Hi all,

I'm in the middle of planning my trip across Ukraine. Looking for some recent experience with security advice about borders and Crimea etc.

Thanks

Hi,

I did a trip across Ukraine last summer.

I don't know what your plans are, but you're probably not going to be able to get to Crimea. The border is simply closed as far as I know, there's no traffic - not even trains. Also you won't be able to get to any part which is not under Ukraine government authority (Donetsk, Luhansk). I've been told there are checkpoints on both sides, and even locals wanting to get to the other part transit through Russia.

You're also asking about borders. I entered Ukraine through the Polish border in Korczowa. Not much to say except there can be long waiting lines and officers on the EU side were not quite motorbike friendly... In contrast, very cool on the UA side.
I quit UA by getting into Moldava near Vulcanesti. All fine, overall very cool guys. You should avoid crossing the border into Transnistria though if Moldava is part of the plan.

Roads are in a pretty bad condition in Ukraine - worse than what I imagined before leaving. Mind the potholes Also, Ukraine is not really a country where you're going to have much fun riding your bike, there aren't twisties like in Greece or in Italy. The Western part is still fun in the Carpathian mountains, the East is very flat. Traffic is OK, a bit rough in larger towns but nothing special.

Nick

Hi

Really? Everything depends on your preferences.
For me it is one of best places for off road riding in Europe.
Best to tray it.

Cheers
rr

True, I have't done any off-road in UA, at least none deliberately . I was on a road bike.

Hey Nick!

Im planning a trip to from Denmark to Ukraine this summer too! Everybody has been mentioning the bad roads, so I've been researching it a bit from other riders reports....Ukrainian roads are really bad!

What do you think is a realistic daily mileage in Ukraine? I'm planning to ride all the way to Sumy, to visit a friend.

Hi!

The picture above shows a section of the road between Odessa and Vulcanesti.
To be fair, it's not that bad all the time, it's actually about the worse I came across. However, riding in UA is tiring because you need to be watchful all the time, the road is unpredictable. If I ride long hours, I tend to switch to 'auto mode' and that's how things are happening.
For example, I was approaching Odessa on a fair sort of motorway, riding 120 km/h and really wanting to get there - and here the asphalt just vanished so I found myself all of a sudden at 120 on gravels with potholes, which brutally kicked me out of auto mode

Oh yeah, small roads to remote places can really be tragic. I mean it.

I wouldn't count on doing more than 300~400 kms a day.

Reserve also extra time for unexpected events: thunderstorms, borders etc. In Korczowa I was waiting in the (long) line, a guy came to me and kindly suggested to ride straight to the top of the line, arguing that there's no need for motorbikes to queue among cars. That seemed very reasonable so I did that. But the customs officer was on a 'hemorroide day' and sent me all the way back to the start. So altogether I spent 6 hours at the border...

Cheers

Nick

Good info Nick!

I might take the liberty of contacting you if I need some more general info mate! Are you based in Poland?

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Sure! Happy to help as much as I can! I'm based in Krakow.

Its not that Ukrainian roads are really bad, its more that there is no way to predict where they will be good or bad, until you have actually driven a route?

Makes predicting how long it takes to get from A to B a total lottery. All part of the fun!!