Ukraine

Recommended Vaccinations For Ukraine

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

BCG vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk from coming in close contact with infected persons or for unvaccinated people, children under 16 years of age, who are going to live in the country for more than 3 months.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine

Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended if travelling in the province of Volyn or where contact with ticks might occur (camping, hiking, outdoor activities) during early spring to late autumn.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Recommended Medications For Ukraine

There are no recommendations for Ukraine at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Ukraine

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Ukraine through contaminated food or water. 

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Ukraine.

For Some Travellers

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

There is a risk of acquiring Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in this country through specific insect, bug or tick bites or by coming in close contact with a person or animal infected with this disease. Travellers involved in activities like hiking, camping, working with animals, and visiting farms and forested areas are at a higher risk. There are no vaccinations (or medications) to prevent Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever.

Measles

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to Ukraine are at significant risk for tuberculosis, including multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, if visiting friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis

There is a risk of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in some areas of this country. The main affected areas are in the province of Volyn. The transmission season varies, however, ticks are most active during early spring to late autumn.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in this country. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Ukraine

Personal Safety

Most travellers to Ukraine have no serious safety or security problems. However, foreigners can be targets for petty crime, such as pickpocketing or bag snatching, especially in bars, crowded shopping areas, tourist areas, on public transportation, etc. With respect to your personal safety, be cautious and always be aware of your surroundings. Exercise caution as you would when travelling in general. Keep valuables secured and out of sight. Safeguard your important documents, such as your passport. Avoid walking alone at night. Do not accept drinks or food from strangers and never leave your drinks out of your sight. Do not leave your documents or valuables in a vehicle.

Ethnic or racially-motivated violence and harassment can occur with little corrective action from local authorities, or can even be perpetrated by Ukrainian authorities, particularly toward those of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent or toward religious minorities. Cooperate with local police at all times.

Be cautious and aware of the possibility of scams. A common scam occurs in Ukraine in which a person drops a bundle of money or wallet in front of a tourist, then claims he has just found it, and offers to share the money. If the victim stops to pick up the money, the criminal will then loudly and aggressively accuse them of stealing and threaten to tell the police, etc. Travellers are strongly advised to walk away and avoid engaging in any conversation when a scam is suspected.

Due to credit card scams, keep your credit cards in sight at all times during transactions. Use only recommended official taxis and agree on the fare before entering the taxi. Always carry your passport. Local police may stop travellers on the street and detain them while verifying their travel status. The police officer should introduce themselves providing their name, post, rank, and reason for ID check. They should be able to present a document verifying their position.

Road travel can be unsafe. Drivers may not follow standard driving rules, such as ignoring traffic signs and traffic lights, drunk driving, aggressive driving, etc. Road lighting may be poor, and roads outside of urban areas may be in poor repair.

There is a zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of alcohol. However, many drivers ignore this law.

Drivers may not stop at pedestrian crosswalks.

Be sure to validate (punch at a machine) any bus, trolley or tram tickets. If you are travelling without a validated ticket, you can be fined on the spot.

Same-sex relations are legal in Ukraine, however, there is no law preventing discrimination. Public attitudes are generally not tolerant. Exercise caution and avoid public displays of affection.

Penalties for drug offenses are severe.

Do not photograph government, military or security installations.

A nationwide state of emergency is in place, and martial law has been imposed. Other local restrictions may be implemented with little warning. Check the measures in place in your location, as they may vary from region to region and follow the instructions of the local Ukrainian authorities. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections. Carry identification with you at all times.

Extreme Violence

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities.Terrorist attacks could occur at any time.
Russia has launched a series of intensified attacks against Ukraine’s civilian and government infrastructure; attacks are ongoing. Russian strikes in Ukraine pose a continued threat to civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Russian actions also pose a threat to Ukraine’s active nuclear power plants, with particular concern for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Political Unrest

There have been violent demonstrations and protests in Ukraine in the past. To minimize safety risk, avoid all areas of large public gatherings and demonstrations. These situations can quickly escalate and become violent.

There are frequent rallies at Maydan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), the National Bank of Ukraine, around the Verkhovna Rada (parliament building and other government buildings, and the National Bank of Ukraine. Road traffic can be disrupted since police may temporarily close roads. Rallies are common on anniversary dates of major events, especially from November to March.

Areas To Avoid

Do not travel to Ukraine due to the volatile security environment and military conflict. Avoid all travel to Crimea. Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014, and Russian forces continue to occupy the area.
Many countries do not recognize Russia’s control over Crimea, and therefore, the ability for countries to provide consular assistance to citizens is very limited.
Avoid travel to Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast. Due to ongoing armed conflict (including during ceasefires), the safety and security situation is unpredictable and volatile.
Separatists control some areas and have been known to threaten and/or detain foreign nationals.
Landmines make travel hazardous in the conflict zone of Donetsk and Luhansk. People have been killed or seriously injured.