Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:677 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!daemon From: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Ukraine Message-ID: <950206153615_76702.1202_CHN85-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: daemon@world.std.com (daemons) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 15:36:16 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 151 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Ukraine ============================================================ Ukraine - Consular Information Sheet February 3, 1995 Country Description: Ukraine is a nation undergoing profound political and economic change. It is a newly independent nation still in the process of stabilizing its relations with neighboring countries. Tourist facilities are not highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available. Except for the cities of Sevastopol and Balaklava, which remain formally closed to foreigners and non-residents, travel within Ukraine is unrestricted. Internal travel, especially by air, may be disrupted by fuel shortages and other problems. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. Visas can be obtained in advance from the Embassy of Ukraine, located at 3350 M Street NW, Washington D.C. 20007, tel.(202) 333-0606 or 333-7507, or fax (202) 333-0817. Visas are also available from the Ukrainian Consulates in Chicago and New York. A letter of invitation from a person, company, or organization in Ukraine or a tour company voucher, is currently required to obtain a visa. Travelers who arrive without a visa must obtain one either at the border point or within 24 hours of arrival. Visas valid for 72 hours only are issued at Kiev's Borispil Airport, at the airports of Lviv, Simferopol and Odesa, and at the following border checkpoints: Chop, Uzhhorod, Mostyska, Yalta, and Vadul-Syret. Travelers who cannot obtain visas as they enter Ukraine must apply within 24 hours at a local "Visas, Permits and Passport Department" office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (VVIR). Visas obtained in Ukraine cost substantially more than visas obtained prior to travel--as much as $150.00 U.S. dollars for a single entry visa. The duration of stay will be determined by the traveler's letter of invitation. Note: Travelers who intend to visit Russia from Ukraine must have a Russian visa. The Russian Embassy in Ukraine is located at Prospekt Kutuzova 8, Kiev, tel: (7-044) 294-6701. Ukraine Registration: All foreigners visiting Ukraine are required to register their passports with local law enforcement authorities. Visitors who do not register may experience delays when leaving Ukraine, or difficulty when trying to extend visas. The registration requirement is automatically met when foreigners stay in hotels, or when resident business persons register their businesses, or when students register under established exchange programs. Private visitors must have their hosts, relatives or landlords register their U.S. passport at the local "Visas, Permits and Passport Department" office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (VVIR) office. Foreigners staying three working days or less need not register. A fee of 10 U.S. dollars or the Ukrainian equivalent is usually charged for visa extensions or passport registration. Since December, 1993, foreign missionaries with expired Ukrainian visas may only renew them with the support of the committee on religious affairs of the city administration of the city in which their sponsoring organization is registered. Medical Facilities: Medical care in Ukraine is limited. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of English speaking physicians in the area. There is a severe shortage of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. There have been isolated cases of diphtheria, typhoid and cholera in Ukraine. Adequate vaccination usually protects against these diseases. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful. Some travelers, for instance, the elderly, may wish to purchase insurance that covers the cost of medical air evacuation. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline, tel: (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: The deteriorated state of the Ukrainian economy has led to an increase in economically motivated crimes. Inflation, unemployment, and the breakdown of the country's social fabric have contributed to an ever increasing and violent crime rate. Westerners and their residences are increasingly being viewed by the local criminal element as a target-rich environment. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Additional information on the region can be found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia". Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Internal Travel: Roads in Ukraine are in generally poor condition. Gasoline and diesel fuel may be very difficult to obtain and repair services are often unsatisfactory. Many Westerners who choose to travel by automobile often rent a car and driver, although some self-drive rental cars are available. A few isolated cases of carjackings of Western-made or foreign-registered cars in particular have been reported in western Ukraine near the Polish border. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of documented reports of criminal acts occurring on Ukrainian trains; these acts include gassings and robberies. Make sure passenger compartment doors are shut at night. Aviation Oversight: In March 1993, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assessed Ukraine's civil aviation authority as in compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for Ukraine carriers operating to and from the U.S. The same level of safety oversight would typically be applied to operations to other destinations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873. Currency Regulations: Ukraine is a cash economy. Travelers' checks and credit cards are rarely accepted, including for major purchases such as airline tickets. Customs regulations prohibit sending money through the international mail system to Ukraine. Money sent through the mail is subject to confiscation. In Ukraine, changing U.S. dollars for Ukrainian coupons or another currency is legal only at banks, currency exchange desks at hotels and at licensed exchange booths. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Registration: Americans who register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy may obtain updated information on travel and security within Ukraine. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine is located at Yuria Kotsubinskoho 10, telephone (7-044) 244-7354. The U.S. Embassy's 24-hour emergency number (answered only in English after working hours) is (7-044) 244-7345. No. 95-018 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Ukraine dated September 7, 1994, to delete information on the winter energy crisis and information on radiation levels. Added information includes, Ukraine registration requirements, internal travel, local crime information, and notes a new after-hours phone number for the U.S. Embassy. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories