Published: September 27, 2024
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Ukraine Travel Advisory and Ukraine Country Information Page.
Embassy Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Kyiv
4 A.I. Sikorsky St. (formerly Tankova), 04112 Kyiv, Ukraine.
Tel: +380 44 521 50 00.
Emergencies: +380 44 521 50 00. Hours: Mon-Fri, 0800-1700.
OSAC Country Chapter
Ukraine has an active OSAC Country Chapter.
Contact OSAC’s Europe team with any questions.
Ukraine Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication recommends U.S. citizens do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and active armed conflict.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kyiv as being a MEDIUM-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
Prior to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, criminals sometimes targeted tourists due to perceived wealth. A new professional and well-trained police force (Patrol Police) has been implemented, but police corruption remains an issue. Criminal activity, including burglaries, robberies, muggings, and pickpocketing can be a problem in Ukraine. Law enforcement and emergency officials rarely speak English, and interpreters are not readily available.
Kyiv does not have designated “high-crime areas.” Criminals operate freely in more affluent neighborhoods to target homes and commit common street crimes such as pickpocketing, scams, burglaries, and vehicle break-ins. Other large cities in Ukraine mirror Kyiv regarding crime. Muggings, attacks, armed robberies, harassment, or the drugging at nightspots of unsuspecting victims – who are then robbed and/or assaulted – have been reported. Cases of assaults in apartment building corridors, elevators, and stairwells, as well as armed break-ins and crimes involving firearms, have also been reported.
Many incidents of criminal activity occur on the public transportation system, including the metro. When riding on public transportation or moving in crowded areas, keep your purse, bag, or backpack tightly under your arm and/or in front of your body.
U.S. citizen victim of sexual assault should report crimes to the local police at 102 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +38 (044) 521-5000 after hours.
Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.
The Global Organized Crime Index noted that with a substantial stockpile of weapons, few barriers to accessing arms, and millions of small arms and light weapons on the legal and black market, Ukraine is believed to have one of the largest arms trafficking markets in Europe. While it has long been a key link in the global arms trade, Ukraine’s role intensified after the 2014 conflict in the eastern part of the country. Seizures carried out in previous years indicated that most of the arms that proliferated throughout the country were Soviet-designed models; only a small percentage comprised recently produced firearms and ammunition.
The current war is expected to have an adverse effect on this market, owing to the free circulation of arms among a population who took part in the response against the whole-scale Russian invasion, as well as increased additional supplies provided by European countries and the US. While evidence of the number of arms illegally circulating throughout the country is extremely limited, there are already signs that illegal guns are playing a greater role in crimes carried out both in Ukraine and in nearby regions in Russia.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Ukraine.
There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kyiv as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Ukraine.
Credible information indicates that terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Europe. European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations.
Russian forces have been targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, and hospitals, since the start of their February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those choosing to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution and consult the Department’s latest security alerts.
The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of the closest shelter or protected space. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If the current location is no longer safe, carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.
Many in the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kyiv as being a CRITICAL-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Ukraine, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes can occur frequently, local law enforcement has limited ability to respond adequately. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Ukraine is a republic with a semi-presidential political system composed of three branches of government: a unicameral legislature; an executive led by a directly elected president who is head of state and commander in chief; and a prime minister, who is chosen through a legislative majority and as head of government leads the Cabinet of Ministers; and a judiciary.
Protests & Demonstrations
Protests are largely nonexistent under martial law. Permits are required for protesting. When approved, they can interrupt logistics and services.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Ukraine continues to seek to strengthen its ties with the West, including the United States and the European Union, especially in the aftermath of Russia’s war in Ukraine. There are no significant instances of anti-U.S./anti-Western sentiment impacting the private sector.
Law Enforcement
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for maintaining internal security and order and oversees police and other law enforcement personnel. The Security Service of Ukraine is responsible for state security broadly defined, nonmilitary intelligence, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism matters. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports to the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Security Service reports directly to the president.
The State Border Guard Service, which falls under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, implements state policy regarding border security, while the State Migration Service, also under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, implements state policy regarding migration, citizenship, and registration of refugees and other migrants. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over security forces in the territory controlled by the government. There were reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Police Response
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies do not meet Western standards, and their ability to investigate criminal incidents adequately is limited. While there has been some significant progress (e.g., the Patrol Police in Kyiv), response time remains below Western standards and case resolution remains an ongoing problem. The police are often reluctant to take victim statements in cases of a minor criminal act, primarily to avoid poor crime statistics and additional work. Due to insufficient pay, law enforcement officers often lack the motivation to solve crimes.
The police emergency line in Kyiv and other major cities is 102. There may not be an English-speaking operator available.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Ukraine, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Ukraine.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption, but authorities do not always effectively implement the law, and many officials engage in corrupt practices with impunity. With Russia’s war in Ukraine, the nation’s priorities shifted to the war and martial law stifled transparency. In March 2022, the parliament suspended the requirement of asset disclosures for public officials during the period of martial law, to prevent Russia financially targeting Ukrainian leaders. The suspension undermined the system of monitoring and control over incomes, expenditures, and assets of public officials.
Anticorruption institutions have reported a hampered capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption cases due to budget cuts and a decrease in staff as personnel voluntarily mobilized to the frontlines. The Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office reported six of its 12 lead prosecutors willingly mobilized at the onset of the war but did not have a mechanism to return. Civil society also has recognized that the public appetite for criticizing corruption has diminished as the country rallies together to support the cause of Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
While the number of reports of government corruption was low according to the National Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), observers note that corruption remains common at all levels in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Corruption continues to be a significant influence on justice, the work of law enforcement institutions, the management of state property and state companies, and state regulation.
Antireform elites and oligarchs continue to pressure anticorruption bodies by using misinformation campaigns and political maneuvering to undermine public trust. Human rights groups have called for increased transparency and discussion regarding proposed changes to these bodies, particularly respecting procedures for appointments to leadership positions.
Law enforcement agencies often fail to appropriately investigate cases of attacks against journalists, human rights defenders, and activists, particularly those who focused on exposing corruption
Cybersecurity
Since Russia’s war in Ukraine, Ukrainian resources and infrastructure are frequently victims of cyberattacks by state and non-state actors. In December 2023, there was a high impact cyberattack on Ukrainian networks. Ukraine’s largest mobile network operator, Kyivstar, suffered a cyberattack 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.
Even before the most recent Russian invasion, Ukrainian government officials, private-sector experts, and journalists reported that Ukraine experienced several hundred to several thousand cyberattacks against government ministries and information portals each month. These included run-of-the-mill denial-of-service attacks, which prevent users from connecting to a site or server for a limited period, to attacks that affect critical infrastructure, and attacks that deface publicly accessible information and service portals—often with a political message.
There is a risk that cyberattacks could disrupt mobile, internet and banking services.
Exercise security precautions like using VPNs and robust antivirus software.
Import/Export Restrictions
There are no restrictions on satellite phones in Ukraine.
If traveling with prescription medication, check with the State Register of Medicines (Ukrainian language only) to ensure the medication is legal to bring into the country, as many medications that are legal in the United States are prohibited in Ukraine. Always carry prescription medication in original packaging with the doctor’s prescription.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
