Kyiv

[Uke Boy]

I am supposed to come to Ukraine for 10 days in August as part of a European holiday from Canada. I have 1 week to cancel for a full refund and not sure what to do? So much mis-information and speculation. I have been excited for years to come to Ukraine and now not sure if I should still take a chance and come or wait till next summer instead. If anyone is in Kiev, what is it like? Are there major restrictions in place? Are people out and about enjoying life? Are nightclubs, bars, restaurants all open as normal? Thanks and hope everyone is staying healthy.

Unfortunately, with the easing of restrictions in Ukraine generally, and Kiev, specifically, cases of the virus are rapidly rising. I live here now and I know firsthand what is happening. This is the latest from the Minister of Health: https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/42...vatat-stepanov In his words, the worst is perhaps yet to come unless some controls are put into place within the next two weeks since there may no longer be any additional hospital beds for Covid-19 patients. Another epidemiologist states today that the situation nationwide may soon get out of control https://www.obozrevatel.com/society/skoro-situatsiya-s-covid-19-v-ukraine-stanet-nekontroliruemoj-epidemiolog.htm

Ukraine itself is now in the so-called Red Zone countries and no Ukrainians are allowed to enter the EU. The first holiday charter flight left Kiev yesterday but for Tirana Albania.

In the buses, marshrutkas and trolleys, masks are required and almost always used with some some rare exceptions, as I noted today, mostly young people who refuse to wear masks, along with 98% of those who walk the streets. Masks are used in stores and markets. Restaurants in Kiev have opened inside with restrictions but those restrictions are often ignored, especially in the upscale places owned by the elite, especially the Rada parliamentarians from the ruling party. The mayor is threatening to impose restrictions once again but he is under the usual pressures from businesses and oligarchs to keep things open until the worst happens. Like in Texas and Florida. Generally, it is not looking good with Kiev achieving new record cases of the virus daily now. By the way, nightclubs and other entertainment venues are supposed to be closed or under tight control but inspection raids do occur with heavy fines for violations to the owners.

If you do come make sure you do have the needed medical insurance policy since you may well need it, along with a possible 2 week self quarantine. I can't forecast what will happen in August but a 2 week quarantine for a 10 day trip is a bummer. It really is now a day-to-day evaluation of current circumstances but things do not point to anything getting better soon.

[Seattle66]

I'm hoping to go in August or September for two weeks. I have a girl in Lviv I'm going to see. She's a sweetheart. I also have an interpreter there from my last trip that I stay in contact with. I don't have my reservations yet and have been monitoring things for awhile. I do know there is no self isolation if you test negative. But I heard you need to buy a health insurance policy that is recognized in Ukraine. My interpreter told me this morning that things should be good in August. But if you are not sure, can you buy travel insurance just in case you need to cancel? Your trip did not include travel insurance? I am surprised you need to make a decision in the next week. But if you are not comfortable, cancel now and wait, then if things improve, make the plans again. Or wait until next summer.

BTW, Kiev can be really hot in summer. I was there last May and it was very hot! Stay safe!

I am supposed to come to Ukraine for 10 days in August as part of a European holiday from Canada. I have 1 week to cancel for a full refund and not sure what to do? So much mis-information and speculation. I have been excited for years to come to Ukraine and now not sure if I should still take a chance and come or wait till next summer instead. If anyone is in Kiev, what is it like? Are there major restrictions in place? Are people out and about enjoying life? Are nightclubs, bars, restaurants all open as normal? Thanks and hope everyone is staying healthy.

[DramaFree11]

I am supposed to come to Ukraine for 10 days in August as part of a European holiday from Canada. I have 1 week to cancel for a full refund and not sure what to do? So much mis-information and speculation. I have been excited for years to come to Ukraine and now not sure if I should still take a chance and come or wait till next summer instead. If anyone is in Kiev, what is it like? Are there major restrictions in place? Are people out and about enjoying life? Are nightclubs, bars, restaurants all open as normal? Thanks and hope everyone is staying healthy.

You better think twice, what happens if you get quarantined, you are totally screwed. They can make your life miserable, the time and money that will be lost. Just not worth the risk. Guys are making it sound easy, but it is just not the case, show up in another country with a fever or cold, you are screwed. It just takes one medical staff, to say you have the Virus, then you have no control moving forward.

[BCTravel]

I am supposed to come to Ukraine for 10 days in August as part of a European holiday from Canada. I have 1 week to cancel for a full refund and not sure what to do? So much mis-information and speculation. I have been excited for years to come to Ukraine and now not sure if I should still take a chance and come or wait till next summer instead. If anyone is in Kiev, what is it like? Are there major restrictions in place? Are people out and about enjoying life? Are nightclubs, bars, restaurants all open as normal? Thanks and hope everyone is staying healthy.

[Hestendk]

Maybe frisked is too strong of a word. Do not recall if they actually went through my pockets or not. Definitely no cavity search.

I wasn't nervous. They threatened a few times: "If we find money in excess, it will be confiscated" I didn't react. I calmly asked why do they stop me so frequently? What is the stereotype that I match?

- If we tell you, we would need to hire you. You don't want to work for us, do you?

- On the contrary. I dream about it!

On a more serious note, what is the limit of currency that can be brought in legally? $10 K or Euro, or total of all currencies. I also heard about $15 K.

I never nervous around the police here, most are nice and the assholes fast fall down when you tell them not to be assholes.

Legally you could bring an suitcase with 10.000. 000 EUR if you wanted, as long as you can prove its your money and you went to customs with it to declear it.

I one time took 30 K EUR and decleared it and all was fine, took 15 minutes I had documents and also fast showed them why onlinebank on the phone that the money infact was taken from there and then all good.

Legally you can take 10.000 EUR without declaring them.

[PhotoSlider]

A late non-report and more of a question to experienced Kiev mongers.

I was in Kiev last year and contacted Alexa https://escortkiev.info about two days before the intended meeting. All contact was via whatsapp and she communicated well in English. A meeting and costs were all agreed and there was no more contact until about 2 hours before the agreed meeting time when she hit me with a message asking for a photograph of me. I thought no way that could be used for blackmail. I said I didn't have a photo and she asked for a video call. Again, I refused as I thought I could be creating potential blackmail material. She cancelled our meeting. I suggested that if she wanted this kind of information she should specify it on her website, and she has since added in the "rules" section of her website that she wants to see ID. Again, that is not something I would agree to.

So I guess my question is, has anyone met this girl and is she legit?

Not that I'll be contacting her if I go back to Kiev!

Alexa does have that requirement on her site under rules. At least now she does.

Doesn't matter. She seems too professional and older than 24. You didn't lose much.

I wouldn't give my real credentials or ID to anybody.

[PhotoSlider]

Thats funny.

Never been frisked.

The same happened with me I forgot about nearly 4 K usd In my own currency.

Maybe frisked is too strong of a word. Do not recall if they actually went through my pockets or not. Definitely no cavity search.

I wasn't nervous. They threatened a few times: "If we find money in excess, it will be confiscated" I didn't react. I calmly asked why do they stop me so frequently? What is the stereotype that I match?

- If we tell you, we would need to hire you. You don't want to work for us, do you?

- On the contrary. I dream about it!

On a more serious note, what is the limit of currency that can be brought in legally? $10 K or Euro, or total of all currencies. I also heard about $15 K.

[Sammyt]

A late non-report and more of a question to experienced Kiev mongers.

I was in Kiev last year and contacted Alexa https://escortkiev.info about two days before the intended meeting. All contact was via whatsapp and she communicated well in English. A meeting and costs were all agreed and there was no more contact until about 2 hours before the agreed meeting time when she hit me with a message asking for a photograph of me. I thought no way that could be used for blackmail. I said I didn't have a photo and she asked for a video call. Again, I refused as I thought I could be creating potential blackmail material. She cancelled our meeting. I suggested that if she wanted this kind of information she should specify it on her website, and she has since added in the "rules" section of her website that she wants to see ID. Again, that is not something I would agree to.

So I guess my question is, has anyone met this girl and is she legit?

Not that I'll be contacting her if I go back to Kiev!

[Kozerog]

New rules. Even if coming from red zone country, you can avoid isolation if you get a PCR test in Ukraine after you arrive and it shows negative results.

https://www.unian.info/m/society/cor...-11051657.html

[Hestendk]

One may see the answer by Mister Lysyuk as direct and straightforward. I see that he leaves some room for maneuver and interpretation in the future.

Agree with your intention to have it printed. Playing safe will not hurt.

I was frisked on 3 different trips, customs officers tried to find on me money in excess of $10 K. Later on I found a thousand dollars, ten crisp Benjamins stashed in one of my books, that I totally forgot about after the previous trip. Customs didn't find it.

Thats funny.

Never been frisked.

The same happend with me I forgot about nearly 4 K usd In my own currency.

Had been on the casino in my own country 2 days before, left them in my notebook bag to leave them at home.

In airport they ask and wanted to see in the room what I had and then they searched the bag but not me.

Had maybe 6 K USD but they was still very confused that I could forget that I had 4 K laying in my laptop case.

[PhotoSlider]

There is no debate over if you need to have it printed.

According to the law its okay to have it in electronic way.

18 June there even was QA with the head of the Department of Border Control of the State Border Guard Service Administration Yuriy Lysyuk.

One Question was.

Question №2: What should the insurance look like when crossing the border? Should it be printed or electronically?

Answer: This issue is not within the competence of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and at the moment it is not defined what kind of insurance foreigners should have. Currently, the Border Guard Service of Ukraine together with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine is developing a draft document in which this information would be spelled out. In practice, Ukrainian border guards allow foreigners with both printed and electronic insurances.

So your allowed to have it electronicly.

One may see the answer by Mister Lysyuk as direct and straightforward. I see that he leaves some room for maneuver and interpretation in the future.

Agree with your intention to have it printed. Playing safe will not hurt.

I was frisked on 3 different trips, customs officers tried to find on me money in excess of $10 K. Later on I found a thousand dollars, ten crisp Benjamins stashed in one of my books, that I totally forgot about after the previous trip. Customs didn't find it.

[PhotoSlider]

18 y. o. will be 20 y. o. and 20 y.o. will be 22 y. o.

And those 16 years old that are of no interest to us today will become newly fresh 18 years old. Ukraine never stops to surprise and impress.

[YummyPL]

which resembles Latin "TABLNUR" (tables, ISG does not allow Cyrillic).

The way you do Cyrillic here is you do you post then immediately edit it to add the the Cyrillic. When you do that the auto censor will not mess it up. В совершенстве!

[Kozerog]

Official Ukrainian Ministry of Health page regarding covid-19 here: https://moz.gov.ua/koronavirus-2019-ncov. Scroll down to a link to Cyrillic text which resembles Latin "TABLNUR" (tables, ISG does not allow Cyrillic). This will download a PDF of latest red/green zones countries. As of 22 June, Spain, UK and Sweden are currently green and at the bottom, because they do not report active cases per 100K. (Because they do not track recoveries of mild or asymptomatic cases, since such cases never return to the doctor or otherwise report when they are recovered.) In the 14 June report, those countries were red. Notice that Italy also has moved from red to green.

[Sorbonne]

So Ukraine opened up the border to foreigners on June 15. But the quarantine will continue until July 31 at least and then beyond.

I had thought that as a non-resident I needed to leave Ukraine within 30 days after the border opened, but it turned out that I was supposed to leave within 30 days after the quarantine ended. So the earliest I have to leave Ukraine is the end of August.

That is 6 full months after I came into Ukraine in March, and I'm grateful for that.

But as the infection keeps spreading in Ukraine without any slowdown in sight, I might leave Ukraine sooner and live in a country where I will not have to be concerned about the virus so much. But then the question would be when is the next time I feel safe to come back to Ukraine? That would be only after vaccine is widely distributed, and the pandemic is over, which can be at least two years away.

18 y. o. will be 20 y. o. and 20 y.o. will be 22 y. o.

If I stay here till the end of August, I guess I could come back in December 2020. But I can't imagine what would be happening in Ukraine in December.