Traveling to Ukraine during the war: a British tourist's experience

The story of Mark, who came to Ukraine for 11 days and saw life in the country during wartime. Find out why he considers this trip life-changing and how to organize a similar itinerary with Visit Ukraine

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Even in times of war, Ukraine welcomes foreign guests. What's more, it leaves a deep impression on the hearts of those who dare to see it with their own eyes. One such traveler is Mark from the UK, who spent 11 days in Ukraine in the spring of 2025, visiting Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and even the deoccupied regions of Kyiv and Kherson. We talked to him about his motivation, emotions, and why he chose Visit Ukraine as his guide for his trip.

“I couldn't just sit there and say nothing,” “It changed my life”: how a tourist from the UK discovered Ukraine during the war

"I wanted to visit as a sign of solidarity with a nation that has suffered so much under the illegal invasion by russia, and I felt that just talking about it and not doing anything wasn’t enough. Then the White House incident where JD Vance was invited to visit and see if for himself to which he replied “I don’t need to visit I’ve seen the news” made me realise that I too needed to visit myself," says Mark.

His route took him through Poland — by bus to Lviv, and then by train across the country. The trains were a revelation: “I thought the trains were amazing, for a country operating within a war they were clean and efficient and ran perfectly on time, that’s not something you would always expect to happen.” According to Mark, night trains allowed him not only to travel but also to rest.

Ukraine through the eyes of a foreigner: security, strength, and humanity

Although the proximity to the front line somewhat changed the atmosphere in the southern regions, Mark felt safe throughout the entire trip. He was particularly impressed by the cities that had been occupied or shelled — Bucha, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. "They all brought the experience of the war to life far more than Lviv and Kyiv.  It was amazing getting a chance to speak with people on the ground who had lived close to the war for a long time and the stories I heard and the things that I saw will stay with me for a long time to come," he admits, adding:

"The de-occupied tours and visiting the Kherson oblast was probably the most emotionally difficult part of my trip, it was awful hearing stories of what had happened and seeing the signs of what was still happening in some areas, It’s still difficult for me to explain to people back home just what I experienced without getting emotional about it as I never thought we would allow such horrors to happen again post World War II."

During the donation tour organized by the Visit Ukraine team together with partners, Mark saw the true resilience of Ukrainians. According to him, the most memorable moment happened during the charity trip when he met people in villages in the Kherson region: “There was a small boy that we delivered food aid to who was such a happy child who had lived almost all of his life in the war yet showed a level of resilience that was inspiring.”

Tourism and helping Ukraine — how do you combine the two?

The donation tour to Mykolaiv and the Kherson region was not a spontaneous decision. “I wanted to give some time to do something productive for the local population and also give myself a chance to speak with people on the ground to let them know that they weren’t alone and that the people of the UK would be with them for as long as it takes.”

After returning, Mark began to talk more actively about Ukraine — on social media and among his friends. “Having been myself it brings a level of credibility and people are reaching out to me directly to hear more and understanding what more they can do to help.”

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Ukrainian service works even in wartime

When asked about organizing his trip, Mark immediately mentions the Visit Ukraine team: “I found Visit Ukraine via a google search and I thought the range of tours and information you had available gave me confidence that I was booking a trip with a company that was experienced and could help me plan the perfect trip.”

His stay in Ukraine also left only pleasant memories: "All of the transportation and accomodation was perfect for my needs, the hotels that were selected were all clean and safe and with access to a shelter, they were also in easily walkable areas so that I was able to get out and explore."

In addition, Mark emphasized the role of coordinator Anna, who was always in touch and always checked to see if everything was okay: “There was a moment when the bus driver from Odesa to Mykolaiv couldn't find his way, but Anna sorted everything out. And I made it everywhere on time.”

“Ukraine is a place everyone should see”

Would Mark recommend other tourists to visit Ukraine? Yes. Although he understands that it is a difficult decision right now, especially for those who have families or dependents. But if there is an opportunity, it is worth going. Ukraine deserves to be seen, supported, and invested in for its future. When asked how he describes Ukraine to his friends and relatives after his trip, Mark replied: “I describe it as an amazing country full of amazing people with a rich heritage and strong history, somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lives.”

His plans? “I will most certainly be coming back to Ukraine in the future, if I could arrange the time off work I would come back again this year but it’s proving a bit difficult at the moment. No matter what happens I will be back and I’d love to see the Carpathians.”

If you are wondering whether you should visit Ukraine now, here is a reason to go:

Ukraine today is not just about the war. It is also about cities that are alive, people who welcome guests, and a culture that amazes. Even one trip can change not only your worldview but also your life, as it did for Mark: “It was a life changing experience meeting so many amazing people.”

Want to see the real Ukraine now?

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We remind you! Hundreds of thousands of foreign citizens continue to visit Ukraine for various purposes. Last year, this figure exceeded 2.5 million people. Read more about who most often visited Ukraine, the purpose of their trips, and interesting trends in our previous article.

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