukraine despite this advisory for the purpose of commissioning surrogacy or adoption arrangements, you should consider the potential challenges involved in pursuing international surrogacy and seek specialist legal advice on Ukrainian and Canadian laws prior to making any arrangements.

The Russian military invasion of Ukraine has increased the risk of dangerous complications from childbirth. It has also changed legal and social opinions on international surrogacy and adoption. Attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could disrupt medical services. Supply chain disruptions could limit the availability of essential medical supplies. You should consider the risk to your safety and the safety of a newborn before travelling to Ukraine.

You should consult with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on current policies regarding citizenship through descent, as well as on the issuance of Canadian travel documents.

Ukraine has strict laws on adoption, including criteria for prospective adopters. These laws may be different for Canadians holding Ukrainian citizenship.

The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine can’t provide recommendations on the selection of surrogacy or adoption agencies.

International adoption – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence must accredit all travel to Ukraine for media projects. You should consult the Ministry of Defence before you arrive in Ukraine to confirm their advice and regulations.

• How to submit media queries – Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
• Recommendations for media – Armed Forces of Ukraine

2SLGBTQI+ persons

Ukrainian law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex.

Despite large and active 2SLGBTQI+ communities in major urban centres, homosexuality is not widely accepted in Ukrainian society. Avoid public displays of affection.

Expect a heavy police presence at Pride parades and certain 2SLGBTQI+ events. Counter-protests and violence are possible. Have a plan for safely exiting the area when participating in Pride parades or other 2SLGBTQI+ events.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

You must carry an international driving permit

Car insurance is mandatory.

There is zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol.

International Driving Permit

The currency of Ukraine is the hryvnia (UAH).

There is a withdrawal limit at banks and ATMs following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at most banks, hotels and licensed exchange booths.

Upon entering or leaving Ukraine, you must make a declaration to customs if you have €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies. Undeclared amounts exceeding the equivalent of €10,000 may be seized.

There are strict customs regulations and procedures regarding the export of antiquities and items of historical interest. It is prohibited to export antiques, works of art, historical treasures and other similar items without a special permit from the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture.

Climate change

Climate change is affecting Ukraine. Extreme and unusual weather events are becoming more frequent and may affect your travel plans. Monitor local news to stay informed on the current situation.

Brush and forest fires are common in eastern and southern Ukraine in July and August. In case of a major fire, stay away from the affected area. Air quality in areas near active fires may deteriorate due to heavy smoke.

• Always follow the instructions of local emergency services personnel
• Monitor local media for up-to-date information on the situation

Flooding occurs in western Ukraine during the spring thaw and following sustained heavy rains. This may cause damage to roads and infrastructure. Plan your route carefully.

There is significant damage to Ukraine’s civil infrastructure due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, dams faced attacks and sustained damages. Certain dams were destroyed, including the Nova Kakhovka dam in Kherson.

Following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, many towns and settlements in Kherson, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia face long-term impacts from flooding. Unexploded ordnance flowed downriver and into flooded areas. Local authorities have issued boil-water advisories in certain areas due to the risk of water-borne illness.

There are severe disruptions to essential services. Many roads in the area are impassable or closed.

If you are in Kherson Oblast:

• follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders
• monitor local news and weather reports
• use only bottled water for drinking and cooking

Snow and Ice Storms

In winter, avalanches, heavy snow and freezing rain pose a risk. They can make roads impassable and can cause power disruptions. These conditions can affect access to isolated areas, including to some tourist resorts. The conditions can also limit the ability of first responders to reach these areas in case of emergency.

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police: 102
• medical assistance: 103
• firefighters: 101
• general emergencies: 112 (from cell phones only)

Consular assistance

If you are in Ukraine and require consular assistance:

• email: [email protected] or
• contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, at any time

You should also register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

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.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

St Sophia's Cathedral

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…

Kyevo-Pecherska Lavra

Tourists and Orthodox pilgrims alike flock to the Lavra, set on 28 hectares of grassy hills above the Dnipro River in Pechersk. It's easy to see why…

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…

Maidan Nezalezhnosti

Be it celebration or revolution, whenever Ukrainians want to get together – and they often do – 'Maidan' is the nation's meeting point. The square saw pro…

St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery

Looking from St Sophia's past the Bohdan Khmelnytsky statue, it's impossible to ignore the gold-domed blue church at the other end of proyizd Volodymyrsky…

Skvorechnik

It's hard to characterise this beachfront hippie haven on Trukhaniv Island. It derives its name from the smattering of raised wooden chill-out huts that…

National Museum and Memorial to the Victims of Occupation

This infamous building on vul Bryullova was used as a prison by the Poles, Nazis and communists in turn, but the small and very moving exhibition over two…

Museum of Political Prisoners

Western Ukraine

A block back from bul Shevchenka, this former KGB prison is where several prominent members of UPA and OUN were held, tortured and shot in the years of…

Latest stories from Ukraine

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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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Safety and security

You should also read FCDO ’s overall travel advice and regional risks advice .

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Ukraine

Terrorist attacks in Ukraine cannot be ruled out.

Political situation

A state of emergency, put in place by the Government of Ukraine in February 2022, remains in effect.

Kakhovka Dam

Flooding in the Kherson region following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 caused widespread damage to infrastructure. There are serious risks to life and health from contaminated water, unexploded ordnance and debris.

Before the invasion, serious crime against foreigners was relatively rare, but incidents did occur, with some cases being racially motivated.

If you are a victim of crime, report it to the police by calling 102. FCDO has a list of local translators in Ukraine . We cannot confirm whether these translators are still offering services during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Protecting your belongings

Be alert to the possibility of street crime and petty theft. Foreigners may appear to be lucrative targets.

Theft of and from vehicles is common. Do not leave documents or money in your vehicle.

Drink and food spiking

Do not leave drinks or food unattended as they could be spiked. Beware of accepting drinks from casual acquaintances.

Cloning of credit and debit cards is common. Be aware of who is around you when using ATMs and do not let your card out of your sight during transactions.

Cyber attacks

In December 2023, there was a high-impact cyber attack on Ukrainian networks. Ukraine’s largest mobile network operator, Kyivstar, suffered a cyber attack which left users without a mobile signal or the ability to use the internet. It also disrupted air raid apps, some banks, ATMs, and point-of-sale terminals. The Ukrainian bank Monobank was also targeted, disrupting access to the bank’s website.

Laws and cultural differences

Ukrainian officials generally only speak Ukrainian and Russian.

Personal ID

Carry your passport at all times to use as identification and to demonstrate your legal status in Ukraine if asked by the police. Police should identify themselves and show identification. If you’re detained because you have not been able to present your passport, ask for an official report.

Access to money

ATMs are available and credit cards are widely used in cities. However, as a result of the current invasion of Ukraine by Russia, ATMs might not be refilled with cash and some bank cards might not be accepted. During powercuts, ATMs and card terminals may not work.

Make sure you have sufficient cash in local currency. US dollars and euros are the easiest currencies to exchange in Ukraine. You may be able to exchange sterling, but in fewer places. Scottish and Northern Irish notes are not accepted. Only use official exchange booths and make sure you’re given a receipt. You’ll need to present your passport to exchange currency worth 150,000 Ukrainian hryvnia or more. You’ll need the receipt to exchange money back on departure.

There is a risk that cyber attacks could disrupt mobile, internet and banking services.

Alcohol and smoking

It is illegal to smoke or drink alcohol in public places, including on public transport, at bus stops, underground crossings, cultural, sports and governmental establishments, playgrounds and parks.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Penalties for being caught in possession of drugs are severe.

Using cameras in secure areas

Do not take photographs near government or military establishments.

LGBT+ travellers

Although same-sex relationships are not illegal, public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK and showing affection in public may receive negative attention. There’s no provision under Ukrainian legislation guaranteeing freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

Due to the security challenges across all of Ukraine, we currently advise against commissioning new surrogacy arrangements.

Commissioning a surrogacy will not automatically mean that the child holds British citizenship. If you want to bring your child born through surrogacy from Ukraine to the UK, you must apply for a full British passport .

The FCDO cannot facilitate your departure from Ukraine.

If you are considering changing your surrogacy arrangements, or making a new arrangement with a Ukrainian woman in another country, you should read about surrogacy arrangements in foreign countries .

A surrogacy arrangement in a country near Ukraine must comply with the law of that country, not Ukrainian law. In some other countries, surrogacy arrangements may, in certain circumstances, be illegal.

We strongly advise you to seek specialist independent UK and in-country legal advice. We cannot confirm which Ukrainian lawyers are offering services.

Transport information and risks

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, expect disruption to travel and transport networks. Only travel if you judge it is safe to do so. We cannot confirm which services below are operating. Where possible, check before travelling.

Unregulated taxi drivers can overcharge. Use official taxis, which have the name and telephone number of the taxi company on the side of the door and on the top of the taxi.

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in Ukraine, see information on driving abroad and read the RAC guide .

Driving standards

Roads are of variable quality and routes may be affected by the ongoing invasion. Avoid night-time travel wherever possible.

Local driving standards are poor. Street lights are weak and speed limits, traffic lights and road signs are often ignored. Drivers frequently do not indicate before manoeuvring. There are a high number of traffic accidents, including fatalities. Speeding, drink driving and infrequent use of helmets, seat belts and child restraints in vehicles are the main contributing factors.

If you have a road accident, you must wait for the police to assess the accident. Call the police on 102. Local officials generally only speak Ukrainian and Russian.

Driving regulations

You must wear a seat belt.

It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.

It is illegal to drive with any alcohol content in your blood.

Police can stop vehicles and give fines for minor offences such as illegal parking or jumping a red light. They may carry a credit card terminal to collect payment on the spot, or fines can be paid online or at a bank within 15 days. See payment options (in Ukrainian). The police officer should give their name and rank, explain why you have been stopped and make an administrative offence report. The police may film interactions with members of the public.

Licences and permits

You must have a 1968 international driving permit ( IDP ) as well as your UK driving licence to drive in Ukraine. The 1949 IDP is not accepted anymore. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.

You need to carry a green card to drive in Ukraine. A green card is proof that you have vehicle insurance when driving abroad.

You must carry original vehicle registration papers, ownership documents and insurance papers at all times. You must show them when crossing borders and if you are stopped by the police. This also applies to rental vehicles. If you do not have these papers when stopped by the police they have the right to impound your vehicle and charge you for this.

If you intend to rent a vehicle for your travel in Ukraine, check with the car hire company and insurance company about their policy on renting cars in Ukraine and any other country you will pass through, especially non-EU countries. Ensure they provide you with a rental agreement permitting you to cross the Ukrainian border.

Leaving Ukraine by car

You can leave Ukraine by car through most border crossing points, but Ukraine’s border crossings with Russia and Belarus are closed to regular traffic.

There could be long queues at the border crossing points with EU member states and Moldova. Have a good supply of food, water, warm clothing, medication and fuel.

Check waiting times at border crossings from:

• https://dpsu.gov.ua/en/map - Ukrainian Govt. Border Force on border crossing points
• https://visitukraine.today/ - In English/ Ukrainian – rules on border crossing points
• https://kordon.customs.gov.ua/en - updates on waiting times at border crossing points

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU) will check the following documents:

• registration documents for the car
• International Insurance Certificate for the vehicle (Green Card), which you can buy from Ukrainian or International Insurance companies.

Read more information from the Ukrainian Government on border crossing or call the SBGSU hotline on 1598 from a Ukrainian mobile.

If you leave the country in a vehicle registered in the UK, which you temporarily imported to Ukraine, you will have to provide your import customs declaration when leaving. Depending on your circumstances, the Customs Service of Ukraine may require additional documents. Check information (in Ukrainian) or call Customs Service of Ukraine hotline on+380 (0)44 247 27 06.

If you are non-resident in Ukraine, you are allowed to bring a vehicle into Ukraine for personal use for a maximum of 1 year (see our advice in the entry requirements section) before registering it. If your car does not meet this requirement you will not be able to exit Ukraine.

For further information on leaving Ukraine by car, contact the State Customs Service of Ukraine .

Rail travel

If you travel by train, make sure your belongings are secure. Do not agree to look after the luggage of a fellow traveller or allow it to be stored in your compartment.

Ukraine’s air space is closed.

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Biden makes surprise visit to Ukraine nearly one year after Russia's invasion

WARSAW, Poland — President Joe Biden made a surprise and historic visit to war-torn Ukraine on Monday, a show of support and solidarity with a democratic nation battling for its survival after Russia invaded nearly a year ago .

News of the visit, including a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , was kept tightly under wraps until Biden arrived.

"Unchecked aggression is a threat to all of us," Biden said. "One year later, Kyiv stands and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands, Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you."

"Kyiv has captured a part of my heart," he added.

After he arrived in Ukraine on Monday morning local time after a roughly 10-hour overnight train ride from Poland, Biden visited the Mariinsky Palace, where he signed a guest book and made brief remarks alongside Zelenskyy. Biden also visited the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. He arrived back in Poland shortly after 8 p.m. local time Monday, according to the media pool, again taking the train.

The clandestine nature of the trip points to the dangers of America's commander-in-chief visiting Ukraine amid continuing bombardment, as Russia continued firing missiles into the country hoping to break an impasse as the war enters its second year. Air raid sirens sounded while Biden was on the ground.

In a sign of how sensitive the trip was, the White House had notified the Kremlin of Biden’s visit ahead of time "for deconfliction purposes,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.  John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, described the call as "cursory" and "relatively perfunctory."

"We did it at the right time, not too far in advance, but at the right time to make sure they knew what was happening and there was no doubt in how we were going to execute this," Kirby said in an interview on MSNBC.

It is the first time in modern history that a U.S. president has entered a war zone where there is not an active U.S. military presence. Ukrainian police and military forces had a strong presence, and much of the central part of Kyiv was shut down, paralyzing traffic nearby.

Biden’s appearance in Ukraine is a strong statement that the U.S. stands with Zelenskyy despite growing pressure at home to downsize U.S. aid.

“The first visit of the President of the United States to Ukraine in almost 15 years is the most important visit in the history of Ukrainian-American relations,” Zelenskyy posted on the social media site Telegram after the trip.

Biden insisted that the U.S. will remain steadfast in its support of Ukraine.

"For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine,” he said.

He announced an additional aid package worth $460 million, which will include more military equipment and weapons like anti-tank Javelin missiles.

Zelenskyy said that when Russia invaded, the U.S. was the first to call him in support.

Biden also recalled speaking to Zelenskyy — and the promise he made to help "rally the world" to Ukraine's cause.

“Russian planes were in the air, and tanks were rolling across your border," Biden said. "You told me you could hear explosions in the background. I’ll never forget that. And the world was about to change. I remember it vividly."

The two leaders greeted each other with a sense of familiarity.

“ Thank you for coming,” Zelenskyy said, according to a media pool report. 

“More importantly, how are the children?” Biden said. He added, “It’s amazing to see you.”

The two leaders visited St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery and then walked to the nearby Wall of Remembrance, which honors those who have died in the war.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement that the visit was a "powerful statement of America’s unshakeable support for the heroic people of Ukraine."

“On this Presidents’ Day, our President’s historic visit to Kyiv at this critical moment is a manifestation of America’s commitment to Democracy, in Ukraine and in the world," Pelosi said.

The trip came with risks. Other presidents have visited war zones: Barack Obama traveled to Afghanistan in 2014, and George W. Bush visited U.S. troops in Iraq in 2003. As was the case with Biden, both traveled under strict secrecy.

But unlike them, Biden did not have the support of the U.S. military on the ground in Ukraine to help ensure his security, Kirby said. He said Biden was briefed about the final version of the plan Friday afternoon and decided then to proceed.

“Biden was briefed on that final bit of planning Friday afternoon and decided the risks were mitigated to the point that he was comfortable moving ahead, so we executed," Kirby said in an interview on MSNBC.

White House officials had been adamant that Warsaw would be Biden’s only stop. On Friday, a White House spokesman answered with a single word when asked whether Biden intended to cross the border into neighboring Ukraine: “No.”

Now, the adversary is Russia. If President Vladimir Putin's military were to intentionally target Biden or even inadvertently harm the president by way of an errant missile, the U.S. would be obligated to retaliate. That could escalate a regional war into a direct conflict between two nuclear-armed countries.

Still, ahead of the trip, some analysts were hopeful that Poland would not be Biden's only stop. A trip to Ukraine "would be a powerful demonstration of support and signal a robust change in policy — a more forward-leaning and fulsome approach to Ukrainian support," said Alexander Vindman, the former director of European affairs in the Donald Trump White House National Security Council.

Biden has invested considerable political, military and financial capital in the war, keeping overmatched Ukraine viable against larger Russian forces. In addition to U.S. assistance, he has pressed the rest of the NATO alliance to shore up Ukraine, arguing it is imperative for the democratic world to counter Russian aggression for two reasons. One is to deter Putin from widening the war into NATO countries; another is to discourage China's authoritarian government from launching its own attacks on smaller countries such as Taiwan.

The U.S. has also begun to sound warnings that the Chinese are providing military assistance to the Russian effort and cautioned China against providing lethal aid.

China has provided some broader help to Russia, including parroting Russian disinformation and promoting Russia's false pretexts for the war. But U.S. officials say the Chinese are now providing more tangible assistance for Russian troops in Ukraine. China has denied providing military assistance.

Biden and Zelenskyy met in Washington in December, when Zelenskyy traveled to the U.S. Capitol and delivered an address to a joint meeting of Congress. Zelenskyy has only sparingly left his country since the invasion.

With fighting picking up, Zelenskyy has been pressing Washington for more advanced fighter jets. So far, Biden has refused out of concern that the F-16 planes might escalate the conflict.

Biden announced last month that the U.S. would send 31 Abrams tanks , which he was initially reluctant to do. The U.S. will also provide training for the tanks.

Biden also faces cross-pressures from conservative Republicans, who believe the U.S. has already given enough money and arms to Ukraine and should now press for a peace deal.

The amount of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine is nearing $30 billion. Polling shows that Americans' support for Ukraine remains strong, although less so as time passes. In May — three months into the war — 60% of Americans favored supplying weapons to Ukraine. As of January, that number had slipped to 48%, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released last week. The percentage of adults who favored sending taxpayer money directly to Ukraine dropped by 7 percentage points in that time — from 44% to 37%.

The war has stretched on longer than most in the West expected; initial estimates had been that Ukraine would be able to hang on for only a few weeks before Russia seized Kyiv, ousted Zelenskyy and absorbed the country into its orbit. Instead, Ukraine proved to be a more resilient opponent than anticipated.

Peter Nicholas reported from Warsaw and Cat Corrigan and Susan Kroll from Kyiv.

Peter Nicholas is a senior White House reporter for NBC News.

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Maps: Tracking the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Share full article

June 9, 2023

Where Ukraine has mounted multiple attacks in broad offensive

Ukraine has launched major attacks against invading Russian forces at multiple points of the southern and eastern front lines this week, the apparent beginning of a long-planned counteroffensive with enormous stakes for the direction of the war.

counterattacks

ZAPORIZHZHIA

The most recent battle erupted in Ukraine's south, in an unforgiving landscape with little cover, near the town of Orikhiv . Ukraine’s military on Friday confirmed fighting south of Orikhiv, and footage released by pro-Russian military bloggers and verified by The New York Times showed fierce fighting .

Military analysts have long anticipated that Ukraine will focus on this area to try to sever Russia’s connection between Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Russia has laid mine belts and dug layer upon layer of defensive trenches to repel Ukrainian attacks.

Ukraine was also attacking about 60 miles east, across the plains near the town of Velyka Novosilka, Hanna Maliar, a Ukrainian deputy defense minister, said on Thursday. Ukrainian officials have also said they are attacking Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut, which fell to Russian forces last month after the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.

While The Times geolocated images to verify the approximate locations of the fighting, few reliable details can verify how the fighting is going, or exactly how far Ukraine has entered Russian-held territory. Each side is presenting its own take on the uptick in fighting , and Ukrainian officials have cloaked the operation in secrecy.

Josh Holder , Andrew Kramer , Christiaan Triebert , Christoph Koettl and Haley Willis

May 22, 2023

How Russia advanced on Bakhmut in its monthslong assault on the city

Russia claimed victory in Bakhmut on Sunday after nearly a year of brutal fighting in one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war amid ongoing Ukrainian counterattacks that are retaking territory to the north and south of the city.

Territory reclaimed

by Ukraine since

Approximate

city boundary

Russian-claimed

Ukrainian officials denied Russia’s claim to have complete control of Bakhmut, but they acknowledged that only a small contingent of Ukrainian soldiers is defending a southwestern pocket of the city.

Despite deploying tens of thousands of newly mobilized troops into eastern Ukraine this winter, Russia spent months trying, and failing, to encircle Bakhmut from the north and south. As Russian forces closed in on the only remaining highway into the city in early March, Ukraine’s military mounted a counterattack that pushed Russian troops back, preserving a crucial supply line and allowing Ukrainian forces to continue defending the city.

Russia shifted its focus to attacks on the city center, inching forward block-by-block and backing Ukrainian troops into an ever-shrinking pocket in the west of the city. Even with Ukrainian forces recapturing territory on the northern and southern flanks around Bakhmut over the past week, Russia continued to advance in the southwest of the city.

RUSSIAN ADVANCE

(DEC. 2022 - JAN. 2023)

RECLAIMED BY UKRAINE

Jan. 1, 2023

(JAN. - FEB.)

Feb. 1, 2023

(FEB. - MARCH)

March 1, 2023

(MARCH - APRIL)

April 1, 2023

(APRIL - MAY)

May 1, 2023

RECLAIMED BY

(MAY 1 - MAY 21)

May 21, 2023

Although analysts say Bakhmut has limited strategic significance to the wider war, the city became the site of some of the deadliest urban combat of the war, with thousands of casualties for both Russia and Ukraine.

Despite the high cost, Kyiv maintains that defending Bakhmut for this long has bogged down the Russian army, providing Ukraine with valuable time to train and rearm its own troops for a coming counteroffensive.

Russia’s attacks in Bakhmut initially relied heavily on the Wagner group, a private paramilitary force, which has recruited tens of thousands of Russian prisoners to fight in the war in exchange for high salaries and their freedom — if they survived. But the prolonged fight has depleted Russia’s supply of prisoner recruits and forced it to use more of its professional recruits , according to Ukrainian officials.

Although Russia has declared victory in Bakhmut, most of the city is in ruins , with its infrastructure devastated, and no access to electricity or running water. For the past year, the Ukrainian government urged residents to evacuate the city of nearly 80,000 and by March, it estimated that only around 4,000 people remained.

Josh Holder and Marco Hernandez

Jan. 25, 2023

Ukrainian forces retreat from Soledar after months of fighting

Ukraine confirmed that its forces had withdrawn from Soledar, a small salt-mining town in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, after months of fierce artillery battles that have destroyed much of the town.

Russian control of Soledar brings its forces closer to the city of Bakhmut, just six miles southwest, where one of the bloodiest battles of the war continues. Both sides have thrown masses of troops into the fight there for months, suffering heavy casualties .

Sievierodonetsk

AS OF JAN. 24

Soledar is Russia’s first notable victory since its grinding gains in eastern Ukraine over the summer. In the fall, Ukraine executed a string of successful counteroffensives, retaking vast swathes of northeastern Ukraine and major ground in the south. In November, Russia withdrew from the southern city of Kherson, as it became too costly to defend.

There have been few changes in territorial control since then, as the pace of the war has slowed over winter. But renewed Russian assaults are expected in the spring as Russia deploys more of its mobilized recruits to the frontlines.

Josh Holder

Nov. 14, 2022

Ukraine has reclaimed more than half the territory Russia has taken this year

Ukraine has reclaimed 54 percent of the land Russia has captured since the beginning of the war, according to a New York Times analysis of data provided by the Institute for the Study of War.

Reclaimed by Ukraine

Controlled by Russia

Detail area

Zaporizhzhia

Line of contact

before invasion

Ukraine reclaimed an important city this past weekend when Russian troops retreated from Kherson after nearly nine months of occupation. The city was a critical element in Russia’s goal of controlling the southern coast.

Ukraine’s military has had significant momentum since September in pushing Russia out of the northeast and southern parts of the county. Russia currently controls about 18 percent of Ukraine. That area includes much of the Donetsk and Luhansk Provinces in the east, as well as Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014.

Scott Reinhard

Nov. 12, 2022

Russian forces leave Kherson after months of occupation

Ukrainian troops re-entered the southern city of Kherson on Friday after nearly nine months of Russian occupation. The city was a key link in Russia’s effort to control the southern coastline along the Black Sea.

When areas were reclaimed by Ukraine

Before Nov. 10

Novopetrivka

Dnipro River

Kakhovka dam

Antonivsky Bridge

CONTROLLED BY RUSSIA

The Antonivsky Bridge, the main crossing over the Dnipro River into Kherson, was heavily damaged in an explosion on Friday morning , which would make it difficult for Ukrainian troops to pursue Russian soldiers east of the river. But it also gave residents a measure of confidence that Russian troops could not easily return.

The next major river crossing, at the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, was also significantly damaged . The road over the dam, which is about 30 miles upstream from the Antonivsky Bridge, was one of the last major crossings left to Russian forces.

Eleanor Lutz

Nov. 10, 2022

Russia announces a retreat from Kherson

Ukrainian troops were advancing in the south on Thursday after Russia’s announcement of a retreat from the strategic port city of Kherson and the surrounding area along the western bank of the Dnipro River.

Dnipropetrovsk

advance Nov. 8–9

DNIPRO RIVER

Russia said it was

withdrawing

from this area

Many details about the retreat remained unknown on Thursday. It was unclear how many of the estimated 40,000 soldiers sent by Moscow to the region remained, how far along they were in their retreat and whether a contingent had been left behind to fight in the city.

Ukrainian officials said that Moscow’s announcement of a withdrawal from the capital of the Kherson region could be a trap meant to lure their forces into brutal urban combat.

Military analysts said they believed that Russia would try to maintain defensive positions near the banks of the Dnipro River to protect its withdrawal route. With only one major road over a dam north of the city left to the Russians, they have relied on a series of ferries and pontoons to move back and forth across the river.

Marco Hernandez

Updated Oct. 11, 2022

Where Russian missiles hit Ukraine

Russian missiles struck nearly every region of Ukraine on Monday morning, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens more in the broadest attack since the early days of Moscow’s invasion.

Most of the targets were civilian infrastructure sites that provide heat and electricity , according to Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukraine’s president, and at least five regions were left without power. But the targets also included residential neighborhoods, with strikes hitting an apartment building in Zaporizhzhia and a playground in the capital, Kyiv.

Several missiles struck Kyiv in the largest attack on the city in months. A number of civilian areas were targeted, blowing out windows, setting vehicles ablaze and forcing residents to spend several hours in basements and subway stations as air raid sirens blared.

In a televised address on Monday, President Vladimir V. Putin said Russia had targeted “energy, military command and communications facilities of Ukraine” in response to Saturday’s attack on the Kerch Bridge , which links Russia with Crimea. He warned that “no one should have any doubt” that Russia will defend itself.

Mr. Putin has been facing increasing pressure from pro-war nationalists, as his forces in Ukraine faced one retreat after another in recent weeks, losing some 1,200 square miles of hard-won territory in the south and east. Russian hardliners celebrated on Monday, saying the attacks were a long-awaited sign that the Kremlin was intensifying its attacks against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.

Agnes Chang , Josh Holder and Pablo Robles

Updated Oct. 9, 2022

Pressing on two fronts, Ukraine extends its gains in the east and makes a sudden advance in the south

The dramatic explosion Saturday on the bridge that served as a critical Russian supply line was another blow to the Russian military coming after weeks of losing ground to Ukrainian forces.

Through the summer and spring, Ukrainian officials said repeatedly that the Ukrainian army would counterattack Russia at its most vulnerable position, in southern Ukraine. But when the counteroffensive came, the Ukrainians attacked in two locations simultaneously: in the south, as expected, and in a surprise advance in Ukraine’s northeast.

Russian advance

Reclaimed by Ukraine as of Sept. 23

Ukrainian advance

The twin counterstrikes shifted the momentum in the war to Ukraine after months of bloody stalemate and signaled to Western allies its capability to reclaim occupied territory, lessening the pressure to negotiate a settlement that would leave Russia controlling land it captured. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia responded by annexing and declaring four provinces of Ukraine part of Russia and saying he would defend them by any means, a thinly veiled threat of a nuclear strike.

Ukraine’s double offensive takes advantage of the geometry of the war along a semicircle of frontline. The Russian military cannot quickly shift forces between the two fronts in the counteroffensive as it must move outside the semicircle, while the Ukrainian army, inside the circle, can move in shorter, straighter lines.

Ukraine has continued to reclaim occupied territory in the northeast, east and south. The southern offensive began on Aug. 29 with M113 armored personnel carriers, provided by the United States, advancing on Russian forces on the western bank of the Dnipro River, isolated from supply lines by the broad waterway. After a slow start, the assault led to the recapturing of a swath of territory in early October. In the northeast, Ukraine routed Russian forces. Ukraine reclaimed two key railway hubs, Izium and Lyman.

Across both fronts, Ukraine has recaptured more than 1,200 square miles over the two weeks that ended on Oct. 6.

Daily Ukrainian territorial gains

Eastern front

Southern front

400 square miles

square miles

were reclaimed

on Tuesday.

Most of the territorial gains were made in the northeast until a week ago, when the Ukrainian army began reclaiming towns and villages in the south. Anticipating an attack in the south, the Russian army prepared better defenses than it had in the northeast, a Ukrainian commander said.

Reclaimed by Ukraine as of Oct. 1

Risks for Ukraine include advancing too quickly, outpacing the ability to resupply soldiers and exposing them to counterattacks, military analysts say. Other risks loom, too, such as moving too slowly. After the counteroffensive began, Russia announced its first wartime draft since World War II, and Ukraine has said some of those new recruits have been sent to the front, reinforcing Russian lines.

Marco Hernandez and Andrew E. Kramer

Oct. 4, 2022

Ukraine forces a Russian retreat with a rapid advance in the south

After making modest territorial gains in southern Ukraine over the past several weeks, the Ukrainian military’s advance has accelerated in the past few days, even as Russia plans to mobilize thousands of new troops to join the front lines.

Counterattacks in the south have resulted in Russia hurriedly retreating from positions it has controlled since the early days of the war. In the Kherson region, Ukrainian forces are reported to have broken through near Dudchany, a settlement on the west bank of the Dnipro River, about 17 miles behind where the front line was a week ago.

since Sept. 29

Analysts said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive could have a significant impact on the shape of the war. The counterattacks in Kherson could have a “domino effect” in the region and allow Ukraine to advance on the city of Kherson in the near future, according to a research note from Konrad Muzyka, a military analyst at Rochan Consulting.

Kherson is the only major city that Russia controls on the west bank of the Dnipro River. Even though Russia’s troops are dug in after months of controlling the area, their supplies and logistical support are on the other side of the river, complicating its defense.

Building on their success in recapturing Lyman last week, Ukrainian forces have continued to advance in the east and have reportedly entered the region of Luhansk, which had been entirely occupied by Russian troops for several months.

The counterattack in Luhansk is a major setback for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Luhansk is one of the four regions that Mr. Putin declared Russia was annexing last week, despite the move being widely denounced by leaders in Ukraine and the West. Ukraine controls towns in all of these regions, and the Kremlin has admitted that it has not yet determined the borders of the annexed territory.

Marco Hernandez and Josh Holder

Oct. 1, 2022

Pressed by Ukrainian forces, Russia retreats from Lyman

Russian forces on Saturday withdrew from the eastern city of Lyman , a strategic rail hub, putting more pressure on the Kremlin and giving Ukraine’s military a foothold to try to advance farther east.

AS OF SEPT. 29

Shevchenkove

SUPPLY LINES

The loss of Lyman, a city in Donetsk Province with a pre-war population of 20,000, is particularly poorly timed for the Kremlin after it illegally declared its annexation of four regions in Ukraine — including the region that is home to Lyman.

Hours after Ukraine’s defense ministry said its forces were entering the city, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said it had made the decision to pull out of Lyman. Confirmation of the withdrawal staved off a potential worst-case scenario for the Kremlin in which Russian troops were trapped in the city.

The next target, if the Ukrainian military continues its advance, would likely be the city of Svatove, north east of Lyman, according to analysts.

Marco Hernandez , Josh Holder and Thomas Gibbons-Neff

Sept. 30, 2022

Ukraine is on the verge of encircling Lyman, a major rail hub

Even as Russia announced it would annex four Ukrainian provinces, its military faced continued pressure on the ground. Ukrainian forces are close to encircling the city of Lyman, a major rail hub , in a continuation of their eastern counteroffensive that has reclaimed thousands of square miles of territory this month.

The Ukrainian military has closed in on Lyman from the west and south, aiming to fully envelop the city and cut off the remaining Russian troops. The routes out of Lyman appear to be controlled by Ukraine or within its artillery range, complicating a potential Russian withdrawal.

The loss of Lyman would be a serious setback for Russia. The city has been key to transporting supplies to Moscow’s troops in eastern Ukraine. If Ukraine controlled those supply lines, it could support further Ukrainian attacks in western Luhansk, including on nearby Lysychansk, one of the largest cities Russia has captured since the invasion began.

While Ukraine still retains momentum in the east, the imminent arrival of thousands of newly mobilized Russian troops could shift the balance there.

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has announced a mobilization that could call up 300,000 civilians into military service. The first of those recruits are already arriving at the frontlines, according to Serhiy Haidai, the regional governor of Luhansk.

By holding control of Lyman for as long as possible, Russia has bought time for these mobilized troops to arrive at new defensive positions in Luhansk. But this strategy has come at a “very high cost,” according to a research note from Konrad Musyka, a military analyst at Rochan Consulting.

In southern Ukraine, recent Ukrainian advances have slowed, with no major territorial changes in the past week. The Ukrainian military has continued to pressure Russia by striking military and logistical targets around Kherson. And on Friday, a Russian strike killed at least 25 civilians who were waiting at a checkpoint and bus stop in Zaporizhzhia.

Mr. Putin has illegally declared that four provinces of Ukraine — Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia — will become part of Russia following hastily arranged sham referendums . Ukraine still controls areas of all four provinces, and the move has been met with international condemnation .

Sept. 12, 2022

Ukraine recaptured 3,400 square miles in one week

... than Russia did in the last five months.

Ukraine captured more territory in the last week ...

Ukraine captured more

territory in the last week ...

... than Russia did in

the last five months.

After Russia’s military abandoned efforts to capture Kyiv in April, it shifted to a narrower war in eastern Ukraine, with some success. Russian forces inched forward for months, relying on brutal and indiscriminate artillery fire to flatten cities and gain ground.

Ukraine regained the same amount of territory, and more, in just the past week.

The lightning speed of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region surprised even Ukrainian officials , who were still working on Monday to consolidate control of the areas they had seized. Russian defenses in the area failed, reshaping the contours of the war and putting a beleaguered Russian military on the defensive.

“There were too few troops to defend the area,” said Konrad Muzyka, a military analyst and director of Rochan Consulting. “Once the Ukrainian armed forces crossed the first line of defense — if there was one — then the entire front collapsed, as there were no real forces to face Ukrainians.”

Russia still holds vast swaths of Ukraine, including critical cities and towns throughout the Luhansk region that its military had captured over the past several months. One critical question is whether Ukraine can extend its recent gains to the east, into Luhansk, where Russian forces will try to reestablish a defensive line .

Russian advances

SEA OF AZOV

Ukraine’s capture of Izium, a rail hub that Russian forces abandoned on Saturday, deprives Moscow of a key military supply route and increases the transport links available to Kyiv’s troops.

Ukrainian forces have also made more modest advances in the southern Kherson region over the past several weeks. On Monday, the Ukrainian military claimed it had retaken more territory there , although those claims could not be independently confirmed. Russian soldiers west of the Dnipro River appear to be increasingly isolated as Ukrainian attacks erode Russian defenses and shell bridges over the river.

Zach Levitt and Denise Lu

Sept. 11, 2022

Ukraine continues to oust Russia in the northeast

After retaking Izium , a key Russian logistics hub, Ukrainian troops continued on Sunday to push out Russian forces from northeastern Ukraine.

Experts say the rout could be a decisive moment in the war. Ukraine’s recapture of most of Kharkiv Province has significantly weakened Russia’s hold on eastern Ukraine, a region that Russia has used as a stronghold to wage its war since February.

Extent of Russian

advance on Sept. 6

Oskil River

Siverskyi Donets River

Krasnopavlivka

Ukrainian officials claimed their forces had recaptured several settlements, including Hoptivka near the Russian border and Chkalovske near the city of Kharkiv, though these claims could not be independently verified. Additional statements from the Ukrainian military claim that Russian troops were withdrawing from Borshchova and Artemivka near Kharkiv as well as Svatove in the Luhansk region.

Ukrainian forces have also recaptured Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region near the border with Russia. The settlement lies on a key line of communication from a Russian military hub into northeastern Ukraine.

A map released by Russia of areas it claims to control in the Kharkiv region appeared to confirm that most of its forces have withdrawn to the eastern side of the Oskil River, which runs south from the Russian border, with Izium on the west and the Donbas region on the east.

Denise Lu and Scott Reinhard

Sept. 10, 2022

In stunning retreat, Russia loses key northeastern cities to Ukrainian offensive

Russia’s front lines have collapsed in a crucial pocket of northeast Ukraine, ceding a wide area to a surprise Ukrainian offensive . Russian forces abandoned a critical logistics hub, the city of Izium , a loss that could lead to a turning point in the war.

Ukrainian advances

Approx. area

Ukraine, Sept. 10

While the exact extent of Ukrainian control remained fluid, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the broad retreat from Izium and the town of Balakliya on Saturday, just a day after saying it was reinforcing the area. Russia’s statement framed the loss as a strategic retreat meant to reinforce its position in the eastern Donbas region.

The Ukrainian offensive has reshaped what was becoming a grinding war of attrition. One village after another has fallen, including the west side of the town of Kupiansk , according to George Barros, an analyst for the Institute for the Study of War, and images of Ukrainian troops.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to be dogged by manpower and logistical issues. Russian forces in the northeast left their flanks undefended, perhaps because of growing shortages of troops, exhausted conscripts and low morale.

Ukraine’s advance in the northern front comes as it continues to push against the Russian line in the south near Kherson, where Ukrainian gains have been more modest.

In the last five days, the Ukrainian military has rapidly advanced into territory previously held by Russia. Fires detected by NASA’s satellites in the region may show evidence of the battles that accompanied the Ukrainian advance.

Extent of Russian advance

Far fewer fires were detected west of the Oskil River on Saturday, indicating a break in the fighting as Russian forces retreated and Ukraine regained control.

Marco Hernandez and Lazaro Gamio

Sept. 9, 2022

Ukraine rapidly advances around a key northeastern city

Ukraine’s military made significant advances in recent days near the northeastern city of Izium, a key Russian stronghold, according to military analysts and geolocated photos and videos. The breakthrough — possibly some 50 kilometers in just a few days — threatened to encircle Russian forces, which appeared to be caught by surprise.

Reclaimed by

Ukraine before

Apparent Ukrainian

The progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the east, paired with slower, more limited gains in the south, represents some of the most significant changes to the frontlines of the war in months.

The exact positions of Ukrainian forces around Izium could not be independently confirmed. The Russian military released a video with what it said were reinforcements headed to the Kharkiv area, but it has not made detailed statements about the status of the fighting.

But military analysts, satellite detections and photos and videos of Ukrainian forces indicate that they moved rapidly east toward Kupiansk in recent days, possibly getting close to the outskirts of the city. Capturing Kupiansk could threaten Russian supply lines to Izium. And the Ukrainian military claimed to capture the city of Balakliya, prompting Russian military bloggers to complain that Russia was poorly prepared.

The situation is fluid, and further Ukrainian gains may be more heavily contested as Russia stabilizes its response.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the east came in parallel to a push in the south that it had prepared for months, around the regional capital, Kherson. Russia was forced to redeploy troops to shore up its defenses in this area, which may have left its remaining forces in the east more thinly spread.

Ukrainian advances in the south have been slower. Ukrainian troops are fighting to push Russian troops back from the western side of the Dnipro river, which Russia has controlled since the first week of the invasion. After 12 days of intense fighting and shelling, Ukrainian forces have reclaimed a number of small settlements along the frontline.

DNIPROPETROVSK

Arkhanhelske

Recently reclaimed

UKRAINIAN ATTACKS

Nova Khakovka dam bridge

Nova Khakovka

Oleksandrivka

Despite the successes, Ukrainian officials have warned that it will be a slow grind to reclaim more territory. Russian forces have shifted to defensive positions and have heavily mined the surrounding area.

The advances follow weeks of Ukrainian strikes on Russian equipment behind the frontlines, including ammunition depots and command posts.

Marco Hernandez , Josh Holder and Marc Santora

July 1, 2022

Ukrainian counterattacks edge closer to Kherson

While Russia concentrates the bulk of its combat forces on its offensive aimed at taking control of the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine has staged a string of successful counterattacks in southern Ukraine on another critical front in the war.

New changes

Posad-Pokrovske

Three months ago

Pervomaiske

Two months ago

Novomykolaivka

One month ago

Russia retook

Zelenyi Hai

While the fight in eastern Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on both armies, with thousands of casualties, the fight to reclaim the vast stretches of the south controlled by Russia are critical to Ukraine’s survival as an economically viable, independent state.

Ukrainian forces are attacking Russian positions along multiple fronts west of the Dnipro River and have made significant gains in the Kherson region. Russian forces seized the territory in the first weeks of the war and have been steadily fortifying their positions.

The Ukrainians have broken through the outer perimeter defenses of the Russians outside of the city of Kherson, the regional capital, and have taken back several towns and villages.

However, the Ukrainian losses in the east and the limited supply of Western weapons — along with soldiers trained to use them — have slowed the Ukrainian counteroffensive. And as Ukrainian forces start to come up against Russians dug into defensive positions, military analysts say it could be a long bloody struggle to recapture populated urban centers.

The Russians have staged several attacks seeking to thwart the Ukrainian counteroffensive, but a senior U.S. defense department official said this week that the Ukrainians have so far been able to largely hold onto their gains. The Ukrainian military has said it is not naming all the villages and towns it is fighting in, in order to maintain operational security.

The city of Kherson sits in the delta of the Dnipro River, which runs the length of Ukraine and essentially divides the country along an east-west axis. Kherson is the only city Russia controls west of the river. It provides a vital staging ground for Russian forces across the south, with rail lines linking it to Crimea to the south and Russian-occupied territories to the east.

Russia continues to take steps to “Russify” the population , by introducing the ruble, cutting the region off from Ukrainian internet and cellular providers and issuing Russian passports.

But even as the Russian proxy leaders there continue to talk about plans to formally integrate the Kherson region with Russia through a referendum or some other method, a growing insurgency is challenging their efforts to consolidate power. Ukrainian guerilla fighters have assassinated Kremlin-approved local leaders, sabotaged Russian infrastructure and assisted the Ukrainian military in targeting Russian forces behind enemy lines.

Josh Holder and Marc Santora

Updated June 26, 2022

Russia launches barrage of missiles across Ukraine

Russian forces launched a large-scale cruise missile attack on locations across Ukraine on Saturday and Sunday, Ukrainian officials said, in one of the largest and most coordinated airstrikes in weeks. The missiles were launched from bombers in Belarusian airspace, from warships in the Black Sea and from aircraft flying over the Caspian Sea.

Missile strikes reported on June 25 and 26

Six bombers flew into Belarusian

airspace from which they

launched their missiles.

Shaykovka airfield

Russia fired long-range

missiles from aircraft

flying over the Caspian Sea.

Russian warships fired missiles at Yavoriv more than 400 miles to the north.

Six bombers flew into

Belarusian airspace

from which they

missiles from aircraft flying

over the Caspian Sea.

Russian warships

fired missiles at

Yavoriv more

than 400 miles

to the north.

Ukrainian intelligence said that six Russian Tu-22M3 strike bombers took off from Shaykovka airfield in Russia’s Kaluga region, flying over Smolensk, before entering Belarusian airspace. Once they were within about 30 miles of the Ukrainian border, officials said, they fired at least 12 cruise missiles before returning to Russian airspace. The missiles struck targets in the northern part of the country, the military said.

Tupolev Tu-22M

This long-range bomber was first put into mass production in 1978.

The mayor of the southern city of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, also said via telegram that Russian forces hit civilian infrastructure with missiles launched from Russian-occupied territory.

Russia unleashed a new round of missiles at Kyiv on Sunday, hitting an apartment building, killing at least one person, officials said. Another explosion damaged a nearby kindergarten. This was the first attack on the Ukrainian capital in weeks. A spokesman for Ukraine’s Air Force Command said that the long-range missiles were fired from aircraft flying over the Caspian Sea, which lies more than 900 miles southeast of Kyiv.

Marco Hernandez and Scott Reinhard

June 22, 2022

How Russia regained momentum in eastern Ukraine

After weeks of grinding advances in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, Russia is on the verge of claiming a significant victory, the city of Sievierodonetsk. Here is where Russia has gained ground in recent weeks and where Russian forces are attacking now .

Previous Russian advance

Russian advance since May 13

Administrative

Bohorodychne

Komyshuvakha

Svitlodarsk

Sievierodonetsk is under an intense Russian assault that has destroyed all of the bridges that connect the city to Ukraine-held territory. The remaining Ukrainian defenders in the city are surrounded in a chemical plant, recalling the final battle for Mariupol, where fighters held out in a steel plant.

Russia’s slow but steady progress in this stage of the war reflects a change in strategy. In late April, Russia’s limited supply of troops were split across many different fronts, and its progress ground to a halt. But by redeploying troops to concentrate on a narrow target , Russia has reestablished momentum and made a series of important territorial gains.

These maps show the growth of Russian troops in the Donbas over the past few months, according to an analysis by Henry Schlottman, an independent military analyst.

Along with massing forces around Sievierodonetsk, Russia has used brutally destructive tactics to gain territory. Relentless and indiscriminate artillery fire has flattened areas of the city, clearing the way for ground troops to be sent in later.

The end of the fight for Mariupol in late May freed up thousands of Russian troops to be redeployed. Many were sent to the frontline around Popasna, where Russia made one of its fastest advances in the Donbas. Ukrainian defenses crumbled north of the city and allowed Russian forces to push toward the main highway to Lysychansk, threatening one of two routes for civilian evacuations out of the city.

Victory in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk would see Russia claim full control of the Luhansk region, one of the two areas that make up the Donbas. It currently only controls about 60 percent of the Donetsk region, the other area in the Donbas, and military analysts expect progress there to be slow.

But after weeks of little movement, Russia has made incremental progress from Izium to Sloviansk. Fighting is currently underway for the control of Dolyna, a small settlement located just off the main highway, and Russia continues to amass forces in Lyman ahead of an expected push into Sloviansk from the east.

Sloviansk remains a key target for Russia. Capturing it could allow Russia to encircle Ukrainian troops in the east.

Josh Holder and Denise Lu

May 29, 2022

Russia is closer to capturing key eastern city

Recent advances

Taking Sievierodonetsk

and Lysychansk would

give Russia full control of

Luhansk province.

Approximate line separating

Ukrainian and Russian-backed

forces before the invasion

Russia made its most significant advance this week since shifting strategies to focus on eastern Ukraine. It edged closer to capturing the entirety of the Luhansk region.

The advances have focused on surrounding and capturing Sievierodonetsk , one of the most important cities still held by Ukraine in the east. Both sides have been locked in increasingly heavy street fighting in recent days, and Ukraine’s hold on the city appears fragile.

Russia’s renewed momentum in the area shows dividends from focusing on a narrower area within eastern Ukraine instead of spreading its attack across the entire eastern front.

Updated May 13, 2022

Finland and Sweden consider joining NATO

Finland’s leaders announced on May 12 that their country should “apply for NATO membership without delay.” And Swedish leaders suggested on May 13 that Sweden would benefit from joining NATO. It is a remarkable shift by two nations on Russia’s doorstep that had long remained nonaligned militarily — but where public opinion has lurched strongly toward joining the alliance in the 11 weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine.

NATO member countries in Europe

April 20, 2022

The fight for the East

Russia has amassed troops in an attempt to seize eastern Ukraine, now its main objective in the war . The Russian military seems intent on encircling Ukrainian troops in the Donbas region by advancing from several directions, including south from Izium and north from Donetsk .

Ukrainian defense

Past Russian advance

Possible advance

Taken by Russia

Russian forces took

the town of Kreminna .

Russian forces

amassed near Izium

hope to move south.

Russian units in the

south may push north.

Approximate line

separating Ukrainian

and Russian-backed

forces before the

took the town of

Active fighting

forces before the invasion.

While fighting has continued across the east in recent days, Russia’s military has not yet started a large-scale ground offensive in Donbas, according to military analysts, and its gains have been limited so far. Russia has taken initial steps — missile attacks, long-range artillery barrages and small detachments probing Ukrainian defenses — that may be laying the groundwork for a wider push.

So far, neither side has a clear upper hand.

Russian forces amassed near Izium have probed south, in the direction of the critical city of Kramatorsk . But they have been met by significant Ukrainian defenses to the south of Izium and have made little progress. In an apparent attempt to divert Russian forces from Izium, according to military analysts, the Ukrainian military conducted counterattacks east of Kharkiv, recapturing some small towns this week.

At a second front in the northeast, near Sievierodonetsk , Russian forces appeared to make limited progress after bypassing the city. Russia captured the town of Kreminna , according to Ukrainian officials, and have carried out attacks nearby in Rubizhne , which remains in Ukrainian hands.

Russian troops may try to head toward Kramatorsk from the southeast as well, from near Donetsk city, in an effort to cut off Ukrainian troops from two directions. Areas around Donetsk have seen near-constant fighting for the last month, with residents reporting frequent shelling.

In the south, Russian troops have been massing across a fourth front between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. That front has been relatively quiet for weeks. However, Russian units in the city of Mariupol are expected to head there if they can capture the city. Although fighting has continued there for two months, Russian forces now control almost the entire city, with a sizable number of holdouts positioned in a major steel plant .

Lazaro Gamio , Denise Lu and Scott Reinhard

April 13, 2022

Russia tightens its grip on Mariupol

The Russian military moved into the center of the southern city of Mariupol this week, a significant advance in a crucial, bloody battle that has continued for almost seven weeks. The advance split Ukrainian forces in two, with one group near the port and another in the eastern industrial district.

controlled areas

Ukrainian forces

steel plant

Sea of azov

Two weeks ago

Seizing Mariupol is crucial for Russia. The city occupies a strategic location between Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and areas of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists. If Russia takes control of the city, troops fighting there could be redeployed to Donbas, which is now Russia’s central focus in the war.

Despite being outnumbered, Ukrainian troops continue to hold some key areas of Mariupol. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the commander in chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, said on Facebook on Monday that Ukrainian forces were continuing to “hold the city, durably and sustainably.”

But given recent Russian gains, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington research group, believe that Russian forces are likely to capture Mariupol in the coming week.

Mariupol has been under siege by Russian forces for more than 40 days. Civilians who remain in the city lack access to water, food or electricity, and they face almost constant aerial bombardment. Almost no area of the city has been left unscathed, according to an analysis of satellite imagery by Masae Analytics, a company that assesses damage to buildings.

Damaged or destroyed buildings

Residential area

Maternity hospital

Josh Holder , Denise Lu and Scott Reinhard

April 6, 2022

How Russia is refocusing for a pivotal struggle in eastern Ukraine

After withdrawing from much of northern Ukraine, Russia is shifting troops to the country’s east to bolster a crucial conflict that may define the next phase of the war.

Some key locations of this fight are already clear. The Russian military, which is trying to encircle the Ukrainian army, recently seized the eastern city of Izium and will try to push southeast to Sloviansk , experts expect.

Possible Russian advance

Fighting in past 7 days

Russian-controlled areas

Russia recently

took Izium .

Russians could

then head to

Sloviansk is

likely Russia’s

next target.

A farther push to

Horlivka would result

in more Ukrainian

troops being isolated.

Horlivka would

result in more

Ukrainian troops

being isolated.

separating Ukrainian and

Russian-backed forces

before the invasion

Russia’s ability to seize Sloviansk is seen as a key test of whether it can succeed at capturing the entirety of the Donbas, which Russian-backed separatists have been fighting for eight years. It took weeks of fighting and shelling for Russia to bring Izium under its control, and Sloviansk is a larger target, with about twice as many residents. Russian troops are reportedly already facing Ukrainian counteroffensives along the way.

If Russian forces take Sloviansk, their next targets are likely to be Rubizhne , about 40 miles east near Sievierodonetsk, where fighting is ongoing, or Horlivka , about 50 miles south near Donetsk . Advancing to Horlivka would leave more Ukrainian troops isolated on one of the most active frontlines.

If successful, an advance to Horlivka would achieve two of Russia’s main aims. It would link up Russian troops from the north with separatist forces in the Donbas. And it would push the frontline of the war west, giving them control of the Luhansk region and more of the Donetsk region.

Advancing in the east is a critical goal for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Gaining control of the Donbas would effectively partition off a piece of Eastern Ukraine, and the Russian leader could sell it to his country as a victory. But it remains unclear if Russia has enough forces to encircle Ukrainian troops.

Russia’s renewed attack on the east comes as it completes its withdrawal of troops from the suburbs of Kyiv and other northern Ukrainian cities, leaving behind gruesome scenes of dead civilians .

Updated April 2, 2022

Ukraine reclaims control of dozens of towns after Russian troops withdraw from around Kyiv

Russian forces have retreated from around the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv , and the northern city of Chernihiv , a major defeat for the Russian military and a turning point in the war. Ukraine’s army said it was back in control of dozens of towns to the west and east of Kyiv, including some of the conflict’s most intense battlefields.

Towns where Ukrainian forces

recently reclaimed control

Bobrovytsia

Towns where

Ukrainian forces recently

reclaimed control

recently reclaimed

The withdrawal — substantiated by witnesses, Ukrainian officials, satellite images and military analysts — marks the collapse, at least for now, of Russia’s haphazard campaign to seize the capital and replace Ukraine’s government. The fight is expected to continue to shift to the the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

In the suburban towns north of the Kyiv, the Ukrainian army was advancing through a tableau of destruction, with dozens of wrecked tanks on streets, extensive damage to buildings and the bodies of civilians still lying uncollected. Kyiv and its surroundings, which had echoed with artillery booms and gunfire for weeks, had gone quiet.

Ukraine’s military on Saturday moved into Bucha , a key town on the west bank of the Dnipro River — which divides Kyiv — days after Russian forces had sacked it on their way out. Satellite imagery of a key airport in Hostomel by Maxar Technologies, a U.S.-based imaging company, appeared to show that Russian equipment had been removed sometime in the last 10 days.

Russian attacks continued elsewhere in the country, and military analysts said that Russia’s withdrawal from areas near Kyiv did not mean it was de-escalating its war effort.

Russian troops have seized Izium , a key city southeast of Kharkiv that has been under Russian attack for several weeks, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington research group. The city could serve as a launching pad for Russian troops from north of Kharkiv to try to link up with forces in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and isolate Ukrainian forces fighting in the northeast.

Josh Holder , Lazaro Gamio , Denise Lu , Allison McCann , Andrew E. Kramer and Christoph Koettl

March 29, 2022

Where Ukrainian forces have mounted counterattacks in the northeast

In the war’s fifth week, Ukraine reported making some gains in the northeast, waging counterattacks that pushed back Russian forces and enabled the Ukrainians to recapture several towns near the front lines.

Ukraine’s counterattacks have come as major Russian offensives have mostly stalled, with Russian troops largely regrouping and trying to consolidate territory taken in the opening weeks of the invasion.

Ukrainian counterattack

Occupied areas

Trostianets

Bila Tserkva

hydroelectric

Dnieper River

Severodonetsk

The mayor of Irpin , a fiercely contested suburb northwest of Kyiv, said Monday that the Ukrainian army had liberated the town from Russian forces, but that the area remains too unsafe for residents to return home. Maintaining control of Irpin is strategically important for Ukraine’s army to keep its hold on Kyiv.

Reports from the ground suggested Ukraine’s hold on Irpin was tenuous. Ukrainian soldiers who had been in the town on Monday said pockets of Russian troops were still hiding there, and officials said that Russian artillery continued to target the town.

Officials also said the towns of Lukianivka and Rudnytske , both east of Kyiv, had been recaptured after several days of counterattacks .

In a statement posted on Sunday on Telegram, Dmytro Zhyvytsky, the head of the Sumy regional military administration, announced the recapture of Trostianets and Boromlia . The two towns are just south of Sumy, a city currently surrounded by Russian forces.

South of Kharkiv, Ukrainian forces reported having recaptured Husarivka . That town is 10 miles northwest of Izium, where intense fighting has been going on for several weeks.

Josh Holder , Lazaro Gamio , Denise Lu and Scott Reinhard

March 25, 2022

NATO sharply increases its forces in Eastern Europe

NATO announced it was doubling , to eight, the number of countries in Eastern Europe where it has battlegroups. The decision to bolster its presence in the region signals growing concerns for how Russia may respond to the increasing diplomatic and economic penalties it is facing over its monthlong invasion of Ukraine.

Each square represents 5,000 troops:

Host nation

Allied forces

9,000 troops

Countries with

battlegroups

with new NATO

The new NATO battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia join similar forces in Baltic countries and Poland — which are also growing in size.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that the war does not escalate beyond Ukraine, and become a conflict between NATO and Russia,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general.

A little more than a quarter of all troops under direct NATO command are now in Poland, which shares a large border with the western part of Ukraine. An additional 120,000 troops from Poland’s military are at the ready — the most of any host country in the alliance.

Mr. Stoltenberg, speaking to reporters a day before a major summit of European allies in Brussels, said: “We face a new reality for our security. So we must reset our deterrence and defense for the longer-term.”

Scott Reinhard and Azi Paybarah

March 23, 2022

Where Russian forces have made advances in eastern Ukraine

Russian advances have stalled on multiple fronts, including areas north of Kyiv and in the south around Mykolaiv, but Russian forces have continued to make slow but consistent territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, where they aim to isolate large parts of the Ukrainian army.

Over the past week, fighting has been fierce in many towns and villages along the front lines, and Russian forces have made advances from territory in the Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists took over in 2014. Russia has advanced west in Donetsk toward the region’s border and northwest toward Izium .

Reports of fighting on:

March 19–22

March 15–18

March 11–14

Izium has been under fierce

attack from Russia, but

recent advances to the west

of the city were halted.

Severodonetsk has been

under frequent attack as

Russian forces move

northeast to link up with

forces south of Kharkiv.

Intense fighting has

continued along the previous

front line of Ukrainian

and Russian-backed forces.

Russian forces have steadily

advanced westward in Donetsk

toward the administrative border.

Novomykhailivka

Novotroitske

SEA OF Azov

front line of Ukrainian and

Russian-backed forces.

Russian forces have

steadily advanced west

in Donetsk toward the

administrative border.

continued along the

previous front line

of Ukrainian and

Russian forces are likely to have two strategic targets in the Donbas. The Russian military aims to advance the front line toward the administrative border of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to also link up forces in the Donbas with troops from Crimea and south of Kharkiv, according to military analysts. Connecting these forces could isolate Ukrainian troops fighting on the front line near Donbas or force them to retreat, which would be a major strategic victory for the Russians.

Mariupol , an important port city that has been holding out against a Russian siege for more than three weeks now, remains in Ukrainian control, frustrating Russian forces in their goal to control a corridor from Donetsk to Crimea. Russian troops have advanced on Mariupol from both the east and west in recent days, while continuing to shell residential buildings in the city and reinforce artillery positions north of the city.

Some of the most intense fighting has been for the city of Severodonetsk in Luhansk. The Ukrainian armed forces report nearly daily attacks on the city, but it currently remains in Ukrainian hands. The city is on a crucial advance northwest toward Izium , which Russian troops have also repeatedly attacked from the north.

Josh Holder , Scott Reinhard , Lazaro Gamio and Denise Lu

Updated March 21, 2022

Russia, stalled elsewhere, advances in the east

Ukrainian forces continue to hold off Russian advances near Kyiv , Kharkiv and in large parts of the South . But in the east, Russian forces have made steady progress in recent days, moving west from the separatist-held territory of Donbas .

Recent fighting

Past advance

Recent advance

Taken by Russians

Kropyvnytskyi

South Ukraine

nuclear plant

Seized in 2014

Hydroelectric

Russian forces in many parts of the country have been hindered by supply issues, with units pausing operations while they regroup.

An assessment published on Sunday by the Institute for the Study of War said that Russian forces will likely expand their bombing campaign on Kyiv instead of trying to encircle the city in the coming weeks.

The group also reported that Russian forces are strengthening their defensive positions in captured areas and moving artillery into positions that can strike central Kyiv .

Even as Ukrainians hold the line outside major cities, the position of the Ukrainian army in the east looks increasingly precarious, according to an analysis this week by researchers at RUSI, a military analysis group. Those forces could risk becoming encircled by Russian troops advancing along several paths east of the Dnieper River.

Those advances have left a vast trail of destruction , according to witnesses, imagery and statements from local officials.

Russian forces have moved into several villages west of the city of Donetsk in the last couple of days. Farther north, they have pummeled the city of Izium , which has no heat, food, water or other basic services, although the Russian and Ukrainian sides dispute who controls the city.

Lazaro Gamio , Josh Holder , Denise Lu , Marco Hernandez, Marc Santora , Agnes Chang, Pablo Robles and Scott Reinhard

March 20, 2022

An initial analysis of damage in Mariupol shows widespread attacks across residential areas

Analysis of satellite images for a section of Mariupol found evidence of widespread damage across residential neighborhoods. At least 391 buildings in the study area were observed to have been damaged or destroyed in a part of the city that is dotted with schools and health facilities.

Buildings destroyed or severely damaged

Moderately damaged

Kal’mius River

Livoberezhnyi

The analysis, by Unitar-Unosat, a United Nations research group, examined structures within a section of the eastern district of Livoberezhnyi. The group compared a satellite image captured on March 14 this year with imagery from June 2021.

Damaged structures included seven schools and four health facilities, according to the report. Livoberezhnyi, meaning “Left Bank,” is one of the city’s four administrative districts and is home to about 120,000 residents.

Russian forces have laid siege to Mariupol for nearly three weeks . Incessant shelling has blocked efforts to evacuate people and send aid, leaving the nearly half a million residents trapped with dwindling supplies of food, water and medicine.

A maternity ward bombed last week and a theater bombed on Wednesday are near the city center. Mariupol’s city council said on Sunday that Russia had bombed a drama school where about 400 people had been hiding.

Kalmiuskyi district

Staryi Krym

sheltering.

Government building

Captured by Russia

on March 18.

Regional intensive

care hospital

Hundreds held hostage.

Bombed on March 9.

Hundreds used

as shelter.

Control disputed.

TAHANROZ GULF

Hundreds held

Portcity Mall

Destroyed. Had more

than 200 shops.

Most communication has been cut off from the city, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage and the status of residents still there.

Weiyi Cai , Agnes Chang, Marco Hernandez, Josh Holder , Eleanor Lutz , Anjali Singhvi and Pablo Robles.

March 15, 2022

Where Ukrainians are fighting Russian forces

While their advances have slowed in recent days, Russian forces continue to clash with Ukrainian defenses on multiple fronts. This map shows the active areas of fighting, according to a statement posted on Tuesday by Ukrainian military officials.

Current fighting

Russian forces attempting

to advance on Kyiv from the

northeast have faced fighting

and disruptions.

There was fierce

fighting in Izium as

Russian troops

advanced from the

area around Kharkiv .

Kryvyi Rih is quite likely

to be one of Russia’s next

targets. Troops have

advanced from Kherson .

fighting in Izium

as Russian troops

advanced from Kherson.

Kryvyi Rih is

quite likely to be

one of Russia’s

next targets.Troops

have advanced

from Kherson .

In recent days, fighting near Kyiv has been mostly restricted to suburbs, just northwest and west of the city, including Bucha and Irpin , about 10 miles from the city center.

In the south, Russian forces resumed attacks in their advances toward Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih . Recent Russian pushes have been toward Zaporizhzhia , with forces most likely aiming to block the city on both banks of the Dnieper River.

In the east, Russian forces and Russian-backed separatists have pushed the frontline forward, claiming more areas of Ukraine. Intense fighting has continued for days for Izium , a small city southeast of Kharkiv . Ukrainians still hold Izium, and recent Russian advances have moved around it, heading west toward the city of Dnipro, a key Russian target.

Josh Holder and Scott Reinhard

A night of violent bombardment in Kyiv

Russian missile strikes hammered multiple neighborhoods in Ukraine’s capital on Tuesday, hitting at least three residential buildings, the entrance of a subway station and a surrounding market.

Residential

Residential building

At least two people dead

Subway entrance

Presidential

It was the most significant attack on Kyiv in recent days. As Russia has failed to capture major cities, it has intensified its targeting of civilian areas from the air, striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals across the country.

At least four people were killed in the Kyiv attacks on Tuesday, and dozens more had to be rescued, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor, announced a 35-hour curfew starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, warning that the city was enduring “a difficult and dangerous moment.”

Despite multiple attacks, the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia traveled to Kyiv on Tuesday to express the European Union’s “unequivocal support” for Ukraine and offer financial support.

Pablo Robles and Josh Holder

March 13, 2022

Russian strikes kill dozens in western Ukraine

Russian warplanes struck a Ukrainian military base near the Polish border on Sunday, killing at least 35 people and bringing the war dangerously close to NATO’s doorstep. Western Ukraine had been largely spared from the early fighting, but Russian airstrikes on military targets in the region have ramped up in the last few days.

Airstrikes since March 11

Airstrikes killed four soldiers

at a military airfield in Lutsk .

Airstrikes killed at least

35 people at a military

base in Yavoriv .

Khmelnytskyi

March 11 and 13

Airstrikes struck the airport

in Ivano-Frankivsk .

Airstrikes killed four

soldiers at a military

airfield in Lutsk .

Airstrikes struck

the airport in

Ivano-Frankivsk .

The maps below show how Russian aerial attacks have shifted since the widespread airstrikes on the first day of the invasion. Each three-day map shows locations of shelling, airstrikes and other projectiles, according to a New York Times tally of air-related attacks.

Timeline of aerial attacks by region

Feb. 24 to 26

Feb. 27 to March 1

March 2 to 4

March 5 to 7

March 8 to 10

March 11 to 13

Ivano-Frankivsk

The attack on the base in Yavoriv, just 12 miles from the Polish border, also injured more than 100 people. Around 1,000 foreign fighters were believed to be training at the base, known as the International Peacekeeping and Security Center.

Sunday’s attack was the closest Russian offensive yet to the border with Poland, a NATO and European Union member where U.S. troops were deployed to bolster NATO’s defense. Russia carried out the attack a day after warning that weapons flowing into Ukraine from Western allies were “ legitimate targets .”

Agnes Chang, Lauren Leatherby , Scott Reinhard and Charlie Smart

March 12, 2022

From small towns to large cities, the extent of Russia’s aerial bombardment of Ukraine

Facing significant Ukrainian resistance on the ground, Russia is increasingly relying on aerial bombardment. Since the invasion started, at least 67 Ukrainian towns and cities have been hit — some attacked on multiple days — with shelling, airstrikes and other projectiles, according to a New York Times tally of air-related attacks.

Number of days each city was hit with air-related attacks

Symbols are sized by the minimum number of days with reports of such attacks..

At least 5 days

At least 4 days

At least 9 days

At least 6 days

Because of the difficulties in getting comprehensive reporting of events in wartime, the tallies shown here are likely an undercount of the full scale of Russia’s aerial attacks.

Kharkiv , Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been under bombardment for at least nine days. Kyiv , the capital, as well as Irpin , a nearby city, and Mariupol , the besieged southern port city, have also been subjected to multiple days of relentless shelling. At least eight cities have had more than four days of shelling.

Russian forces recently stepped up aerial attacks in locations far from the frontlines. Many small towns and villages between the eastern Donbas region and Kharkiv have had at least one day of aerial attacks, as Russian forces move toward each other in an effort to close off northeastern Ukraine.

Marco Hernandez , Denise Lu , Eleanor Lutz and Larry Buchanan

March 11, 2022

Where Russians have continued their advances

Although Russia has not captured major cities in recent days, its invasion is far from stalled. Russian forces continue to make gains, pushing into smaller cities and encircling larger ones. Troops have been nearing Kyiv , the capital, and also closing in on key cities in the South and the Northeast.

Detail below

The advances have often been arduous, halting and costly. In some areas, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly pushed the Russians back and have regularly disrupted supply lines. The Ukrainians have managed to hold frontlines outside major cities, even as the much larger Russian force has bombarded civilian areas with devastating airstrikes.

But even Russia’s slow advances encircling major cities has put enormous pressure on Ukrainian civilians, some of whom lack electricity and running water. And Ukraine’s military remains on the defensive as Russia consolidates its positions outside major cities and threatens to isolate large numbers of Ukrainian troops or force them to retreat.

“We are surrounded,” said Vladyslav Atroshenko, the mayor of Chernihiv , in a message posted online Wednesday. Russians had bypassed Chernihiv in the early days of the invasion.

Outside Kyiv, Russian forces gained control of the town of Bucha several days ago and moved southwest in an attempt to encircle the capital. They were also approaching Kyiv from the east, with heavy fighting involving a line of Russian tanks reported in the suburb of Brovary , according to videos posted online on Thursday.

Russian forces continue to have the upper hand in the south. Their offensive on Mykolaiv continued as they worked to encircle the city from the east, with troops conducting offensives radiating out.

Some troops have pushed up as far as Oleksandrivka , not far from the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s second largest. Others have made their way to the north and northeast of Mykolaiv toward Kryvyi Rih , though no sustained offensive has been reported.

Novovorontsovka

Mariupol , a southern port city, remains besieged and under constant bombardment. Russia-backed separatist forces from the Donbas have also claimed that they control the highway from Volnovakha to Mariupol, closing yet another route out of the city.

The Russians appear to be amassing forces north of Crimea for an offensive on Zaporizhzhia.

Pervomaiskyi

In the east, in addition to trying to encircle the city of Kharkiv , Russian forces are making their way south, most likely in an effort to join forces with Russian-controlled areas in the Donbas who are moving west. Doing so would cut off the northeast region of Ukraine.

Russian troops have attacked Izium and the surrounding towns. Civilians were evacuated from Izium, which was one of the humanitarian corridors established during the fighting.

Several other towns between Kharkiv and Izium were also the site of Russian shelling. In Slobozhanske , Ukrainian officials reported that a civilian residence had been hit, killing four people.

Denise Lu , Lazaro Gamio , Marco Hernandez, Josh Holder and Scott Reinhard

March 10, 2022

Images show Russian strikes on civilian buildings in Mariupol

Russian forces struck a number of civilian buildings in the southeastern city of Mariupol. These satellite images show widespread damage on the city’s west side — in residential areas, shopping centers and surrounding agricultural fields.

Residential areas

Planet Labs

Portcity shopping mall

Epicentr K shopping mall

Shelling marks can be seen in the fields near M14, a major highway connecting Mariupol to Odessa in Ukraine’s southwestern corner, according to Allison Puccioni, a satellite image analyst and chief executive of Armillary Services.

Shelling craters

To Mariupol

Damaged structures

Vehicle tracks

Highway M14

To Mariupol Airport

Russian forces have encircled Mariupol, an important port, for a week now, laying siege to the roughly half a million people living there. Russian shelling has blocked efforts to create safe roadways for civilians, leaving them trapped without water, food, heat or medicine. Hundreds of casualties have been reported, including at least three people killed after a Russian missile struck a maternity ward, according to the local government. Trenches have been dug for mass graves, and local authorities have instructed residents on how to dispose of the bodies of dead family members.

Satellite data detected several fires in the west of the city since Sunday. Analysis of satellite imagery found that many residences were significantly damaged, along with commercial and other civilian structures. Three instances of residential damage are shown below.

Area of available

satellite coverage

Agnes Chang, Marco Hernandez, Josh Holder , Scott Reinhard , Pablo Robles and Tim Wallace

March 9, 2022

Six ‘humanitarian corridors’ are established, but evacuations remain difficult

On Wednesday, a tentative agreement between Russian and Ukrainian forces allowed for civilians to evacuate from Ukrainian cities with heavy fighting. Six “humanitarian corridors” were established, though not all of them were confirmed to be open and working to safely evacuate people. Ukrainian officials said Russia continued to violate the cease-fire for the corridor out of Mariupol .

Across the corridors, about 40,000 women and children had been evacuated in a day, David Arakhamia, the leader of the governing Servant of the People Party in Ukraine, said on Facebook on Wednesday.

Approximate corridor routes

Cities northwest

Russia continues to violate the cease-fire in Mariupol.

More than 600 women and children were taken by bus and car from Enerhodar to Zaporizhzhia in the south, according to local officials, and at least 3,000 people were evacuated from the northwest cities of Irpin and Vorzel and taken to Kyiv .

A Ukrainian deputy prime minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, said on Facebook that they have been unable to establish a safe corridor out of Mariupol , the site of some of the heaviest bombardment. Russian forces have cut all communications there, making it increasingly difficult to get information about the state of the city, where hundreds of thousands of people remain trapped with limited access to food and water.

On Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 18,000 people had managed to escape from the areas of the heaviest fighting outside of Kyiv. And he said the passage from Sumy to Poltava , in central Ukraine, allowed about 1,600 students and 3,500 residents to be evacuated .

“Today we will do everything to continue the work of humanitarian corridors,” he said on Wednesday.

Allison McCann, Marco Hernandez, Marc Santora, Lazaro Gamio and Scott Reinhard

Where the police have arrested antiwar protesters in Russia

More than 13,000 people have been arrested in antiwar protests in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24. While the majority of arrests have taken place in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia’s two largest cities, protesters have been detained in more than 150 cities in a sign of the pent-up anger about the war that is felt across the country.

St. Petersburg

4,141 arrests

Petropavlovsk, 1

Kaliningrad

6,392 arrests

Novosibirsk

Vladivostok

Detail above

Vladivostok, 37

Antiwar protests have continued even as President Vladimir V. Putin renewed his clampdown on free speech. On Friday, a new law was enacted that threatened anyone spreading “false information” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with up to 15 years in prison. Facebook, Twitter and all major foreign media were also blocked as the Kremlin seeks to control the narrative in Russia, which faces an economic crisis as a result of Western sanctions.

Despite the risks, Sunday saw the highest single-day tally of protester arrests in recent memory. More than 5,300 protesters were detained across 74 cities, according to OVD-Info, an activist group that tracks protests in Russia. People were seen chanting “No to war!” on St. Petersburg’s central avenue, Nevsky Prospekt, and on Moscow’s Manezhnaya Square, just outside the Kremlin walls.

Photos and videos from the ground, which have become more scarce in the days since the new censorship law, show the sharp police response to the protests. Officers were seen pinning protesters to the ground and beating some with batons.

Agnes Chang, Josh Holder , Pablo Robles and Lazaro Gamio

March 8, 2022

How Russia aims to isolate Ukrainian forces in the east

Ukrainian forces have held off Russian forces from taking control of new cities in recent days. But the Russians continue to make smaller advances on multiple fronts, and they appear to be aiming for a critical target in central Ukraine: the city of Dnipro .

Possible future

Dnipro occupies an important position. If Russian troops can advance on it both from the north, near Kharkiv , and from the south, up from Crimea , they could isolate Ukrainian forces fighting in the Donbas region in the east, or force them to retreat.

If the Ukrainian forces in the east are not already withdrawing, they could be potentially encircled and destroyed soon, according to an analysis by Konrad Muzyka, a defense analyst for Rochan Consulting.

Southern Ukraine is where Russian forces have advanced the most since the invasion began 13 days ago, and Russian forces have continued to press north of Melitopol after taking control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Friday.

Russian troops control the small city of Polohy , and the city has been without heat, electricity or running water for six days, according to a statement on Tuesday by Ivan Arefiev, a spokesman for the regional military administration.

One aim of recent advances appears to be uniting three groups of Russian forces: troops in the south coming from Crimea; troops moving southeast from near Kharkiv; and Russia-backed separatists pushing the front line in the Donbas region.

Mariupol , a city on Ukraine’s southern coast, is still holding out against a Russian siege that has left residents without electricity or basic services. It is the last city standing between the unification of Russia-backed separatists attacking from the east and Russian troops advancing from Crimea.

Agnes Chang, Keith Collins , Lazaro Gamio , Marco Hernandez, Josh Holder , Allison McCann , Scott Reinhard and Pablo Robles

March 6, 2022

Russia moves toward Kyiv from the east and attacks civilians from the west

In the first 11 days of the war, Russian forces have pushed into the areas north and northeast of Kyiv , in an effort to encircle and capture the capital city.

Areas occupied

Airstrikes or shelling

Russian forces were establishing a forward helicopter base near Ivankiv .

Kozarovychi

Directions of recent Russian advances toward Kyiv

The Ukrainian Air Force attacked Russian forces in Peremoha , according to the Ukrainian military.

Markhalivka

Area of detail

Large strike on residential neighborhood in Bila Tserkva .

were establishing

helicopter base

near Ivankiv .

A Russian forward

was established

Russia has moved to encircle other key cities throughout the north as it advances toward Kyiv, according to intelligence reports from Britain’s Ministry of Defense . Attempts to take Chernihiv have not been successful, while advances from Sumy through the sparsely populated areas to the east of Kyiv have been met with less resistance, according to the Institute for the Study of War , a Washington research group.

Russia’s ground forces, including armored vehicles and tanks, have not moved as far along in the dense, urban areas around Kyiv. Ukrainian forces have launched ambushes using small, nimble military units to sneak up on Russian forces. These units are armed with anti-tank missiles that are used to counter Russia’s heavy machinery.

While Russia has not launched major ground operations into the heart of Kyiv over the past two days, intense shelling has continued in several surrounding towns. On Sunday, a Times photographer witnessed four people, including a mother and her two children, killed by a strike as mortar shelling targeted a battered bridge used by evacuees in Irpin who were trying to escape to Kyiv.

Evacuees huddled under a

destroyed bridge, one of the

main escape routes out of Irpin.

At least four people,

including two children,

were killed by a mortar

Irpin River

route toward

including two children, were

killed by a mortar shell.

Evacuation route

toward Kyiv

Weiyi Cai , Eleanor Lutz , Blacki Migliozzi , Scott Reinhard , Anjali Singhvi and Charlie Smart

March 5, 2022

The Russian offensive in three parts of the south

Russia continued to make advances on Saturday in southeastern Ukraine, pushing into the areas around Melitopol and continuing to move toward Mykolaiv, another strategic port city on the Black Sea .

Major front

Most recent advance

Previous advance

Russia now controls the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant .

Russian forces continued to push toward Mykolaiv.

Evacuations of Mariupol and Volnovakha were halted amid Russian shelling.

Russia now controls the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Russian forces still surround Mariupol , where about a half million people have been without heat, electricity or water for several days. A Russian-declared cease-fire was intended to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha on Saturday, but the evacuations were halted amid what Ukrainian officials said was renewed shelling.

On Friday Russia attacked the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant , the largest nuclear plant in Europe, and Ukrainian officials said the plant is now under control of Russian forces.

Lauren Leatherby and Allison McCann

Russian attacks on nuclear sites could destabilize Ukraine’s energy supply

Russian forces attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on March 3 and are now reportedly pushing toward the South Ukraine nuclear power plant. These are Ukraine’s two largest nuclear power plants, together responsible for one-third of Ukraine’s electricity generation.

Nuclear plant

Areas occupied by Russia

Khmelnitski

Ukraine has a total of four nuclear power plants consisting of 15 reactors that generate roughly 50 percent of the country’s electricity . After nuclear power, coal is the largest source of electricity generated in the country. Many of Ukraine’s coal-fired power plants lie in the Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.

Electricity generation in Ukraine by source

Other sources

Control over Ukraine’s electricity generation would give Russian forces another tool in their effort to gain control of the country.

In recent years, Ukraine was already taking steps to disconnect itself from the Soviet-era energy grid it shares with Russia and Belarus, instead looking to connect to a grid shared by its western neighbors. It was running tests on its energy system on Feb. 24, the very day the Russians invaded. The connection to the rest of Europe’s grid was originally planned for completion in 2023, but Ukrainian officials are now looking to expedite it.

As Russian invasion efforts have been frustrated by staunch Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces have moved to using artillery and air strikes to try to achieve their goals. Many of the targets struck have been civilian buildings, among them at least one coal power plant that was leveled in Okhtyrka, near Sumy in the northern part of the country. Prior to the invasion, one coal plant caught fire after being shelled by separatist forces in the Donbas region.

Russian forces also control at least one hydroelectric dam in the south of the country and are working to capture another north of Kyiv. Russian forces have additionally occupied the Chernobyl nuclear site since early in the conflict, though its four reactors are defunct.

Lazaro Gamio and Eleanor Lutz

March 4, 2022

Civilians try to escape as fight for Kyiv continues

As Russian forces tried to close in on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv , thousands of people — mostly women and children — rushed to catch trains on Friday as explosions shook the city. Ukraine’s military said in a statement that the Russian army’s primary objective was now to encircle the capital.

Ground fighting

Airstrikes or fires

Civilians are fleeing

to Kyiv from Irpin

Cruise missile is

seen in parking lot

Railways southwest

of Kyiv remain open

Much of the fighting on Friday took place on the northwestern outskirts of Kyiv, in and around the cities of Hostomel , Bucha and Irpin , as the Russian military tried to push closer to the capital.

Civilians in Irpin, where troops and a Russian tank were photographed on Friday, raced to catch trains heading southeast into the capital. A small airport in Hostomel was the site of a continuing battle.

In Kozarovychi , a village about 25 miles north of Kyiv, a base of Russian paratroopers was destroyed by Ukrainian artillery, according to local press. In Markhalivka , to the southwest, an airstrike hit a rural residential area, Ukrainian law enforcement officials said, killing at least seven people .

Several bridges have been destroyed around Kyiv, possibly by Ukrainian forces hoping to slow the advancement of Russian troops. In the capital on Friday, a silvery, metallic tail section of what appeared to be a cruise missile was seen in a parking lot.

Weiyi Cai , Keith Collins , Denise Lu and Yuliya Parshina-Kottas

Fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility

Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex

Spray ponds

Spent fuel storage

Site of fire

Training center

A fire set off by fighting at Europe’s largest nuclear plant on Friday caused damage to a training facility about 1,500 feet from the nearest of the plant’s six nuclear reactors, according to an analysis of imagery of the fire.

The damage set off widespread fears of a radiological disaster, but international monitors said early Friday that there was no immediate sign that radiation had leaked from the Zaporizhzhia plant.

There was also damage to “the structure of the reactor compartment” at one of the six reactors, which did not affect the safety of the unit, according to a statement by Ukrainian nuclear officials. It was unclear which reactor structure was damaged.

Russian troops took control of the facility after an intense gun battle on Friday. Although radiation levels did not appear to spike, there were many remaining dangers — from workers being able to do their critical jobs while the plant is occupied to the possibility of unreported damage at one of the reactors.

Besides the threat of fighting to Zaporizhzhia’s reactors and their cores full of highly radioactive fuel, the site has many acres of open pools of water where spent fuel rods have been cooled for years. Experts fear that errant shells or missiles that hit such sites could set off radiological disasters.

Russian forces are expected to continue to push north of the nuclear plant, toward the city of Zaporizhzhia. To the east, Russian troops have for days encircled the port city of Mariupol , a key point between the Donbas region, controlled by Russian-backed separatists, and the Russia-controlled Crimean Peninsula.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Mykolaiv is preparing for an imminent Russian attack.

Electricity, water and power are disrupted in Mariupol , which is under frequent shelling.

If Russian forces take over the entire coast to the east of Crimea, Ukraine’s army east of the Dnieper River could be isolated, and Russia could control the Sea of Azov and its industrial infrastructure.

Allison McCann , Pablo Robles, Marco Hernandez and William J.Broad

The status of the Russian invasion

After nine days of fighting, Russia’s primary effort remains capturing Kyiv , the capital. But Russian forces continued to attack Ukraine on several other fronts, laying siege to cities and trying to control vital ports.

In the south, Russia appears to be intent on capturing Ukraine’s entire Black Sea coast, in an apparent attempt to cut it off from shipping. Russian troops pushing north from Crimea on Wednesday seized the strategically important southern port city of Kherson , the first major city to fall to the Russian military. Those troops are continuing to push west to another port city, Mykolaiv , and then are expected to target Odessa , according to an analysis from the Institute for the Study of War , a Washington research group.

Russia seized the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, near Zaporizhzhia , after intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. A fire that had broken out there was extinguished, and radiation does not appear to have leaked, international monitors said.

Russian troops have also encircled the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol , a key point between the Donbas region, controlled by Russian-backed separatists, and the Russia-controlled Crimean Peninsula. If Russian forces take over the area, Ukraine’s army east of the Dnieper River could face encirclement, and Russia would be able to take control of the Sea of Azov and its industrial infrastructure. The bombardment in Mariupol has cut power, water and heat to the people, the local mayor, Vadym Boichenko, said in a statement on Facebook.

In Kyiv, Russian forces pushing in from the western outskirts of the city have been met with strong Ukrainian resistance. Additional forces east of Kyiv are advancing toward the capital, according to the institute.

The second-largest city, Kharkiv, has been the site of heavy bombardment , with several civilian structures hit as Russians attempt to encircle the city. Videos of the city center verified by The New York Times show large buildings and storefronts with severe structural damage, as well as damage to residential buildings and schools on the outskirts of the city.

Weiyi Cai , Keith Collins , Lazaro Gamio , Denise Lu , Allison McCann , Scott Reinhard , Pablo Robles and Julie Walton Shaver

March 2, 2022

Russia captures major southern city and surrounds another.

Areas occupied by Russian forces

surrounded and

bombarded Mariupol .

are retreating to

Rostov-on-Don

have seized

captured Melitopol

on Feb. 25.

destroyed a

dam on Feb. 26.

destroyed a dam

on Feb. 26.

The Black Sea port of Kherson , in the southern region of Ukraine, became the first major city to come under full control of Russian forces on Wednesday.

“There is no Ukrainian army here,” said Igor Kolykhaev, the city’s mayor. “The city is surrounded.”

Russian troops first approached the city on Friday and met heavy resistance. On Saturday, they destroyed a dam in the region that Ukraine had built in 2014 in order to cut off an important water source to Crimea.

Ukrainian forces retreated west toward Mykolaiv , Mr. Kolykhaev said. Russian forces are likely to head there in their drive to Odessa .

Gennady Trukhanov, the mayor of Odessa, backed by assessments from Ukraine’s military, said on Wednesday that Russia’s goal was likely to surround Odessa with land and naval forces, cutting off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea and the country’s primary link to the global economy.

“My sense is that they will encircle Odessa and hold that position while they continue their assault on Kyiv,” Mr. Trukhanov said.

About 260 miles to the east of Kherson, Russian forces also have surrounded the port city of Mariupol by land and sea, and have been bombarding critical infrastructure and civilian targets, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Capturing Mariupol would allow Russian forces in the south to join with Russian-backed separatists in the east, isolating Ukrainian troops in the region.

Keith Collins , Denise Lu and Scott Reinhard

Where Russia has hit civilian structures in Kharkiv since Monday

Russian troops are coming from the north

Commercial building

Shevchenkivskyi

Residential and commercial buildings

Administrative building

University building

Nemyshlianskyi

Residential buildings

Russian forces occupy areas north of the city

The city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine continued to be pummeled with airstrikes and shelling on Wednesday. Blasts or explosions have been reported in at least seven locations around the city since Monday. The head of the Kharkiv region said on Facebook that at least 20 people had been killed and 125 had been injured since Saturday.

The strikes and ensuing explosions over the last two days have damaged office buildings, a university building and residential districts in the city. On Tuesday, a large explosion struck directly in front of the Kharkiv’s administrative building, shown below. At least seven people were killed and another 24 were injured.

Kharkiv Regional State Administration

Google Maps Street View

March 1, 2022

Pavel Dorogoy / Associated Press

After Russian ground forces failed to take control of Kharkiv on Friday, analysts say that Moscow is now focused on air, missile and artillery strikes before likely launching a renewed ground offensive.

On Wednesday, just after 8 a.m. local time, a missile strike damaged three buildings at one intersection: a building of Kharkiv National University, shown below; the police headquarters; and an office of the National Security Service. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported three people injured so far on Wednesday, with rescue work ongoing.

Faculty of Economics, Kharkiv National University

Google Maps user image

State Emergency Service of Ukraine

These attacks followed the shelling of a residential neighborhood on Monday that killed at least nine people , including an Indian student studying medicine in Kharkiv.

National Police Headquarters

December 2021

Oleksandr Lapshyn / Reuters

About 1.5 million people live in the city of Kharkiv, according to the latest estimates , making it Ukraine’s second-largest city. Residents have sheltered in subway stations , basements and bunkers since the assault on the city began last week.

Agnes Chang, Lazaro Gamio , Pablo Robles, Marco Hernandez and Allison McCann

Russia’s shifting strategy in six days of attacks on Kyiv

Failed attack

on Hostomel

troops forced

Ground assault

Russian troops enter

outskirts of Kyiv.

Troops advance

on both sides

of Dnieper River.

artillery and

troops to the

west of Kyiv.

Russian military

vehicles headed

toward Kyiv.

were seen in an

area east of Kyiv.

TV tower hit by

projectile in Kyiv

In six days of fighting in Ukraine, Russian forces have seized territory in the county’s south and east but remain shut out of some major cities and the capital, Kyiv, prompting a ramped up effort to surround the city and an escalation of attacks on civilian infrastructure around the country.

The invasion, and the push into Kyiv, began on Feb. 24 local time with an early-morning campaign of airstrikes that aimed to take out Ukraine’s air power. Once military bases and airports across the country were struck, Russian forces began their assault from the border with Belarus, to the north of the capital.

On that first day of fighting, troops that entered from the northwest captured the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Russian forces began moving toward Kyiv. Special forces and airborne troops were closing in on the capital by the end of the day but were met with a fierce defense mounted by Ukrainian forces.

Forces that entered Ukraine from the northeast also encountered heavy resistance in the city of Chernihiv, which lies on the road to Kyiv. By the second day, troops bypassed the city and headed south along the Dnieper River.

West of the river, Ukrainian troops withdrew from the Hostomel airport on Friday, and it was captured by Russian troops, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington research group. Ukrainian forces, however, appeared to have destroyed the airport’s runway, rendering it unusable.

Over the next several days, Russia bombarded Kyiv with missile strikes, and troops began pushing into the city from the northwest. The forces that had come from the northeast also advanced along the east bank of the Dnieper River, drawing closer to the capital.

Satellite images taken from Feb. 26 to Feb. 28 show bridges that were destroyed in and around Kyiv, some possibly by Ukrainian forces to slow the advancement of Russian troops.

Bridges destroyed in Ukraine

Irpin bridge

West of Kyiv

Stoyanka bridge

Kamaryn Slavutych border crossing

Belarus-Ukraine border

Desna River bridge

Chernihiv Oblast

Russian troops have now consolidated on two fronts, in the northwest and the northeast areas of Kyiv, and may attempt to cut off supply lines of arms and other military equipment arriving from European Union countries. ​​Ukrainian forces have so far defended against incursions from Kyiv’s west, including an attack on the nearby city of Irpin on Monday.

As of Tuesday, the Russians had deployed heavy artillery and more forces to the area northwest of Kyiv, a likely prelude to the intense shelling that could soon befall the capital. A long convoy of Russian forces was also seen approaching the city. The convoy may aid in direct assaults on the city from the northwest, but it is more likely to bolster the effort to surround the city, particularly from the west, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

On the east side of the river on Tuesday, Russian vehicles reportedly moved east toward Bobrovytsia, the institute said, possibly to join the forces near Nizhyn, about 70 miles east of Kyiv.

Agnes Chang, Keith Collins , Lazaro Gamio , Denise Lu , Yuliya Parshina-Kottas , Scott Reinhard , Pablo Robles, Michael Schwirtz and Tim Wallace

Russia takes aim at civilian targets

Russia appeared to target civilian areas with increasingly powerful weapons on Tuesday, damaging major cities and dramatically raising the risk of civilian deaths.

A large explosion hit central Kharkiv , Ukraine’s second largest city, destroying a large administration building and killing at least seven people. A second attack in a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv destroyed a hospital and resulted in several deaths and injuries, the city’s mayor told a local television station. And video showed a projectile hitting the main radio and television tower in Kyiv , the capital, forcing television stations off the air, according to Ukrainian officials.

A projectile hit the main radio and television tower in the capital.

An enormous explosion hit the city’s central square.

Intense fighting for a critical port city that lacks heat and electricity.

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

Russia annexed the

Crimean Peninsula

from Ukraine in 2014.

Crimean Peninsula from

Ukraine in 2014.

Russian forces battled for control of two major cities in the south. Videos showed Russian troops patrolling Kherson and an explosion at an apartment building, although Ukrainians kept control, according to Janes, a company that analyzes intelligence. The mayor of Mariupol , a key port city, said residents lacked electricity and heat after days of intense fighting. Capturing Mariupol would allow Russian forces in the south to join with Russian-backed separatists in the east, isolating Ukrainian troops in the region.

Security footage of the apparent airstrike in Kharkiv showed what appeared to be a rocket hitting directly in front of the city’s administration building, creating a large fireball that engulfed several cars. The blast left behind a large crater near the city’s central square.

Outside of the capital, a convoy of Russian tanks and vehicles, now about 40 miles long, could still be seen in satellite images. A renewed assault on western Kyiv was likely to start again on Tuesday, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.

Josh Holder , Marco Hernandez, Michael Schwirtz and Allison McCann

Updated March 1, 2022

More than half a million refugees flee Ukraine

Fewer than 500

Total refugees

At least 575,400

Other European

More than half a million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began last week, according to the United Nations refugee agency. About half of them crossed Ukraine’s western border to Poland. Others have gone to Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. Ukraine enacted martial law at the beginning of the conflict that requires men ages 18 to 60 to remain in the country.

For many refugees, these bordering countries could be a first stop of their journey. Romanian authorities said about half of those who had entered the country so far had already left for other European countries.

According to the refugee agency, an additional 129,000 people have reportedly been displaced to Russia from Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region since Feb. 18, when Russian-backed separatists there called for residents to evacuate to Russia as tensions escalated.

The refugee crisis is the most intense week of human flight within Europe’s borders since at least the Balkan wars of the 1990s. But in contrast to previous crises in Europe over the past decade, these refugees are being welcomed.

There are also reports of people who are unable to leave Ukraine. About 15,000 Indian citizens remained stranded at the start of the conflict, India’s foreign secretary told reporters late Sunday. The Indian government has managed to evacuate about 2,000 of them through border crossings with Ukraine’s neighboring countries.

Thousands of citizens of African countries, many of them medical and science students at Ukrainian universities, are also trapped in several Ukrainian cities . Somalia’s foreign minister said that his office had contacted countries such as Poland in an effort to provide legal entry to about 300 Somalis.

The United Nations says it is preparing for up to four million refugees from Ukraine in the coming days and weeks.

Agnes Chang, Marco Hernandez, Denise Lu and Scott Reinhard

Feb. 28, 2022

Russian rockets hit Kharkiv, and troops move to encircle Kyiv

Russian rockets on Monday hit a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv , Ukraine’s second largest city, killing dozens of people, according to Ukrainian officials. Videos of the attacks appear to show the most aggressive targeting of a civilian area by Russian airstrikes since the invasion began five days ago.

Ukrainian forces retained control of major cities. But Russian troops have moved to towns west of Kyiv , the capital, including Borodianka , according to Ukrainian officials and videos of the fighting. The movement may be an attempt to encircle Kyiv and cut off supply lines of arms and other military equipment arriving from E.U. countries .

Russian forces moved west of Kyiv, possibly trying to sever supply lines.

Russian rocket attacks hit residential areas and killed dozens of civilians.

Areas occupied by

as of Feb. 27.

Area of Donbas region held by

Russian-backed separatists

Russian forces took control of Berdiansk.

Area of Donbas

region held by

Russian-backed

separatists

Russian troops in southern Ukraine continued to advance, capturing the coastal city of Berdiansk . Russian airstrikes hit Zaporizhzhia , up the Dnieper River, according to Ukrainian officials. And Russian officials claimed to take control of a nearby town, Enerhodar , although Ukrainian officials disputed this.

The rocket attacks in Kharkiv could be seen in videos posted to Telegram on Monday and verified by The New York Times . The number of casualties could not immediately be confirmed.

Talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials began in Belarus even as the fighting continued. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said before the meeting that he was not hopeful that the talks would end the hostilities.

Josh Holder , Allison McCann , Marco Hernandez, Haley Willis , Ainara Tiefenthäler and Michael Schwirtz

Feb. 27, 2022

Russia’s advance on Ukrainian cities is slowed by resistance

The Russian military’s push toward Kyiv , Ukraine’s capital, slowed over the weekend. After rapid incursions toward Kyiv during the first two days of the invasion, Russian forces made limited new territorial gains. Instead, experts say Russia may have focused on moving additional combat supplies to the front lines.

Russian troop

The relative pause may stem from Russia previously underestimating Ukrainian forces, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. So far, Ukraine has held Russia out of several cities including Kyiv and Kharkiv . Footage analyzed by The New York Times showed Russian forces advancing closer than previously seen to the center of Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, but they were mostly pushed back.

In the country’s south, forces have continued to advance north toward Zaporizhzhia and have encircled Mariupol , beginning initial assaults on the port city. Despite Russian-backed separatist control of the Donbas region in the country’s east, Russian and separatist troops have not made major advances against Ukrainian forces there.

Experts predict strong Russian attacks will resume in the coming days as Russia commits more resources to the offensive. And even as talks between Ukraine and Russia neared, satellite imagery on Sunday showed a miles-long convoy of hundreds of Russian military vehicles bearing down on Kyiv.

High civilian casualties may also be likely in the coming days if the Russian military continues its push into densely populated urban areas. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Sunday that 352 civilians have been killed, including 14 children.

Lauren Leatherby and Scott Reinhard

Feb. 26, 2022

Three regions where Russian forces are pushing into Ukraine

Russia has established attack lines into three regions of Ukraine: toward Kyiv , the capital, from the north; toward Kharkiv , from the northeast; and fanning out from Crimea in the south. Ukraine has also fought Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region to the east.

as of Feb. 26.

Russian forces pushed toward Kyiv from the north and east, but had yet to take the capital on Saturday after heavy shelling and intense fighting. After failing to capture Chernihiv , Russian troops moved around the city toward Kyiv, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, a research group in Washington.

Ground fighting or explosions

Kalinkavichy

Velyki Osnyaky

Rivnopillya

Russian forces were stopped short of Kyiv’s eastern outskirts.

Ground troops entered the outskirts of Kyiv on the west bank of the Dnieper River.

Bridges destroyed

Ground troops

entered the outskirts of Kyiv on the west bank of the Dnieper River.

by Russian forces

Troops crossed the Russian border at several points and advanced toward Kharkiv , the second-largest city in Ukraine. On Friday, the fighting appeared to center a few miles outside the city limits, near the village of Tsyrkuny . A Kharkiv government Telegram account on Saturday said Russian troops were being fought at multiple points to the north and southeast of the city.

Ground fighting, munitions or explosions

Ground troops pushed

into Ukraine across a

wide stretch of the

Russian border.

A cluster warhead was found

embedded in the ground.

embedded in

the ground.

A cluster warhead was found embedded in the ground.

Russian forces coming from Crimea pushed north toward Zaporizhzhia and east toward Mariupol . There has been heavy fighting on a bridge in the city of Kherson , and Russian troops blew up a dam on the North Crimean Canal, built by Ukraine in 2014 to block Crimean water supply from the Dnieper River.

Ten civilians “of Greek origin” were killed by Russian airstrikes near Mariupol.

Russian forces destroyed a dam that was built to stop the flow of water to Crimea.

Sea of Azov

Russian forces destroyed a dam here.

A majority of the more than 150,000 Russian forces massed against Ukraine are now fighting in the country, a senior Pentagon official said on Saturday, up from about one-third on Friday.

Larry Buchanan , Weiyi Cai , Agnes Chang, Keith Collins , Blacki Migliozzi , Yuliya Parshina-Kottas , Jugal K. Patel , Josh Williams , Michael Schwirtz and Andrew E. Kramer

Fighting intensifies across Kyiv

Ukrainian forces put up a fierce battle on Saturday to hold Kyiv, the capital, as Russian troops pressed in from all directions. What until three days ago had been a thriving European metropolis has been transformed into a battle zone.

Peremohy Ave.

Maidan Square

While Ukrainian forces appeared to keep control, fighting reached the city center before appearing to quiet later on Saturday. Combat was seen 400 yards from Maidan Square , according to ​​Ukrainska Pravda, a Ukrainian news site, citing witnesses. There were reports of clashes near the city’s train station closer to the center, according to the witness accounts.

Intense fighting could be seen along Peremohy Avenue , a main thoroughfare. Videos verified by The Times showed vehicles on fire on the street in the neighborhood of Shuliavka, near the Kyiv Zoo .

A residential building was struck by a missile in southwestern Kyiv on Saturday morning, injuring at least a half dozen people.

Russia has established attack lines into three cities — Kyiv in the north, Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson in the south — and Ukrainian troops are fighting to hold all three.

Keith Collins , Pablo Robles, Andrew E. Kramer , Christoph Koettl , Brenna Smith , Dmitriy Khavin , Muyi Xiao , Malachy Browne and Sarah Kerr

Feb. 25, 2022

Russian forces enter Kyiv, but they are held back on some other fronts

Russian troops have pushed into Ukraine along the country’s southern, eastern and northern borders, but the operation has encountered more resistance from Ukrainian forces farther north in Kyiv and Kharkiv , the country’s two largest cities.

as of Feb. 25.

Held by Russian-

backed separatists.

separatists.

Moscow’s forces entered the western outskirts of Kyiv , the capital, but failed to penetrate the city’s eastern side as of Friday evening local time, according to an independent analysis of the conflict by the Institute for the Study of War, a research group in Washington. Ukrainian forces also prevented Russian troops from taking Chernihiv, a city northeast of Kyiv .

Ukraine’s military said Russian soldiers entered a northern district of Kyiv earlier on Friday and that “sabotage groups” were operating in the city. Intelligence reports from the Pentagon and Britain’s Ministry of Defense said Russia was attempting to encircle the capital.

In the Donbas region to the east, Ukrainian forces held the line of contact with Russian-backed separatist groups there, the Institute for the Study of War analysis said. Near Crimea in the south, Russian forces were reported to have captured the city of Kherson.

Marco Hernandez and Denise Lu

Russia takes aim at Kyiv

After heavy shelling and ground fighting in cities and towns across Ukraine on Thursday, Russia turned its attention to Kyiv , the Ukrainian capital, on Friday. Missile strikes hammered Kyiv overnight, and a Russian rocket fragment landed on a residential building, injuring at least three people, the city’s mayor said .

Kyiv Thermal

Power Plant

Minsk Massif

Mariyinsky Palace

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that Russian forces had attempted to land along the Kyiv reservoir. And on Friday morning, the ministry said that Russian troops had entered the Obolon district, a few miles north of the city center. Ukrainian officials said on Twitter that Kyiv residents should “prepare Molotov cocktails” to deter “the occupier.”

Explosions were heard throughout the city, and Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media that five explosions appeared to come from the Kyiv Thermal Power Plant No. 6, in the northeast.

Video and photographs verified by The New York Times appear to show two bridges that lead to Kyiv were destroyed — their demolition a new tactic that Ukraine seemed to be using to defend the capital.

The Times was able to verify that two crossings, on the city’s northern and western edges, were destroyed in what appeared to be an attempt to slow down the advancing Russian forces.

Confirmed reports of ground fighting or explosions

Bridges destroyed to

slow Russian advance

With its focus now on the capital, Moscow made clear that its goal was to topple the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia also said that it had taken control of the territory around the former Chernobyl nuclear plant, about 80 miles north of Kyiv.

Lazaro Gamio , Josh Holder , Pablo Robles, Agnes Chang, Allison McCann , Yuliya Parshina-Kottas and Blacki Migliozzi

Feb. 24, 2022

Where Russia’s land invasion followed air attacks

Fighting continued across Ukraine on Thursday as Russian troops advanced into the country from the northeastern border, the east and the south. As the sun set in the country, special forces and airborne troops were closing in on Kyiv , Ukraine’s capital. Ukrainian officials said in a statement that some civilian targets had come under fire and that Russian forces had seized the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl .

Ground fighting or incursions

moved toward

Kyiv, the capital.

Chernobyl was said

to be under Russian

forces’ control.

Soldiers closed

in on Kharkiv.

Previous line

landed in the port

city of Odessa.

At least 137 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians had been killed, President Volodymyr Zelensky said . Russia lost two helicopters and seven aircraft in combat, officials said.

The ground invasion followed heavy shelling and airstrikes that began just before dawn local time. Those attacks had targeted cities, airports and military infrastructure across Ukraine.

Airstrikes or fires reported

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that it had disabled Ukraine’s air defenses and air bases and that Russian forces had destroyed more than 70 military targets, including 11 airfields, a helicopter and four drones.

Josh Holder , Scott Reinhard , Allison McCann , Marco Hernandez, Keith Collins , Denise Lu and Yuliya Parshina-Kottas

Russia carries out a large-scale invasion of Ukraine

On the first day of the first major land war in Europe in decades, the Russian military plunged into Ukraine by land, sea and air. Russia shelled more than a dozen cities and towns, including outside the capital, Kyiv . Russian troops moved across the Ukrainian border in several waves, landing in the port city of Odessa in the south and crossing the eastern border into Kharkiv , the second-largest city .

Airstrikes or attacks

Russian troops crossed the border moving toward Kyiv, the capital.

separatists, held

Russian troops landed in the port city of Odessa.

Troops moved into an area north of Kyiv , advancing on Chernihiv , about 80 miles from the capital. And they touched off a pitched battle at the highly radioactive Chernobyl exclusion zone that risked damaging the concrete-encased nuclear reactor that melted down in 1986. By sunset, Russian special forces and airborne troops had seized the Chernobyl site and were pushing into the outskirts of Kyiv.

Some of the most intense fighting was outside of Kharkiv in the northeast, according to a senior U.S. Defense Department official. A video suggested that at least one residential building in the area was destroyed.

And a satellite photo taken by Planet Labs on Thursday morning showed a fire and black smoke rising from the Chuhuiv Air Base outside of Kharkiv.

Russian forces so far have been striking Ukrainian military installations and air-defense targets, using more than 100 medium- and short-range ballistic missiles, the defense official said. Russia has also used sea-launched missiles from warships in the Black Sea.

Satellite images taken before the offensive began show some of the locations hit by airstrikes.

Chuhuiv residential building

Melitopol airfield

Ozerne airfield

Nizhyn airfield

Lutsk airfield

Khmelnytskyi airport

Kramatorsk airport

Hostomel airport

Starokostiantyniv military unit

Ivano-Frankivsk military unit

In the south, at least 18 Ukrainian military officials were killed in an attack outside Odessa , where amphibious commandos from the Russian Navy came ashore on Thursday, according to Sergey Nazarov, an aide to Odessa’s mayor. In the east, Russian-backed separatists fought Ukrainian troops along the front line that has divided the rebels and Ukrainian forces since 2014.

The Russian military also moved north from Crimea , headed in the direction of Kherson .

Footage captured by security cameras at a border crossing Thursday morning showed Russian military vehicles entering from Crimea.

The Russian attacks began just minutes after President Vladimir V. Putin delivered a speech declaring the beginning of a military operation in Ukraine, and as the United Nations Security Council met in New York.

Keith Collins , Lazaro Gamio , Josh Holder , Scott Reinhard , Allison McCann , Agnes Chang, Pablo Robles and Marco Hernandez

Feb. 22, 2022

How Russian troops closed in on Ukraine

Since October, Russia has been building an enormous military force along Ukraine’s border, with as many as 190,000 troops in or near Ukraine, according to American and Ukrainian officials. The Russian troop presence has grown in recent weeks from scattered groupings parked at military bases and training grounds to battle-ready units arrayed in tactical formations. They appear prepared to attack Ukraine from three directions, according to military analysts: the north, east and south.

Here's where Russia has added forces during the current buildup:

Prior to current buildup

Existing positions

backed forces

New military presence

In recent weeks, Russia has deployed the final components needed to conduct a large-scale military operation against Ukraine. The force includes fighter aircraft and attack helicopters, along with elite paratrooper units and special forces troops that would typically serve as the tip of the spear in any invasion plans, military experts say.

Troops deployed to the north in Belarus could quickly reach the capital, Kyiv, and Russian Naval forces in the Black Sea could menace Ukraine’s southern coast. Most military analysts and officials believe that any attack will begin with a heavy incursion into Ukraine’s east, in the vicinity of two breakaway territories that Russia has long supplied with troops and arms.

Josh Holder , Allison McCann , Scott Reinhard and Michael Schwirtz

Feb. 21, 2022

Donetsk and Luhansk: breakaway regions at the center of the conflict

President Vladimir V. Putin recognized the independence of two territories in eastern Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, that are largely controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Shortly after, Russian troops were ordered into the area, a move that threatens to sharply escalate the conflict with Ukraine and could be a prelude to a broader invasion.

Claimed by separatists,

held by Ukraine

separatists,

The separatist enclaves claim all of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions as their territory, but they control only about one-third of the area. It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Putin would recognize the enclaves in their de facto borders or would seek to expand them by force.

Ukraine and the rest of the world view the enclaves as Ukrainian territory. The Russian-backed separatists in the region have been embroiled in a long-running conflict with Ukrainian forces.

See our full story on the two regions that might spark conflict .

Blacki Migliozzi and Lazaro Gamio

Feb. 19, 2022

Shelling intensifies in Eastern Ukraine

Over the past several days, artillery barrages continued to target areas in east Ukraine. Shelling targeted the region around the town of Svitlodarsk — an area that includes key infrastructure such as a drinking water supply network and one of Europe’s largest fertilizer factories.

Russian military positions

Baranovichi

Russia-Belarus

mock battle

Vesyolaya Lopan

Artillery fire

Persianovskiy

And at a military training ground in Baranovichi, Belarus, Russian and Belarusian forces conducted a mock battle in a joint exercise . The 10-day joint military exercises are scheduled to end on Sunday.

Eleanor Lutz and Jugal K. Patel

Where Russia’s military is positioned around Ukraine

Russia strengthened its military presence around Ukraine in January and February, with new deployments of troops and military equipment in multiple locations , including Crimea, Belarus and near Eastern Ukraine, furthering fears of an imminent invasion.

Russian military positions as of Feb. 16

Perevalnoye

Troops, tanks and heavy artillery have moved into positions that threaten to widen the conflict in Ukraine’s east and potentially open a new front on Ukraine’s northern border, closer to its capital, Kyiv. It provides a snapshot of current Russian positions. It is based on information obtained by Ukrainian and Western officials as well as independent military analysts and satellite imagery.

Eleanor Lutz , Jugal K. Patel and Scott Reinhard

Feb. 15, 2022

Europe’s reliance on Russian gas could be reshaped

Europe relies on Russia’s natural gas to help heat millions of homes, generate electricity and power factories. With Russian troops massed along Ukraine’s border , the continent’s heavy dependence on Russia is limiting its diplomatic options and threatening to throw its energy supplies into turmoil.

Imports of gas from Russia to E.U. countries

Share of country’s natural gas imports from russia, 2020.

Gas exports

Netherlands

Arrow width proportional

to country’s total gas imports

from Russia.

Arrow width proportional to

country’s total gas imports

Gas imports

from Russia

Arrow width proportional to country’s

total gas imports from Russia

If the flow of gas is interrupted, either as collateral damage from warfare or as a negotiating tactic by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, experts worry that already high prices in a constantly shifting global market could skyrocket. Businesses may be forced to close temporarily, and if cutoffs persist, households already facing higher utility bills this winter could feel even more pain.

See our full story on Europe’s reliance on Russian gas .

Josh Holder , Karl Russell and Stanley Reed

Notes on disputed areas shown on the maps

Crimea was invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014. The action was widely condemned under international law, and the territory remains disputed.

Eastern Ukraine has been in conflict since 2014 with fighting between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists. The dotted line in the eastern region of Ukraine shows the approximate dividing line between the two sides.

Transnistria , a Russian-backed breakaway region, lies on the eastern edge of Moldova.

An earlier version of the map showing two breakaway regions at the center of the conflict in eastern Ukraine misidentified a city near the border in Russia. It is Belgorod, not Kursk.

A previous image of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building was incorrectly labeled as the Regional Office of Security Service of Ukraine.