Volunteer tourism: how foreigners can help Ukraine while traveling

Volunteer tourism is a unique travel format that combines exploring the country with active assistance to local communities. In times of war, Ukraine especially needs support, and every foreigner who comes as a tourist can significantly contribute to the country's recovery. Find out more about volunteer tourism and popular donation tours from Visit Ukraine

Insurance covering military risks for safe entry and stay in Ukraine

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Ukraine now needs support more than ever, not only material but also moral. The war affects every Ukrainian, exhausting them both physically and psychologically. If you want to make a personal contribution to helping the country, join our charity project and come to Ukraine by taking part in a donation tour.

Back in September 2023, Visit Ukraine and its partners launched a unique initiative — donation tours that allow foreigners not only to visit Ukraine but also to become volunteers in the de-occupied regions.

We are grateful to everyone who supports Ukrainians during this difficult time. Your contribution brings us closer to our common victory!

How to plan a trip to Ukraine and whether tourists are welcome in Ukraine — we discussed this in previous articles.

Detailed information that will be useful when planning a trip to Ukraine can be found here:

– Travel to Ukraine for tourism.

– Employment in Ukraine.

– Immigration to Ukraine.

– Studying in Ukraine.

– Travelling to Ukraine by car.

– Popular destinations in Ukraine.

– Support Ukraine.

Want to travel with a purpose and make a personal contribution to supporting Ukraine in difficult times?

Join the donation tours from Visit Ukraine!

Volunteering opportunities for foreign tourists

Currently, the Visit Ukraine portal offers to take part in a donation tour covering the hero city of Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.

Available support options:

1. Humanitarian aid – purchasing food for low-income and affected families;

2. Hygiene products – basic items for daily use;

3. Animal welfare – food, medicine, sterilisation, temporary shelter;

4. Medicines – for children, adults and the elderly;

5. Heating for homes – stoves, heaters, rocket heaters;

6. Volunteer centre operations – fuel, transport repairs;

7. Help for children – nappies, food, school supplies;

8. Housing restoration – purchase of building materials;

9. Generators and solar panels – energy independence;

10. Ecology – support for environmental initiatives.

Your choice is real help for those who need it most!

Is it possible to insure the life of a foreigner in Ukraine during martial law — find out more at the link.

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How can foreign tourists join volunteer activities?

Join the charity movement and become part of our unique donation tour aimed at supporting the affected regions of Ukraine. We offer an excursion trip to the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, where you can visit iconic places associated with the history and heroic deeds of Ukrainian defenders.

Our tour is not just a trip, but an opportunity to make a real contribution to the reconstruction of the country. We care about your safety and comfort and organise the trip with all the necessary measures in place.

Join us and help those who need it most!

How to behave in bomb shelters in Ukraine — we explain here.

In our previous article, we also discussed the curfew in different regions of Ukraine in 2025.

If you are planning a trip to Ukraine, take care of your safety in advance. Medical insurance with coverage of war risks for foreigners guarantees access to quality care in case of an emergency. This is a smart decision for conscious travellers who support Ukraine and care about themselves.

Donation tour to the Hero City of Mykolaiv + Mykolaiv and Kherson regions

The donation tour from the Visit Ukraine portal is not just a trip, it is a deep dive into the reality of modern Ukraine, where every guest becomes a participant in a great humanitarian mission.

This tour is designed specifically for foreigners who want to understand the events in Ukraine not from the news screens, but through personal experience. The project combines volunteering, cultural exchange and charity, opening up a unique format for travelling to regions affected by the war.

The programme begins with arrival in the city of Mykolaiv, which received the honorary title of Hero City for its resilience during the most difficult periods. Guests are met by a guide, and after a short rest at the hotel, they are taken on a tour of the city — an introduction to its history, architecture and people who have remained despite everything. A visit to the 4UA children's educational centres deserves special attention.

Here, despite their experiences, children learn, dream and inspire. It is here that it becomes clear who is worth fighting and helping for.

On the second day, tour participants join a humanitarian mission. After receiving instructions at the volunteer centre, they receive ID cards, load up on aid supplies and set off for small villages in the Mykolaiv or Kherson regions — either de-occupied or those that have been under fire for a long time. This is a poignant and deeply emotional part of the trip, during which you can personally communicate with local residents, see the consequences of the war and, at the same time, examples of human resilience. Upon returning to Mykolaiv, guests will receive letters of thanks from the foundation, commemorative souvenirs, a warm dinner and time for reflection.

Participation in this tour includes full support: transfers, accommodation in a safe hotel with shelter, meals, guide and interpreter services, photo and video recording.

But most importantly, the price includes a charitable contribution of at least $500 to support the affected regions of southern Ukraine. This means that each participant is not just travelling, but directly contributing to the restoration of the regions, helping people and animals, and supporting educational initiatives and infrastructure projects.

This donation tour is an opportunity to see Ukraine as it really is: vibrant, strong, and deeply humane.

It is a journey that will change not only your view of the country, but also your heart.

Volunteer experience: real stories

John Thomas is a Vietnam veteran, former military pilot and experienced journalist who worked under the pseudonym Randolph Bronte for The Economist and The Financial Times. He came to Ukraine to see the consequences of the war for himself and to support Ukrainians in their struggle. Being a strong opponent of Russian aggression, Thomas decided not only to visit the frontline regions, but also to join the humanitarian aid.

He was accompanied by Dr. David Fillmore, who was eager to help Ukrainian doctors and medical institutions. They spent several months preparing for the mission, but the most difficult stage was the road itself. Despite all the difficulties, the humanitarian trip exceeded their expectations.

During the visit, they visited Kyiv, the de-occupied cities of Kyiv region, as well as Mykolaiv and the surrounding villages. They distributed humanitarian aid to local residents, talked to eyewitnesses of the war and the military defending the country on the eastern front.

Dr. Fillmore not only shared his medical experience with Ukrainian doctors, but also started raising funds for contrast injectors for MRI. John Thomas has donated $2,500 to support Ukrainian hospitals, and together with David will continue to raise funds in the United States.

You can learn more about the humanitarian mission of Mr. John Thomas and Dr. David Fillmore in a video interview on our YouTube channel.

Join the donation tours and become a part of a great cause! Contact our managers and choose the area in which you can help.

Together we can do more!

Contact Visit Ukraine managers (Telegram | WhatsApp). Our specialists will provide all the necessary information about the tour, organize transfers, guide services, ticket and hotel reservations. Travel around Ukraine with us!

Reminder! Are you preparing for a trip to Ukraine in 2025? We have compiled a practical checklist with documents, insurance, finances, and useful tips. What you definitely need to take with you for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine — we explain here.

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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