Overall Crime and Safety Situation

U.S. Embassy Kyiv doesnot assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of thepersons or firms appearing in this report. The ACS Unit cannot recommend aparticular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the qualityof service provided.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS ASSESSED KYIVAS BEING A HIGH-THREAT LOCATION FORCRIME DIRECTED AT OR AFFECTING OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT INTERESTS.

Please review OSAC’s Ukraine-specificwebpage for proprietary analytic reports, Consular Messages, and contactinformation.

Crime Threats

Although thousands ofU.S. citizens visit Ukraine each year without incident, the country crimerating remains high.

In Kyiv, authoritiesreported more than a 15% increase in crime in 2016 over 2015 statistics. Thenumber of property crimes (theft, burglaries, armed assaults, fraud)constituted more than half of all criminal offenses reported. Notably,according to government statistics, there were five times as many registeredassault cases in 2016 than 2015. Registered assault cases throughout Ukrainemore than doubled during the same period.  

The most common typesof non-violent property crime affecting the expatriate community includepickpocketing, theft from parked vehicles, street scams, and residentialburglaries. Residential burglaries are typically committed by forced entry whenthe occupant is not at home, or they occur as crimes of opportunity when doorsare left unlocked.

Reports of drugging ofdrinks on trains continued in 2016, with the majority of victims claiming tolose consciousness and being robbed while unconscious. Discussions with medicalpersonnel suggest that this activity is more common on overnight trains.

There is particularneed to pay close attention to one’s surroundings and belongings while incrowded public places, walking on crowded streets and through underground malls/crossovers,and while using public transportation.

"The WalletScam" remains a common confidence scam used by criminals to victimizeforeigners. In many cases, these incidents occur at locations frequented byforeigners (high-end and Western hotels, Saint Sophia’s Cathedral, SaintMichael’s Cathedral, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Andriyivskyi Uzviz). In 2015, theEmbassy received several reports of the wallet scam occurring outside shoppingmalls including Gulliver, Ocean Plaza, and the Cosmopolit Mall and at largeevent venues (Palats Sportu, Olympiski Stadium). There are many variations tothis scam, but all involve an attempt to get the victim to pick up an itemcontaining currency. The typical scam involves a suspect who seemingly inadvertentlydrops a wallet or a plastic bag in front of a potential victim. The suspect asksthe victim if the wallet/bag belongs to him/her. Or, the victim picks thewallet/bag up and returns it the person who dropped it. The suspect tries toget the victim to handle the money in the wallet/bag or will handle/count thecurrency himself. The suspect then states that money is missing and loudly/aggressively(but not violently) accuses the victim of stealing the money. The suspect willthreaten to call the police to panic the victim. Then an accomplice interjectsby introducing himself as a police officer and flashes identification to thevictim. The police officer will ask the victim to produce his or her wallet toensure the victim did not take the money. The officer will then count the moneyin front of the victim. Victims often hand over their wallets withouthesitation to the police officer. When the wallet is produced, the criminal(s)may grab it and flee, or more often, steal a large portion of the victim’smoney by sleight of hand. If presented with this or any variant, do not pick upthe wallet/bag, walk away, and do not engage the perpetrators in conversation.Foreigners are more likely to be confronted with this confidence scam sincethey do not know local laws. American citizens are heavily targeted.

Marriage and datingscams via the Internet are routinely reported. There have been numerousinstances of U.S. citizens being extorted for thousands of dollars by Internetcontacts they thought were friends, loved ones, or romantic interests. TheseInternet scams include lotteries, on-line dating/introduction services, andrequests from a “friend” in trouble.

Due in part to theongoing conflict in the east, illegal weapons-related crimes continued toincrease in 2016. 

Identity theftinvolving ATMs and credit cards is prevalent and continues to be a concern,occurring on a regular basis. 

Cybersecurity Issues

Cybercrime activityaffecting services within Ukraine remains a major concern for U.S. governmentand Ukrainian authorities. In recent years, U.S. law enforcement pursued a numberof joint cybercrime/identity theft investigations with Ukrainian lawenforcement authorities. The Embassy strongly recommends utilizing a VirtualPrivacy Network (VPN) for personal internet usage.

Ukrainian governmentofficials, private sector experts, and journalists report that Ukraineexperiences several hundred to several thousand cyberattacks against governmentministries and information portals each month. These have includedrun-of-the-mill denial-of-service attacks, which prevent users from connectingto a site or server for a limited period, to attacks that defacedpublicly-accessible information and service portals—often with a politicalmessage.

Other Areas of Concern

The Department of Statewarns U.S. citizens to defer all travel to the eastern regions of Donetsk, Luhansk,and the Crimean peninsula. Russian-backed separatists continue to control areasin the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. These groups have established illegalcheckpoints and have threatened, detained, or kidnapped individuals, includingU.S. citizens, for hours or days. Travelers to, in, near, or through theseareas are subject to threats of mines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO), aswell as sniper and other small arms fire exchanges. As the situation isconstantly changing, American citizens traveling to Ukraine should read themost recent TravelWarning for Ukraine.

Travel is restrictedand controlled for a 30-kilometer radius surrounding the Chernobyl NuclearPower Plant.

Transportation-Safety Situation

Road Safety and RoadConditions

Vehicles are left-sidedrive and drive on the right side of the road (as in the U.S.). Traffic in Kyivis heavy on weekdays during commuting hours, and travel in the city duringworkdays is often delayed due to heavy, unexpected (and often, inexplicable)traffic patterns. Main thoroughfares are usually well-illuminated andmaintained, but side streets and less commonly used avenues in/outside of Kyivare often poorly illuminated, narrow, and poorly maintained. Driving can be achallenge to foreigners. Local drivers routinely disregard traffic laws(excessive speeding, driving the wrong way on one-way streets, driving inoncoming lanes to maneuver around blocked traffic, driving on sidewalks). Usingsidewalks for parking is an accepted practice, and pedestrians, especiallythose with small children, should exercise caution. Cars also routinely driveon sidewalks, especially in central Kyiv, moving to/from sidewalk parking, muchof it illegal. Drivers should also be alert for pedestrians, who often crossbusy streets where they can and without hesitation. Drivers should be preparedto stop on short notice and drive defensively.

Most highways and roadsin smaller towns are not illuminated, and emergency services are not reliableor prompt. Therefore, driving outside of major cities during hours of darknessshould be undertaken with caution. Snow removal can be haphazard, especiallyalong secondary roads, and the subsequent snowfall and ice build-up can causeconsiderable traffic delays and parking problems.

Due to heavy trafficand local driving habits, vehicle accidents are common. Motorists involved inaccidents are not permitted to move the vehicles unless they present a clearsafety concern. Fender benders routinely tie up traffic. Police must benotified and will come to conduct an investigation. Be prepared to wait untilthe police arrive and complete their report. Although the introduction of thePatrol Police has reduced response time, traffic issues and limited resourcesoutside of major cities continue to delay the arrival of police and ambulances.When police arrive, they will ascertain responsibility, take drivers' personalinformation, and file an accident report.

Public TransportationConditions

Ukraine has anextensive train, bus, subway, and airport transportation system. Some of thelarger cities also have above-ground trolleys and small shuttle buses (marshrutkas). Buses and trolleys in Kyivbreak down on a regular basis, often causing delays in commuting, but aregenerally considered safe to use. When riding public transportation, keeppurses, shoulder bags, and backpacks closed, in front of you, or tucked underyour arm to prevent theft.

Aviation/AirportConditions

In 2013, The U.S.Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announcedthat Ukraine complies with the international safety standards set by theInternational Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

A restricted air spacezone exists over Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. On July 17, 2014, a MalaysiaAirlines civilian aircraft was shot down in an area controlled byRussian-backed separatists, killing 297 people.

Terrorism Threat

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OFSTATE HAS ASSESSED KYIV AS BEING A MEDIUM-THREATLOCATION FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITY DIRECTED AT OR AFFECTING OFFICIAL U.S.GOVERNMENT INTERESTS.GOVERNMENT INTERESTS.

Local, Regional, and International TerrorismThreats/Concerns

Bomb threats to government buildings, metrostations, shopping malls, and train stations are received on an almost dailybasis throughout the country. While Ukrainian authorities continue to respondappropriately to all threats, the vast majority were hoaxes. 

There continue to beacts of low-level terrorism targeting Ukrainian government establishments thathave primarily resulted in property damage. Seizures of caches of weapons arecommon, and intermittent reports of individual use of grenades and similarordnance to settle disputes underscores the availability of weapons.

The response to thesethreats by the Ukrainian security services has been deliberate, coordinated,and increasingly pro-active. 

In the early morning ofJuly 20, 2016, a prominent journalist was assassinated by a car bomb indowntown Kyiv. Investigated extensively, there have been no arrests in the case. 

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS ASSESSED KYIVAS BEING A HIGH-THREAT LOCATION FORPOLITICAL VIOLENCE DIRECTED AT OR AFFECTING OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT INTERESTS.

Civil Unrest

From November 2013 toFebruary 2014, Ukraine witnessed civil unrest in almost every major city duringthe EuroMaidan protests (the Revolution of Dignity). What began as peacefulpro-EU demonstrations, culminated in the deaths of more than 100 unarmedprotestors on February 20 and the flight of the then President on February 22.(For more detail, please see 2014 Ukraine Crime and Safety Report here.)

In March 2014, Russianforces illegally invaded the Crimean peninsula and continue to occupy Crimea insupport of the Russian Federation’s claim of Crimean annexation. The U.S. andUkraine do not recognize this annexation.

In early April 2014,pro-Russian separatists occupied government buildings in the eastern Oblasts ofDonetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv. While pro-Russian separatists were expelled fromKharkiv, the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk deteriorated into a war betweenthe Ukrainian military and the Russian-backed separatists. Multiple ceasefiresand diplomatic negotiations, most prominently the Minsk Agreements, have not broughtabout peace, and armed conflict occurs on a daily basis.

Since the fall of theformer government, demonstrations, marches, and commemorations continue tooccur regularly throughout the center of Kyiv. These events are mostlypeaceful, and most are aimed at persuading the current government to continue withreform efforts or pursuing charges of crimes against humanity against formergovernment members during the Revolution.

·        Onedemonstration held outside the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) in August2015 escalated when a participant threw an explosive device at NationalGuardsmen, killing four. 

In general, it isadvisable to avoid large demonstrations and crowds, even peaceful ones, as theymay become violent without warning and may attract petty criminals andhooligans. However, if attending such events, it is always best to remain onthe perimeter of crowds and identify easy exit routes should problemsoccur. 

Religious/Ethnic Violence

There have been reportsof religious and ethnic violence being carried out by individuals affiliatedwith hate groups. Crimes directed against non-Slavic and religious minoritiesdo occur.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Flooding has occurredin western Ukraine, particularly in the Carpathian Mountains during the springthaw. The last major flood reported was in 2010.

Critical Infrastructure

In 1986, the ChornobylNuclear Power Plant (unit no. 4), located 90 kilometers northwest of Kyiv,experienced an explosion and fire, followed by an uncontrolled release ofradiation. The accident resulted in the largest, short-term, accidental releaseof radioactive materials in the atmosphere ever recorded. The highest areas ofradioactive ground contamination occurred within 30 kilometers of the station.A favorable wind direction kept most of the contamination away from Kyiv,although the capital city was not spared completely. The Plant's last operatingreactor closed on December 15, 2000. The Embassy maintains a close cooperativerelationship with authorities responsible for monitoring the radiological andoperational conditions at nuclear facilities.

Gas is an area ofconcern due to increased tension with Russia. The government is workinglong-term to increase energy efficiency and diversify its gas purchases awayfrom Russia.

Shortage of fuel andinsufficient electricity remain a concern into 2017.

Economic Concerns

There is a lack ofintellectual property rights protection that is evident in the very weakenforcement efforts, the continued use of unlicensed (pirated) software withinthe government and private sectors, the widespread sale of counterfeit retailmerchandise, the transshipment of counterfeit goods, the rampant Internetpiracy, and the overabundance of rogue music royalty collection societies(collecting royalties without distributing any of the royalties to legitimaterights holders). In 2015, the U.S. government moved Ukraine from the Special301 “Priority Foreign Country” designation to the “Priority Watch List” inresponse to the reform-minded government efforts. However, the government hasmade no tangible progress in addressing IPR concerns.

Personal IdentityConcerns

While most foreignersdo not encounter problems with violent crime, there is potential forracially-motivated attacks. Victims have reported verbal harassment, discrimination,and physical assaults. All foreigners – even those who are not racialminorities – should be aware of this situation and exercise an appropriatelevel of caution. Slow response to hate crimes is a continuing concern,although senior government officials have publicly deplored these hate crimes.

There were a fewincidents involving threats or attacks on members of Ukraine’s LGBTQI community,including an organized protest against an LGBTQI gathering in Lviv that turnedviolent.

Police Response

In general, Ukrainianlaw enforcement agencies do not meet U.S./Western European standards, and theirability to adequately investigate criminal incidents is still evolving. Whilesignificant progress has been made in the form of the Patrol Police in Kyiv andseveral major cities, response time remains below Western standards, and caseresolution fell dramatically. 

Individuals arerequired to carry personal identification documents, and local law enforcementmay stop people on the street to conduct identification checks. No probablecause is required. Therefore, the Embassy recommends that visitors carrypassports.

Crime Victim Assistance

Fire emergency tel: 101

Police emergency tel: 102

Ambulance/emergencymedical services tel: 103

These numbers can beused in Kyiv and in major cities; however, there may not be an English-speakingoperator.

Corruption remains apersistent concern in Ukraine (Transparency International’s 2016 corruptionperceptions index lists Ukraine tied with Russia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Iranat 131 out of 176 surveyed countries). Law enforcement agencies have beenviewed as part of the problem rather than a part of the solution, but there hasbeen progress in reforms and the establishment of the ‘New Police,’ and the newgovernment has made fighting corruption a priority. Despite efforts to promoteknowledge of English, police units rarely possess English-language capability,even among officials working in units designated to combat crimes againstforeign nationals. As a result, reporting a crime to the police is often adifficult and lengthy process. Subsequent follow-up to determine the status ofa case often requires lengthy visits to police stations.

The Embassy recommendsthat Americans report crimes to the police and to the Embassy. In the eventthat police do not accept a crime report, the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section’sAmerican Citizen Services can forward the complaint to the police. Reporting acrime is also advisable even if time has elapsed since the crime occurred, ascriminals often repeat the same crime within the same general locale. Finally,a police report also is strongly recommended when an American passport has beenlost or stolen.

If you are an Americancitizen in need of emergency assistance, please call U.S. Embassy Kyiv at+38-044-521-5566 during regular business hours or +38-044-521-5000 after hours.

Police/SecurityAgencies

The National Policeunder the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) is the civilian policeagency. 

The SBU (SecurityService of Ukraine) is the main government security agency dealing withcounterintelligence issues and combating terrorism.

The State Border GuardService of Ukraine (SBGS) controls borders and points of entry.  

Medical Emergencies

Medical facilities do not meet Westernstandards. Travelers with pre-existing conditions should carefully considerwhether adequate care would be available during a trip to Ukraine. Travelerswho have chronic medical conditions that require medication should bring enoughmedicine since medicine may not be readily available in-country. Furthermore,narcotic pain relievers may not be imported into Ukraine even in smallquantities and with a prescription. For more information, please refer toOSAC’s Report, “Traveling withMedications.”

Contact Information forAvailable Medical Services

Minor Emergencies &Routine Care in Kyiv

Boris (http://www.boris.com.ua/)

Address: ProspectMykoly Bazhana 12a (12а, проспект Миколи Бажана), Kyiv

http://www.boris.kiev.ua/kontakti

E-mail: Med_Boris@ukr.net

24-HOUR PHONE: 238-0000

Medicom(http://www.medikom.kiev.ua/)

Address: 8, KondratykaStreet, Kyiv

http://medikom.ua/

24-HOUR PHONE: 503-7777

Major Trauma/Emergency

Main Military ClinicalHospital of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

24 hours a day

Address: 18Gospitalnaya Street, Kyiv

24 hour phone: 269-7095

National Emergency andTrauma Hospital

24 hours a day

Address: 3Bratislavskaya street

24 hour InformationService: 518-5111

24 hour Admittancedepartment: 518-0629

24 hour Multi-Traumadepartment: 518-7259

24 hour HospitalResuscitation/Intensive Care Department: 518-7020

For Cardiovascularevents

Kyiv Heart Institute

http://www.heart.kiev.ua/?lang=en

E-mail: info@heart.kiev.ua

5a Bratislavska St., Kyiv,02660

Consultation-diagnosticdepartment hours

Mon-Fri, 0800 – 1600

To schedule a visit (foradults) from 0800 to 1530 by phone numbers: +380 (44) 291-61-31 or +380 (44)513-24-46 or +380 (50) 746 74 47 or +380 (97) 746 74 47

In order to be admittedto one of the private hospitals a call to the hospital must be made in advance.

Available Air Ambulance Services

SOS: 007-495-937-6477(24/7 phone) -Moscow

TRICARE/SOS (for U.S.military): 00 44-20-8762-8133 (24/7 phone) -London

EURO FLITE: 00358-20-510-1900 (24/7 phone) -Finland

MEDEX AssistanceCorporation: 00 410-453-6330 (24/7 phone) -US

There are severalEuropean firms that provide private jet evacuations, and the AMC and BorisClinic in Kyiv can organize and assist with evacuation for a fee. Aero medicalevacuation companies that service Ukraine include: SOS, EURO FLITE, MEDEXAssistance Corporation, and TRICARE/SOS (for military personnel). Boris Clinichas a limited agreement with Tricare. Contact information for additionalinsurance and medevac companies can be found on the Embassy'sConsular website.

Insurance Guidance

We encourage Americans topurchase traveler's insurance before arriving and to familiarize themselveswith the conditions of their existing medical coverage and medical resources inUkraine or they should have access to substantial lines of credit to cover thecost of medical evacuation. The fastest way to secure Western medical careremains medical evacuation to Western Europe. This is a very expensive option,and assistance may not arrive until several hours after the need for carearises.  

Country-specific Vaccination and HealthGuidance

The government has aservice to control fresh foods and meats, but it is difficult to confirm itseffectiveness. Wild berries, wild fowl and game, and mushrooms should beavoided if originating from areas surrounding Chernobyl, as these have beenfound to retain higher than average levels of radiation. Radiation backgroundlevels vary in different areas depending on natural/geological conditions,industrial development levels, and specific industries. In Ukraine, theallowable limit for the background radiation is 25 microrems per hour. Since1987, levels exceeding that figure have not been observed in Kyiv, and theaverage and constant numbers for Kyiv are 12-14 microrems/hour. Daily readingson the background radiation are posted on the Ministryof Emergencies website.

Tap water is notpotable. It is safe for bathing and cooking in large cities.

The CDC offersadditional information on vaccines and health guidance for Ukraine.

OSAC Country Council Information

The Kyiv CountryCouncil currently meets four times a year and has approximately 50 members.Please contact OSAC’s Europe team withany questions or to join.  

U.S. Embassy Location and Contact Information

Embassy Address andHours of Operation

U.S. Embassy Kyiv

4 Aircraft DesignerIgor Sikorsky Street, Kyiv, Ukraine 04112

Вул. Авіаконструктора Ігоря Сікорського, 4, Київ, Україна 04112

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri,0830-1730

Embassy Contact Numbers

Country Code: 380

Kyiv City Code: 44

Telephone: (38-044)521-5000

Dialing instructions:

From another country:+38-044-521-5000

From within Ukraine:044-521-5000

U.S. Consular Section:(38-044) 521-5460, fax (38-044) 521-5425

American CitizenServices: (38-044) 521-5566, fax (38-044) 521-5544

Regional SecurityOffice: (38-044) 521-5515

Embassy Kyiv Website: http://kyiv.usembassy.gov

Embassy Guidance

The Embassy stronglyrecommends that all Americans visiting or residing in Ukraine register with theU.S. Consulate in Kyiv. Registration will permit the Consulate to contactAmerican citizens quickly in the event of an in-country emergency. On-lineregistration is available at on the SmartTraveler Enrollment Program (STEP) website.

Additional Resources

UkraineCountry Information Sheet