Rules for entering Ukraine by car for Russian citizens

Pros and cons of living in Ukraine

Positive conditions for immigration:

• With the exception of the capital, you can live well in the country on five hundred dollars a month.
• At the end of summer and beginning of autumn, you can stock up on cheap fruits and vegetables, even in the city.
• There is an opportunity to prepare beer and wine for yourself.
• Medical services in private clinics are high quality and cheap.
• Travel to Europe without difficulties and extra costs.
• You can find a suitable place for relaxation within the country.
• Some products are of high quality.

  
  International passport

Disadvantages of living in Ukraine:

• A job that pays well is worth the effort to find.
• There is an open anti-Russian mood.
• Government health care is in decline.
• The railway network does not meet international standards.
• Public opinion contains inaccurate interpretations of historical facts.
• Private businesses are not supported.
• There is “legal nihilism” in the country.
• The culture of behavior on the roads leaves much to be desired.
• In populated areas, construction rules are not always followed, and general sanitation requirements are not met.

Requirements for new rules for the entry of Russians into Ukraine in 2021

Do Russians need a visa to Ukraine in 2021?
New rules have been introduced for Russians entering Ukraine in January 2021.

Note! Biometric control is mandatory.

The tightening of measures has led to a new control procedure for incoming citizens, which includes three stages. Entry to Ukraine for Russians from January 1, 2021:

• It is necessary to first fill out a form (electronically) for entry from Russia to Ukraine on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The document contains personal data, citizenship, profession, place of work, reason for the trip, and what places the citizen decided to visit. This is done within 30 days. The procedure is under development and is not currently in use.
• Biometric data marking in the border zone. In the first case, a passport with fingerprints is required. Otherwise, you will have to prepare to take data at border control points.
• Registration of a citizen at the place of residence. According to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of the Ukrainian side, all foreigners from the zone of countries at risk of migration (Russian citizens are on this list) are required to register their residence in Ukraine.

Is it safe to travel to Ukraine in a car with Russian license plates?

Many Russian citizens in Ukraine have relatives and friends whom they would like to visit. It would seem that one of the simplest budget options is to go by car. Despite the open hostility between the authorities of the two states, the borders are still open and there are no additional restrictions for motorists. However, unexpected and most often unpleasant surprises can await road travelers in Ukraine.

One of the latest such incidents was the incident in Lvov.

According to local police, a few days ago, the windows of a parked Ford Mondeo with Russian Crimea license plates were broken.

. Inside the car, the 44-year-old driver found a hammer used to break a window and an object similar to a lemon - an F-1 grenade.

The police seized the ammunition and sent it for examination. Based on this fact, a criminal case was initiated under Part 4 of Art. 296 “Hooliganism” of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. As usual, they are looking for the attackers.

Against the backdrop of such stories, the issue of safety of road trips to Ukraine comes to the fore - it is cheaper to buy airline tickets with a transfer than to later spend money on car repairs or even health.

On motorist forums you can find many stories and advice from drivers who went to Ukraine in a car with Russian license plates.

At the same time, most motorists are advised to go to the neighboring country not directly, but through Belarus. Allegedly, all borders can be crossed much faster and easier. And the quality of the asphalt surface itself will be better.

According to a user with the nickname minigorod

, who at the end of February went from Naro-Fominsk near Moscow to the city of Korosten, Zhitomir region, the border between Russia and Belarus is just a formality: there were no customs points or checks. At the same time, the author praised the road surface in the neighboring country. When leaving the country, I didn’t even have to get out of the car, and everyone at the border turned out to be quite friendly. The motorist noted the pretty girls in uniform.

The neutral zone between the borders of Belarus and Ukraine is a “quiet horror”. The driver felt very sorry for the suspension of his Ford and was driving at a speed of 20-30 km/h. At the Ukrainian checkpoint there were no more beautiful girls, but only stern men with machine guns. I still had to get out of the car to “run around the windows and scan my fingers.” Let us remind you that from January 1, 2021, biometric control and the provision of fingerprints are a mandatory procedure at all sections of the Ukrainian border.

However, drivers claim that there is no specific attitude at the border: “No one pokes them in the face or shouts ‘Muscovite’!”

An important aspect of traveling to Ukraine for Russian men over 18 years of age is that a notarized invitation is required from the person to whom the motorist is going to visit. It is thanks to him that the chances of getting into the country are significantly increased. If there are no relatives or friends, you will need to prove your financial solvency - cash for the duration of the trip or a bank statement, and also show a hotel reservation. Without all this, if you just go “at random”, Russian men will most likely not be able to get into the country.

You should also remember that you can only get into Ukraine with a foreign passport; no one will be allowed in with an ordinary Russian passport for a long time.

After the border, the next 80 km of the highway were in very poor condition. As a result, the entire road was 900 km and 15 hours on the road. According to the motorist, the most difficult part is the section of the road in Ukraine, where the driver gets very tired from the poor surface. During a stop at one of the checkpoints, two military men were interested in where the motorist was going, and after that they warned about bad roads. The motorist says that he was never stopped at a traffic police checkpoint, although the car with Russian license plates was “followed by.” After some time, the driver saw that a car was driving behind him with its flashing lights on.

Having stopped, the police told the motorist that he had taken a wrong turn and decided to explain how to drive correctly and “not to go around in circles.” Responsive policemen even allowed them to “carefully” turn around through two continuous lines.

Also on motorist forums you can find stories of those who nevertheless decided to go directly from Russia to Ukraine. Motorists are complaining about too detailed inspections and arrogant behavior of employees at the Russian border.

Post author NavvaN

claims that his car was literally “turned around”, every corner was inspected and they asked in detail where he was going and why. Meanwhile, according to him, at the Ukrainian border the motorist was greeted with smiles and carried out just a small check and wished him a safe journey.

Amulet from troubles

Cars with Russian license plates are now extremely rare in Ukraine. But there is no increased attention from local residents: many try to live their lives and not get involved in politics.

However, before traveling to Ukraine, it is worth considering one important nuance: if there is a St. George ribbon in the car, then it must be removed. This symbol has been officially banned in the country since last year and acts on some Ukrainians like a red rag on a bull. So in the center of Kiev, activists noticed a BMW with Russian license plates from St. Petersburg.

Apparently, one of the local residents decided to study in detail what was inside the car and looked out the window.

Between the front seats in the car there were personal belongings: wires, pens, business cards and, to the general horror of those passing by the car, a St. George ribbon, a piece of which was sticking out of this small pile. After this, passers-by began taking photographs of the car and the object in it, and also shot a video “BMW provocateur in the center of Kyiv,” which later appeared online.

Activists called the police and began to demand that the driver be detained immediately. However, during the conversation between the Ukrainians and the police, the owner of the foreign car apparently hid the ribbon, after which he was calmly released under the indignant glances of the activists. This motorist is lucky - often the matter is not limited to photographs - the windows of the car can be broken and the wheels punctured.

Therefore, motorists began to hang a kind of “amulets” in the car interior - Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian flags. Often there are simply Ukrainian ones.

Several years ago, against the backdrop of the loss of Crimea and the “hot” phase of the conflict in Donbass, the situation with Russian cars was much more tense. Then there was a real hunt for those cars that were re-registered in Crimea. In Ukraine, such cars were arrested and sent to the impound lot as a double, since according to the databases of Ukraine it had different numbers.

Against the backdrop of the mass arrest of “Crimean” cars, Ukraine unexpectedly agreed to meet the residents of the peninsula. In 2021

an initiative appeared according to which, on the border of Crimea and the Kherson region, motorists could deposit their license plates, and instead install Ukrainian license plates for the duration of the trip. But the mechanism of this procedure itself was never developed and the idea remained only on paper.

Documents for travel to Ukraine

Serbia: visa for Russians in 2018

By agreement, a visa-free regime has been established between Ukraine and Russia. A passport is required for travel.

Certificate from work

Documents for traveling to Ukraine from Russia in 2021:

• Return ticket.
• Voucher (paid tourist package).
• Certified invitation.
• Documents confirming solvency.
• Documents on financial status.

An excursion to the country is possible with sufficient financial resources. In this case, the check is carried out randomly. To approximate the amount of accommodation, the following methodology is used:

FO = ((20 x PM): 30) x CD + 5, where:

• FO - acceptable financial position.
• PM - subsistence minimum per person per month.
• KD - days in Ukraine.

A minimum amount must be present to attend. The cost of living is taken online.

Letter of guarantee

The following are not subject to financial status verification:

• citizens with a residence permit;
• children (under 18 years old);
• diplomats;
• refugees;
• cruise tourists.

The rest should prepare to present:

• Funds in foreign currency.
• Bank cards with statements and checks.
• Letter of guarantee from the receiving party.
• Reservation of accommodation and payment for meals.
• Voucher.
• Return ticket with closed departure date.

How to cross the border between the Russian Federation and Ukraine by car in 2021

Rules for crossing the border of the Russian Federation and Ukraine in 2021

Before the introduction of new requirements for entry into Ukraine, Russian citizens only had to present their passport, that is, the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, to cross the border. However, from the beginning of 2021, crossing the border is possible only with a biometric passport, plus at the border, fingerprints will be taken from each person entering to enter them into the database. In addition, a number of other requirements have also been established.

Customs officials at the border must establish the presence of the required amount of money, this happens in one of the following ways:

• A visual inspection of cash is carried out, either in the currency of Ukraine or in foreign currency;
• The person crossing the border presents a certificate from the bank confirming the presence of the required amount of money in the account;
• A visual inspection of the entrant's bank card is carried out, and he must provide an extract from the bank or from an ATM confirming the presence of funds on the card.

When crossing the border, a biometric passport is presented to a representative of the Border Service; it is required for registration at the border checkpoint.

Important! Registration is carried out for a short-term period of stay in Ukraine, and the period should not exceed 90 days within six months. The countdown of 90 days starts from the date of entry.

What you can and cannot transport

There should be no more food than is needed for the trip.

For any weapon - permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and Ukraine.

There are no restrictions on gadgets and technical equipment, but the cost does not exceed 500 euros*. If you exceed it you will have to pay extra. As for leaving the Russian Federation, it is recommended that the citizen, if desired, declare personal belongings if their total value exceeds 65 thousand rubles*.

Customs declaration

How does the border between Russia and Ukraine cross by car?

You can cross the Ukraine-Russia border by car only at certain checkpoints. To successfully clear customs, you must provide the required documents and also ensure that you do not have any items prohibited for transportation with you.

If you plan to cross the border by car, then you should make sure in advance that the driver of the car has a modern driving license that meets the requirements of the Convention of Road Traffic. In addition, in order to cross the border by car you will need:

• Certificate of vehicle registration;
• OSAGO insurance policy, green card certificate.

If the owner of the car is not present when crossing the border, then you will need to obtain a power of attorney from him in advance, certified by a notary. This power of attorney must indicate the right to travel abroad. To provide a power of attorney to Ukrainian border guards, the document must be translated into Ukrainian. If the owner of the car is a legal entity, then in addition to the listed documents you will also need to provide a travel certificate and a waybill drawn up for the driver of the car.

When crossing the border, border guards will inspect the car, including the interior and trunk. Particular questions are asked regarding the contents in the bags. In certain cases, border guards have the right to inspect luggage. The driver will also need to complete a customs declaration.

Important! If crossing the border occurs with children, then for each of them, regardless of age, it will be necessary to issue a biometric passport. In addition, if he is traveling with one of the parents, he will need to provide permission to take the child abroad from the other parent. It is drawn up by a notary.

Traveling with children

The procedure for entry of citizens of the Russian Federation into Ukraine determines the rules for crossing the border by minor citizens. It is equivalent to the rules for adults. Children fourteen years of age and older must have a foreign passport. A young child must be included in the parent’s passport (a photo of the child is pasted in).

In the case of a new sample - a passport for the child. When traveling with one parent, the written consent of the other is not required. If the departure is accompanied by other relatives or with accompanying persons, a notarized document is required.

“The issue continues to be worked out”

The Ukrainian News publication, wanting to clarify the situation, asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of its country about new rules for the entry of Russians, since the established deadlines for their preparation had expired.

The official response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, published on December 15, read: “At the moment, the question of the mechanism and stages of introducing a preliminary electronic message by foreigners and stateless persons about entry into Ukraine, as well as the entry into and exit from Ukraine by foreigners, including citizens Russian Federation, for foreign passports with contactless electronic media, continues to be worked out.”

Invitation for Russian citizens to travel to Ukraine

Recently, entry requirements have become more stringent. First of all, this applies to men from 18 to 60 years old.

Note! According to the requirements of current legislation, issuing an invitation is necessary to obtain a visa.

To guarantee permission to visit, it is better to obtain an invitation from an individual. The invitation letter contains information about the inviting citizen and the invitee, the purpose of the visit, and the financial obligations of the receiving party. The paper is certified in Ukraine at a notary office.

Denied entry to Ukraine

Entry into Ukraine and stay there for citizens of the Russian Federation must be ensured by a number of conditions:

• Valid passport.
• There is no entry ban (SBU, State Migration Service of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service).
• Availability of a visa, unless otherwise provided by law.
• Justified purpose of staying in the country.
• Sufficient financial support for the excursion.

Important! If one or more requirements are not met, the authorized person refuses to cross the border. After the report of the commissioner, the head of the security agency draws up the decision on refusal in two copies.

Temporary registration in Ukraine through a Travel Company

Another option to get to Ukraine in accordance with all the requirements is to contact a Travel Agency (Travel Agency) for a tourist trip to Ukraine for an excursion. This, of course, will cost quite a bit of money. However, the travel company itself will take care of finding accommodation for you, draw up a rental agreement with the hotel or apartment owner, and issue temporary registration.

This will help to avoid a lot of hassle, so this method can be very convenient, although not cheap. You will probably have to pay for a month-long tour of Ukraine in order to have grounds for temporary registration. Then, once on the territory of the country, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) to extend your stay in the country for another purpose.

Appealing a refusal decision

A citizen who is refused may appeal the decision in accordance with the terms of the Law of Ukraine “On Citizens’ Appeals”. This does not prevent you from going to court. The refusal can be canceled or changed by the head of the security authority. Otherwise, it will be declared invalid by the court.

Before going to Ukraine, you need to familiarize yourself with the new requirements at the border and find out what you can carry.

*Amounts are current as of August 2021.