Welcome to Ukraine!  In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season in Uman, we ask that you take the following precautions:

Defer all travel to the Crimean Peninsula and the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and exercise extreme caution if planning to travel to the regions of Odessa, Kharkhiv, Zaporizhia and Kherson.  Russia-backed separatists continue to control areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, establishing illegal checkpoints and threatening, detaining, and kidnapping individuals, including U.S. citizens, for hours or days.  Violent clashes between the Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces have resulted in thousands of injuries and deaths, with civilian deaths being reported even after the signing of a ceasefire on September 4. 

Exercise situational awareness and maintain a low profile to help prevent becoming a victim of crime.  According to the Ukrainian Government, criminal activity throughout Ukraine is increasing.  Non-violent crimes, such as pick-pocketing, cell phone theft, and purse snatching remain prevalent and constitute a majority of the reported non-violent crimes.  U.S. citizens are targeted for criminal activity when such opportunities present themselves and criminals have not hesitated to use violence if victims resist.  The embassy routinely receives reports of ATM and Credit Card fraud throughout Ukraine.  The embassy recommends against using any ATMs, but if necessary use ATMs situated inside banks.  ATMs on the streets and in bars/clubs often have malicious code installed to steal your information.  With regards to credit cards, the embassy recommends that exercising extreme caution when using credit cards.  Try to use cash wherever possible to avoid credit card and ATM card compromise.

Know where your passport is at all times.  If your passport is lost or stolen, you will need to come to the embassy in Kyiv to apply for a replacement, which will cost $135.  As soon as you become aware of the fact your passport has been lost or stolen, please contact the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit at +38(044)521-5566 to report the incident and discuss next steps for obtaining a new passport.

Enroll in the Department of State’s STEP program.  U.S. citizens living or traveling in Ukraine are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.step.state.gov to receive the latest travel updates and to obtain updated information on security within Ukraine.  By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to eastern Ukraine due to ongoing violent clashes between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. In addition, Russian military forces continue to occupy the Crimean Peninsula and are present on the eastern border of Ukraine. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Ukraine dated June 5 to provide updated information on the security situation in southern and eastern Ukraine.

2. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer all travel to the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia-backed separatists continue to control areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. These groups have established illegal checkpoints and have threatened, detained, or kidnapped individuals, including U.S. citizens, for hours or days. The Ukrainian armed forces have launched an operation to reclaim these areas. Violent clashes between the Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces have escalated over the past month and have resulted in hundreds of injuries and deaths. Some of these clashes have included the use of armored vehicles, aircraft, and other military weapons including surface to air missiles, the use of which was responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on July 17. Widespread disorder and looting has been confirmed in areas controlled by Russia-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. These Russian-supported groups have taken on a more strident anti-American tone, especially in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. U.S. citizens who choose to remain in conflict areas should maintain a low profile and avoid large crowds and gatherings.

3. The Department of State also warns U.S. citizens to defer all travel to the Crimean Peninsula, and to exercise caution in the regions of Odesa, Kharkhiv, Zaporizhia and Kherson. Russian forces have occupied the Crimean Peninsula in support of the Russian Federation’s attempted annexation of Crimea and these forces are likely to continue to take further actions in the Crimean Peninsula consistent with Russia’s continuing occupation of this part of Ukraine. The international community, including the United States and Ukraine, does not recognize this purported annexation. The Russian Federation maintains an extensive military presence in Crimea and along the border of eastern Ukraine. In addition, there are continuing reports of abuses against the local population by de facto authorities in Crimea, particularly against those who are seen as challenging the current status quo on the peninsula

4. The situation in Ukraine is unpredictable and could change quickly. U.S. citizens throughout Ukraine should avoid large crowds and be prepared to remain indoors and shelter in place for extended periods of time should clashes occur in their vicinity

5. Peace Corps Volunteers departed Ukraine on February 25, and remain out of the country at this time. U.S. Embassy Kyiv’s Consular Section is open for all public services; however, in light of the ongoing unrest, the Embassy has severely restricted the travel of U.S. Government personnel to areas in eastern Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula, and occasionally limits travel to other adjacent regions. As a result, the Embassy’s ability to respond to emergencies involving U.S. citizens in eastern Ukraine and Ukraine’s Crimean region is extremely limited.

6. Ground transportation may be disrupted throughout the country. Drivers may encounter roadblocks that restrict access on certain roads. Following the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to prohibit all U.S. flight operations within Dnipropetrovsk Flight Information Regions. This expanded the FAA’s previous NOTAM restricting U.S. flight operations within the Simferopol Flight Information Region, which remains in place.

7. U.S. citizens living or traveling in Ukraine are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive the latest travel updates and to obtain updated information on security within Ukraine. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

8. For inquiries regarding U.S. citizens in Ukraine related to the current unrest, please call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444, or email the Department of State at [email protected]. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). For emergency assistance for U.S. citizens in Ukraine, you may contact the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv at +380-44-521-5566 during regular business hours, or after-hours at +380-44-521-5000. The U.S. Embassy is located at 4 A.I. Sikorsky St. (formerly Tankova) in Kyiv.

9. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings, and Country Specific Information can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

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