Kyiv

[Seattle66]

My girlfriend told me about an ESim card from Lifecell. I have an iPhone 11 and I will be reading up on it. Apparently you can order it online and add it to your phone rather easily. I watched a video from T-Mobile to see how it is set up. But I don't know if it can be activated here in the US, but it looks promising. https://m.lifecell.ua/en/sim-and-number/eSIM/.

If anyone has success using this, let me know.

Yes it was activated when I bought it at the kiosk at KBP and worked perfectly fine when I was in Kyiv. I just cannot figure out a way to activate now. It seems the sim card cannot connect to the local service providers, even though on their website they state that roaming is available in my country. I remember I once used it to receive SMS from Ukraine, but it just doesn't work now.

[Kozerog]

I'm physically present in Ukraine and using Vodafone network for internet access and can't download Vodafone app. Even switched my phone to Ukrainian language temporarily and still doesn't work.

On the website, initially BankOfAmerica declined the top up transaction, then I talked with bank fraud detection to get past that obstacle, then Vodafone website says USA credit cards, including through GooglePay, not accepted. I'm happy with Vodafone, but they evidently have problems.

[Sorbonne]

If using Vodafone Ukraine, they have an online payment service which accepts credit cards and GooglePay:

https://pay.vodafone.ua/en/top-up

I haven't yet tested, but I plan to, since I also use Vodafone.

Hmmm, I tried to test it, but it is not working with me.

It does not let me choose the payment method.

Also I tried to download the app at Google Play, but it says This item isn't available in your countiry (Ukraine). Changed the country with my VPN but it still says the same thing.

[Kozerog]

In order to do so, I can always deposit enough money for the next 3 or 4 months before I leave Ukraine. Currently, I pay 170 UAH per month to Vodafone Ukraine.

If using Vodafone Ukraine, they have an online payment service which accepts credit cards and GooglePay:

https://pay.vodafone.ua/en/top-up

I haven't yet tested, but I plan to, since I also use Vodafone.

[Sorbonne]

Glad to see there are people who have the gut to visit Ukraine in the midst of the pandemic. Hopefully I will be there very soon.

I have a stupid question. How can I activate a Ukrainian sim card while I am in a foreign country? For some reason I need to use my Ukrainian number to call someone. I found an old KyivStar sim card which I probably bought years ago when I was in Kyiv and haven't used it ever since. Now it has sufficient fund on the account since I managed to top it up with my visa debit card. However the sim card still doesn't work on my phone (no signal, no internet, not able to make / receive phone calls and SMS). I couldn't find any helpful instructions on their website either. Does anyone here know how to activate a KyivStar sim card in my situation?

Thanks in advance. Stay safe.

I don't have an answer to your question but have an additional related question.

Seeing from what Kozerog said, it sounds useful to have a Ukrainian number active when you arrive at the airport in order to download and activate the Дій Вдома (Dij Bdoma) app using the phone number.

So if I leave Ukraine and come back, I would like to have an active number before I can get to those ATM terminals for depositing money to phone networks at the airport arrival area.

In order to do so, I can always deposit enough money for the next 3 or 4 months before I leave Ukraine. Currently, I pay 170 UAH per month to Vodafone Ukraine.

But even though I don't do that, and the money runs out while I'm away, is it not true that I can still receive phone calls and SMS? (I wouldn't be able to make calls or send SMS if money runs out of course.) So as long as my phone number is active, I can receive SMS to activate the app?

I think phone numbers remain active for up to a year even after money runs out. So if you deposit money within a year, you can start using the phone number as usual.

[AntonySun1996]

Was your Kyivstar SIM card for this number ever active?

Mine is also a Kyivstar, and I had it for the last 3-4 years. It is active by some act of God, but account balance is zero. Prior to arrival to KBP I ask my trusted driver / events manager to deposit funds into Kyivstar account a day or two in advance. He can do it from his phone even while driving.

When I leave Kiev, account balance runs out, but somehow my Kyivstar number gets never revoked. I keep using it for Viber, WhatsApp etc.

If I turn off the flight mode while staying in US, that Kyivstar SIM connects to AT&T cell tower, and sends me SMS, congratulating that I am roaming, while providing the contact number of Ukrainian Embassy for my convenience, and other information on plans to milk me.

I doubt there is a way to activate your SIM card outside of Kyivstar cellular network, but maybe technical progress and corporate greed overcame those hurdles.

Yes it was activated when I bought it at the kiosk at KBP and worked perfectly fine when I was in Kyiv. I just cannot figure out a way to activate now. It seems the sim card cannot connect to the local service providers, even though on their website they state that roaming is available in my country. I remember I once used it to receive SMS from Ukraine, but it just doesn't work now.

[PhotoSlider]

Glad to see there are people who have the gut to visit Ukraine in the midst of the pandemic. Hopefully I will be there very soon.

I have a stupid question. How can I activate a Ukrainian sim card while I am in a foreign country? For some reason I need to use my Ukrainian number to call someone. I found an old KyivStar sim card which I probably bought years ago when I was in Kyiv and haven't used it ever since. Now it has sufficient fund on the account since I managed to top it up with my visa debit card. However the sim card still doesn't work on my phone (no signal, no internet, not able to make / receive phone calls and SMS). I couldn't find any helpful instructions on their website either. Does anyone here know how to activate a KyivStar sim card in my situation?

Thanks in advance. Stay safe.

Was your Kyivstar SIM card for this number ever active?

Mine is also a Kyivstar, and I had it for the last 3-4 years. It is active by some act of God, but account balance is zero. Prior to arrival to KBP I ask my trusted driver / events manager to deposit funds into Kyivstar account a day or two in advance. He can do it from his phone even while driving.

When I leave Kiev, account balance runs out, but somehow my Kyivstar number gets never revoked. I keep using it for Viber, WhatsApp etc.

If I turn off the flight mode while staying in US, that Kyivstar SIM connects to AT&T cell tower, and sends me SMS, congratulating that I am roaming, while providing the contact number of Ukrainian Embassy for my convenience, and other information on plans to milk me.

I doubt there is a way to activate your SIM card outside of Kyivstar cellular network, but maybe technical progress and corporate greed overcame those hurdles.

[AntonySun1996]

Glad to see there are people who have the gut to visit Ukraine in the midst of the pandemic. Hopefully I will be there very soon.

I have a stupid question. How can I activate a Ukrainian sim card while I am in a foreign country? For some reason I need to use my Ukrainian number to call someone. I found an old KyivStar sim card which I probably bought years ago when I was in Kyiv and haven't used it ever since. Now it has sufficient fund on the account since I managed to top it up with my visa debit card. However the sim card still doesn't work on my phone (no signal, no internet, not able to make / receive phone calls and SMS). I couldn't find any helpful instructions on their website either. Does anyone here know how to activate a KyivStar sim card in my situation?

Thanks in advance. Stay safe.

[Sisyfos]

Hi,

I am sorry for spamming a bit but I am wondering, are there any famous street in Kiev? With a lots of girls and you know, having fun? Thanks.

[Sisyfos]

Testing now available at the airport: https://testcovid19.com.ua.

Thanks for this link, I am heading to Ukraine too in few weeks and I think I will need it too. I will send a report after I try some Kiev chickass ummmm, I pretty look forward. It is always nice to handle business trip with some girls.

[Kozerog]

Just in case that website I just gave is a scam, call CSD labs using the number or email address on their official site: https://www.csdlab.ua/.

[Kozerog]

Testing now available at the airport: https://testcovid19.com.ua.

[DramaFree11]

I arrived at Boryspil from Barcelona Friday evening, about 21:00. Because Spain is on the red list, everyone was required to install and activate Дій Вдома (Dij Bdoma) app prior to passport control. You can download this app anytime and anywhere (from Google or Apple store). App is Ukrainian language only. If you have 2 phones, use Google Translate camera mode on one phone to translate what is displayed on other phone.

To activate app, you need to receive SMS sent to Ukrainian (+380) mobile phone number. However, you cannot buy local SIMs until after passport control, so if you don't have a Ukrainian SIM already, then you have 2 options:

1) Use a friend's or AirBnb host's number. That number will be linked to your case, so friend / host will receive police calls in case you violate self-isolation. They can then tell police your true phone number (SIM you buy after passport control). I haven't violated self-isolation yet, so not sure about such police calls.

2) Get friend or AirBnb host to buy local SIM for you in advance and then install that SIM in their phone temporarily, between time you arrive and time you get through passport control.

You can communicate with friend / host by email or Viber or similar, using Boryspil free wifi for internet access. Friend / host will receive SMS containing activation code, which they send to you, so you can enter into app.

Note that self-isolation app communicates to its remote server by internet, and never checks that current mobile number of phone is same as number used to receive activation SMS. Phone I'm currently using for app doesn't have any SIM in it. Phone number associated with my case is that if my landlady..

Great story, I am totally impressed, you have major street cred. Now. This blows away my fake documents driving into Mexico. Great job, and I am genuinely happy for you.

[YummyPL]

I sent an email to Dila this morning, asking them to forward my negative test results to the government. A few hours later, self-isolation app notified me that my self-isolation was finished.

Thank you, Kozerog! Great detailed and very informative post. I truly appreciate your contributions toward making our experience a success. I hope you all the best.

I should be arriving 3 weeks from today!

[Kozerog]

I sent an email to Dila this morning, asking them to forward my negative test results to the government. A few hours later, self-isolation app notified me that my self-isolation was finished. If arriving on a weekday instead of Friday evening, probably could get everything finished in 2 days rather 5.

As I wrote before, everything changing rapidly. By next week, they may have testing available at the airport.