Difference between revisions of "Ukraine"

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|in = Eastern Europe
 
|in = Eastern Europe
 
|map = <map lat='49' lng='32' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' width='430'/>
 
|map = <map lat='49' lng='32' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' width='430'/>
|language = Ukrainian, Russian, Crimean
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|language = Ukrainian, Russian
 
|capital = Kiev ([[Kyiv]])
 
|capital = Kiev ([[Kyiv]])
|pop = 46,179,22 (2008 estimate)
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|pop = 45,900,000 (2012 estimate)
 
|currency = Hryvnia (UAH)
 
|currency = Hryvnia (UAH)
|hitch = {{good}}
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|BW = UA
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|hitch = <rating country='ua' />
 
|hitchbase = 201
 
|hitchbase = 201
 
}}
 
}}
Generally, hitchhiking is quite okay in '''Ukraine''', one of the biggest countries in [[Europe]].
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'''Ukraine''' is one of the biggest countries in [[Europe]]. Hitchhiking works here, although it seems to have become more difficult since the war with Russia began in 2014. Areas like the Crimean peninsula (which you can now only access via Russia as a foreigner) can be quite uncomfortable to hitch during the summer due to the heat. You can hitchhike anywhere along the roadside, even on real motorway like the [[Kyiv]]-[[Odessa]] road. The first two letters of the Ukrainian number plates indicate the region which can be helpful for finding a ride in the right direction.  
  
The biggest problem you could meet is that the majority of the people don't speak English or other foreign language. Though, if your Ukrainian is good enough, and you feel like it: just go for it! Most of people speak Russian too. Besides, if you speak any of Slavic languages, the connection will be much easier, they are quite similar. Especially Ukrainians understand Polish – it is the closest of Slavic languages excepting Belorussian and Russian.
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[[File:Ukrainian_number_plates.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A map showing the regional Ukrainian number plates]]
Generally Ukrainians are hospitable and open persons when you have no language barrier. They like to help foreigners besides.
 
  
== General tips ==
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The biggest problem you could encounter is that few people speak English or other foreign languages. Some command of Russian (the Communist-era lingua franca and many Ukrainians' native language) or Ukrainian is advisable. Polish is also widely understood. When the language barrier is overcome, Ukrainians are generally hospitable and open people.
When hitchhiking in Ukraine do not be surprised if you are occasionally asked for money from drivers. It is not often, however, but it occurs. Of course you can always tell the drivers that you don't have money and that you are hitchhiking. It could be easier for you to put some phrases to your conversations in a car which could let drivers know that you are hitchhiker.  
 
Truck-drivers always recognize hitchhikers – in that case Ukraine is not an exception.  
 
  
The state of the roads are pretty dire in general, and the biggest problem is that the distances involved are usually pretty big (for example [[Lviv]] to [[Kyiv]] is around 550 km). It is allowed to hitchhike everywhere on the roadside, you just need to find the most lucky place.  
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When hitchhiking in Ukraine, it is often expected to share the fuel costs. Before you get in the car make sure that driver will take you for free. It is useful to learn some phrases to let the driver know you are an international hitchhiker and travelling for free. However, like other European countries, truck drivers always recognize hitchhikers and know they are travelling for free.
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The state of the roads is pretty dire in general, and the distances involved are usually pretty big (for example [[Lviv]] to [[Kyiv]] is around 550 km, 8 hours of driving). Getting an early start is essential.  
  
 
== Weather ==
 
== Weather ==
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== Food ==
 
== Food ==
Of course you can get stuck easily on the motorway next to a turn-off from the main road because of nightfall. But there is also nice night-traffic of trucks caused by warm weather from May to September. Usually, there are some gas stations near to such places and there some favorite and famous places for stops known by drivers – something like unofficial rest-stations (there are no official but a lot of unofficial ones). You can easily find something to eat and to drink there and at almost all gas-stations there are night-shops. You can eat in some road-restaurants, they may be not expensive for foreigners from countries like the EU states – you can probably have some nice dinner there for $7-10 (2008).
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 +
Of course you can get stuck easily on the motorway next to a turn-off from the main road because of nightfall. But there is also nice night-traffic of trucks caused by warm weather from May to September. Usually, there are some gas stations near to such places and there some favorite and famous places for stops known by drivers – something like unofficial rest-stations (there are no official but a lot of unofficial ones). You can easily find something to eat and to drink there and at almost all gas stations there are 24 hour shops. You can eat in some restaurants on the road, which are significantly cheaper than in the EU - a nice meal for around $5, or a baguette and cheese for much less.
  
 
== Crimes ==
 
== Crimes ==
Crimes related to hitch-hiking are not common in Ukraine. But a hitchhiker should avoid cars with drunken drivers or passengers. When you are a single girl it's better to find truck or a car with family for your safety. Avoid night-rides with “funny” drivers.
+
 
It is also necessary to keep your money in a safe place or on credit cards, the same for mobile phones – shit happens everywhere in the world.
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Crimes related to hitch-hiking are not common in Ukraine. But a hitchhiker should avoid cars with drunken drivers or passengers. When you are a single girl it's better to find truck or a car with family for your safety. Avoid night rides with “funny” drivers. Keep your money (carry a bank card instead of a lot of cash) and phone in a safe place.
  
 
== Cities ==
 
== Cities ==
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* [[Kyiv]]
 
* [[Kyiv]]
 
* [[Lviv]]
 
* [[Lviv]]
* [[Odesa]]
 
 
* [[Kharkiv]]
 
* [[Kharkiv]]
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* [[Odessa|Odesa]]
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* [[Mukachevo]]
 +
* [[Simferopol]]
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* [[Uzhgorod]]
  
 
== Border crossing ==
 
== Border crossing ==
* [[Hrebenne-Rava Ruska border crossing]] with [[Poland]]
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* [[Shegyni-Medyka border crossing]] with Poland
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* [[Belarus]]
* [[Siret-Porubnoe border crossing]] with [[Romania]]
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** [[Skytok-Novaja Huta border crossing|Skytok-Novaja Huta]]
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* [[Hungary]]
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** [[Chop-Záhony border crossing|Chop-Záhony]]
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* [[Poland]]
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** [[Dorohusk-Jahodin border crossing|Dorohusk-Jahodin]]
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** [[Dołhobyczów-Uhryniv border crossing]]
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** [[Hrebenne-Rava Ruska border crossing|Hrebenne-Rava Ruska]]
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** [[Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing|Korczowa-Krakovets]]
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** [[Shegyni-Medyka border crossing|Shegyni-Medyka]] 
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* [[Romania]]
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** [[Dyakove-Halmeu border crossing|Dyakove-Halmeu]]
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** [[Sighetu Marmației-Solotvyno border crossing|Sighetu Marmației-Solotvyno]]
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** [[Siret-Porubnoe border crossing|Siret-Porubnoe]]
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* [[Slovakia]]
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** [[Vyšné Nemecké-Uzhhorod border crossing]]
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** [[Ubľa-Malyi Bereznyi border crossing]]
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** [[Velké Slemence-Mali Selmenci border crossing]] (pedestrian crossing, EU/EEA & Ukrainian passports only)
  
 
== Further Information ==
 
== Further Information ==
* [http://glimpse.org/stories/view/how-to-hitchhike-across-ukraine/ How to Hitchhike Across Ukraine], story at glimpse.org
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* [http://ua_autostop.livejournal.com Ukrainian hitchhiking community] {{ua}}, but you can ask questions and get replies in {{en}}
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* [http://ua_autostop.livejournal.com Ukrainian hitchhiking community] {{ru}}, but you can ask questions and get replies in {{en}}
{{Template:Europe/countries}}
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IE-WQ3rvmW4 Short video summary of the Ukrainian World Championship qualifiers in 2012] giving an idea of the roads travellers will encounter there.
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* [http://www.eway.in.ua/ua/ Public transport in Ukraine]
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== Personal Experiences ==
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Pls add info
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== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
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{{nomadwiki}}
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{{Template:Europe/countries}}  
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
  
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[[fr:Ukraine]]
 
[[fr:Ukraine]]
 
[[ru:Украина]]
 
[[ru:Украина]]
[[trash:Ukraine]]
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[[uk:Україна]]

Revision as of 15:22, 5 February 2021

Flag of Ukraine Ukraine
Information
Language: Ukrainian, Russian
Capital: Kiev (Kyiv)
Population: 45,900,000 (2012 estimate)
Currency: Hryvnia (UAH)
Hitchability: <rating country='ua' />
More info: Hitchbase
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots or BeWelcome
<map lat='49' lng='32' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' width='430'/>

Ukraine is one of the biggest countries in Europe. Hitchhiking works here, although it seems to have become more difficult since the war with Russia began in 2014. Areas like the Crimean peninsula (which you can now only access via Russia as a foreigner) can be quite uncomfortable to hitch during the summer due to the heat. You can hitchhike anywhere along the roadside, even on real motorway like the Kyiv-Odessa road. The first two letters of the Ukrainian number plates indicate the region which can be helpful for finding a ride in the right direction.

A map showing the regional Ukrainian number plates

The biggest problem you could encounter is that few people speak English or other foreign languages. Some command of Russian (the Communist-era lingua franca and many Ukrainians' native language) or Ukrainian is advisable. Polish is also widely understood. When the language barrier is overcome, Ukrainians are generally hospitable and open people.

When hitchhiking in Ukraine, it is often expected to share the fuel costs. Before you get in the car make sure that driver will take you for free. It is useful to learn some phrases to let the driver know you are an international hitchhiker and travelling for free. However, like other European countries, truck drivers always recognize hitchhikers and know they are travelling for free.

The state of the roads is pretty dire in general, and the distances involved are usually pretty big (for example Lviv to Kyiv is around 550 km, 8 hours of driving). Getting an early start is essential.

Weather

In winter Ukraine can get very cold, for example in January 2006, it hit −35 °C, which makes hitchhiking very dangerous. The cost of train travel is very cheap – usually around one Euro for every 100 km (for overnight sleeping carriages), so bear that in mind when going from city to city. It might be hot in summer (up to +35 °C), so don't forget to take a hat with you to protect yourself from lots of sunbathing.

Food

Of course you can get stuck easily on the motorway next to a turn-off from the main road because of nightfall. But there is also nice night-traffic of trucks caused by warm weather from May to September. Usually, there are some gas stations near to such places and there some favorite and famous places for stops known by drivers – something like unofficial rest-stations (there are no official but a lot of unofficial ones). You can easily find something to eat and to drink there and at almost all gas stations there are 24 hour shops. You can eat in some restaurants on the road, which are significantly cheaper than in the EU - a nice meal for around $5, or a baguette and cheese for much less.

Crimes

Crimes related to hitch-hiking are not common in Ukraine. But a hitchhiker should avoid cars with drunken drivers or passengers. When you are a single girl it's better to find truck or a car with family for your safety. Avoid night rides with “funny” drivers. Keep your money (carry a bank card instead of a lot of cash) and phone in a safe place.

Cities

Border crossing

Further Information

Personal Experiences

Pls add info

Nomadwiki & Trashwiki

Check Nomadwiki for info on accommodation, showers etc. or Trashwiki for dumpsters...and share your wisdom :)