Entering Ukraine during the war: safety rules, insurance and useful information for foreigners

The imposed martial law on the territory of Ukraine does not prohibit the entry of foreigners, but it does impose some other restrictions. Find out what you need for a safe trip and what nuances you should consider when planning a trip to Ukraine during the war

Take care of insurance for safe entry into Ukraine

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Despite the fact that a full-scale war has been going on in Ukraine for more than three years, the country is open to tourists and foreign guests. Air travel to Ukraine is currently unavailable, but anyone wishing to visit can enter by land. At the same time, travelling to Ukraine involves certain risks and restrictions that must be taken into account when planning a personal trip or business visit.

If you are planning to enter Ukraine for the purpose of employment, study or even obtaining citizenship, we recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified lawyer in advance. Visit Ukraine specialists can help you with:

– obtaining a residence permit or work permit;

– obtaining Ukrainian citizenship or the status of a foreign Ukrainian;

– preparing to cross the border and explaining immigration rules;

– in case of problems with documents or if representation in court is necessary.

Insurance for entry into Ukraine

First of all, when planning a trip to Ukraine, foreigners should take care of appropriate insurance. This is important because many foreign insurance policies automatically become invalid after crossing the Ukrainian border. This is due to the fact that insurance companies do not cover risks associated with war in the territory of any country where military operations or armed conflicts are ongoing.

In addition, according to Ukrainian law, foreigners and stateless persons may cross the state border to enter Ukraine provided they have an insurance policy (certificate, certificate) for the entire period of their stay in Ukraine, issued by an insurance company registered in Ukraine, or a foreign insurance company that has a representative office or contractual relations with an insurance company – partner in Ukraine (assistance).

You can choose one of the insurance policies offered – standard or with coverage of military risks. Standard medical insurance covers expenses resulting from illness or accident, while insurance with war risk coverage includes medical coverage and additionally covers accidents that may occur as a result of active combat operations, passive war risks or terrorist acts.

Important! In accordance with Part 53 of Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Insurance’, insurance covering military risks is mandatory for foreign journalists, reporters, correspondents, opinion leaders, and media representatives.

Medical assistance may be needed by anyone at any time, but in a foreign country, the complexity of the procedure increases significantly! Ensure quality outpatient treatment and save money – purchase a medical insurance policy on the Visit Ukraine portal.

We also offer protection against active and passive war risks – a medical insurance policy covering war risks will help protect your life and health from falling missiles and debris!

Entry into Ukraine: border crossing details and what to expect

As of 8 July 2025, please note that air travel to Ukraine remains completely blocked for civilian flights due to the closure of the airspace under martial law. This means that the state border of Ukraine can only be crossed by land transport.

This applies to all categories of travellers arriving in Ukraine. It is possible to enter via European Union countries bordering Ukraine, such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.

Types of ground transportation

Buses: This is the most common and affordable form of transportation. Regular services operate from most major European cities.

Trains: Ukrzaliznytsia operates regular train services to Poland (Przemyśl, Chełm, Warsaw), the Czech Republic (Prague), Hungary (Budapest), Slovakia (Košice) and Moldova (Chisinau). This is often a more comfortable option, but not always faster due to border procedures.

A list of international trains to Ukraine can be found on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Private cars: Allow flexibility in your route and choice of border crossing point. However, you may encounter long queues at the border.

Crossing on foot: Some border crossing points allow crossing on foot (e.g. Shehyni-Medyka on the Ukrainian-Polish border), but this can be physically demanding and is not always available.

Border crossing points

The busiest border crossing points are those on the border with Poland (Yagodyn, Krakivets, Shehyni, Uhryniv). There are usually shorter queues at the borders with other EU countries.

All details about the functioning of border crossing points between Ukraine and Poland can be found at the link.

Queues: Land border crossing points can be very busy, especially on public holidays, weekends and during peak return periods. Waiting times can range from several hours to a day or more. It is recommended to use the online services of the State Border Guard Service or Telegram channels that provide information about queues at the borders.

Follow the link to find out how to check queues at the Ukrainian border before travelling.

Checkpoint operation: Most checkpoints operate around the clock, but checkpoints on the border with Belarus and Russia are not accessible. Crossing restrictions are also possible due to repair work at the border. Always check the latest information on the State Border Service website.

Border and customs control

Passport control: All persons undergo passport control at the border. Border guards check documents, the purpose of the trip, the availability of sufficient funds and medical insurance. Questions may be asked about the route, length of stay and personal circumstances.

Customs control: Luggage and personal belongings are inspected. It is important to know the rules for importing/exporting currency, goods, medicines, cultural property, etc. There are restrictions on the quantity of certain goods (e.g. alcohol, tobacco). Weapons, drugs and other prohibited items are not allowed.

A detailed list of items that cannot be brought into Ukraine can be found at the link.

Checkpoint times: The duration of checks may depend on the busyness of the checkpoint, the number of staff and individual circumstances. Be prepared for the process to take a considerable amount of time.

Behaviour: Remain calm, answer questions clearly and provide all necessary documents upon request by border guards or customs officers.

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How to ensure your safety in Ukraine?

Which regions are safe under martial law?

There are currently no completely safe regions in Ukraine. When determining relatively safe regions, we refer to Order No. 376 of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development dated 28 February 2025, ‘On the Approval of the List of Territories Where Combat Operations Are Being (Have Been) Conducted or Temporarily Occupied by the Russian Federation.’

Therefore, the following regions are unsafe to visit: Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Odesa, and Mykolaiv (marked in purple on the map).

Relative safety for foreigners and Ukrainians is guaranteed in Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions (marked in green on the map).

Kyiv is not considered a dangerous region, but the capital is constantly under rocket attack, so caution is advised (marked in yellow on the map).

What to do during an air raid alert?

Despite the fact that combat operations are concentrated in the eastern and southern regions, there are currently no completely safe cities in Ukraine due to the threat of missile strikes from Russia. Therefore, while in Ukraine, you should pay close attention to danger announcements and, in the event of an air raid siren (a continuous siren sound from loudspeakers in the streets), immediately proceed to the nearest shelter.

For more information on rules of conduct during an air raid and in shelters, please read here.

Important! For your own safety, we recommend installing the special app ‘Air Raid’ (from the App Store or Google Play), which provides additional alerts about threats in your selected region or city.

Under no circumstances should you ignore threat alerts or leave your shelter until the air raid siren has sounded!

Rules of conduct at checkpoints and on the streets

In cities and on public roads between regions of Ukraine, there are checkpoints where documents and vehicles may be inspected. When approaching a checkpoint, drivers should slow down and prepare their documents for possible inspection.

If your car has a video recorder, make sure it is turned off and removed from the windscreen (as it is prohibited to take photos or videos of military personnel, equipment and protective structures during martial law).

Before the checkpoint, you must stop, turn off your headlights and turn on your hazard lights. After the military signal, the driver must slowly drive up to them and lower the side window. The military may check your documents, belongings (luggage/cargo) and vehicle. You can only leave the checkpoint after receiving a signal/permission from the inspector.

Please note! When travelling through the streets, whether on foot or by car, it is prohibited to take photos or videos of military personnel, military equipment or other military structures!

Curfew in Ukraine

When planning a trip to Ukraine, please note that a curfew is in effect in the country during which citizens are prohibited from being on the streets and in public places (except in cases where an air raid alert has been declared in the region — in the event of a threat signal, you must take your identity documents and proceed to the nearest shelter).

The curfew is in effect at night.

For detailed information about the curfew in Ukraine, please follow the link.

Reminder! Military risks in Ukraine can lead to road accidents and injuries. Your car may also be damaged by shelling or falling debris. To avoid financial losses and protect your vehicle from damage, we recommend purchasing Mini Hull Insuranse before entering Ukraine.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

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