Ukraine: Dangers/Crime, Essential Info, Women, Mentality, Traditions, Embassies, Culture

Ukraine Travel Guide

DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE What to Do? What to Pay? What to Say in Ukrainian or Russian languages?

1. DANGERS, CRIME, POLICE, CORRUPTION, EMBASSY SECURITY ADVICE ............................ 2  EMERGENCY: WHAT TO SAY in Ukrainian (UA) or Russian (RU) languages?........................... 2  EVERYDAY SECURITY TIPS .............................................................................................................. 2 o DRESS, BEHAVIOR, MAKE UP-RELATED: .................................................................................. 2  DANGERS: Air/Water Pollution; Dangerous Sidewalks; Unsafe Roads, Health, Radiation ................. 3 o ELECTRICITY AND WATER ........................................................................................................... 3 o AIR AND WATER POLLUTION ...................................................................................................... 3 o ROAD: UNSAFE ................................................................................................................................ 3 o DANGEROUS SIDEWALKS/BUILDINGS: Warning!..................................................................... 3 o HEALTH-RISKS: ................................................................................................................................ 3 o RADIATION RELATED FOOD CONTAMINATION; LEVELS OF RADIATION ....................... 4  CRIME: Street Crime, Baggage Safety, Public Unrest, Racism, Terrorism ........................................... 4 o STREET CRIME: “WALLET SCAM”: you pick a dropped wallet; money is missing; your money is gone… ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 o STREET CRIME: BEGGARS are harmless in general but may belong to a “ring”........................... 5 o BAGGAGE/LUGGAGE SAFETY in Ukrainian airports ................................................................... 5 o PUBLIC UNREST: Riot Police, Public Unrest Probability in 2012 ................................................... 6 o RACISM: tolerance, report 2011, anti-Semitic, skinhead football fans .............................................. 6 o TERRORISM-RELATED RISKS are, reportedly, low ...................................................................... 6  POLICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT .......................................................................................................... 6 o REFORMS:.......................................................................................................................................... 6  CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE: Why? Scholar’s view ........................................................................... 7 o CORRUPTION IN POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES ................................................................... 7 o CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE ............................................................................................................ 7 2. ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFORMATION ............................................................................................... 8  LANGUAGES AND USAGE ................................................................................................................. 8 o SUMMARY: Ukrainians speak either Ukrainian or Russian, no other European language is spoken Ukraine-wide as a rule ................................................................................................................................. 8  CURRENCY, BILLS AND COINS ........................................................................................................ 9  TIME ZONE .......................................................................................................................................... 10  TELEPHONE CODES: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, NUMBER FORMAT, CALLING IN-OUT . 10 o TELEPHONE CODES: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Donetsk .................................................................... 10 o TELEPHONE NUMBER FORMAT................................................................................................. 10 3. MENTALITY, MALE-FEMALE, CHILDREN, TRADITIONS, CULTURE ...................................... 11  SOVIET MENTALITY, PATRIOTISM ............................................................................................... 11  MEN-WOMEN DIFFERENCES, CHILDREN, FEMINISM, WOMEN’S RIGHTS .......................... 11 o MEN – WOMEN DIFFERENCES, HOUSEHOLD ROLES ........................................................... 11 o CHILDREN ....................................................................................................................................... 12

Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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FEMINISM, UKRAINE IS FEMININE ........................................................................................... 12 WOMEN’S RIGHTS ......................................................................................................................... 12 TRADITIONS: Greetings, What is Impolite/Rude? Sensitive, Smiling, Talking, Guests, Flowers ..... 12 GREETINGS ..................................................................................................................................... 12 WHAT IS CONSIDERED IMPOLITE/RUDE? ............................................................................... 13 SENSITIVE TOPICS ........................................................................................................................ 13 TALKING .......................................................................................................................................... 13 WHAT TO BRING WHEN INVITED? ............................................................................................ 13 TRADITIONAL CULTURE ................................................................................................................. 14

1. DANGERS, CRIME, POLICE, CORRUPTION, EMBASSY SECURITY ADVICE  EMERGENCY: WHAT TO SAY in Ukrainian (UA) or Russian (RU) languages? o Instructions: Try Ukrainian language first (see below: UA). If they don't understand, try Russian language (see below: RU). Key words are written here in CAPITAL letters. o I am a FOREIGNER  UA: Y a I N O Z E M E T S  RU: Y a I N O S T R A N E T S

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EVERYDAY SECURITY TIPS o DRESS, BEHAVIOR, MAKE UP-RELATED: in general, no specific customs/traditions that differentiate Ukraine from Europe and U.S.  When visiting an orthodox church, women are suggested to wear a head scarf.

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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DANGERS: Air/Water Pollution; Dangerous Sidewalks; Unsafe Roads, Health, Radiation o Power grids, water supply, defecation removal, garbage removal systems are all built/set up in Soviet times about 30 years ago. o ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLY  Used to be a problem about 10 years ago. o AIR AND WATER POLLUTION  AIR: In most cities, air pollution is high.  TAP: Tap water may not be very safe to drink on a regular basis.

o ROAD: UNSAFE  CONDITIONS:  The Ukrainian "Public Road Control Movement" has called on citizens to fight more actively against unsatisfactory state of the roads in Ukraine….

o DANGEROUS SIDEWALKS/BUILDINGS: Warning!  Manhole covers might be missing: there could be a “gaping” hole right in the middle of a sidewalk.

FACT: March 7, 2012 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Deputy Head City Council of Kyiv, capital of Ukraine: “More than 40 cultural heritage facilities in Kyiv are in a dangerous condition, in accordance with the 2011 report of the Main Cultural Heritage Department of Kyiv City State Administration. Historical Kyiv is collapsing because buildings have not been repaired for decades; the environment is worsening and due to mass construction/development in the city center.”

o HEALTH-RISKS: MEASLES, RUBELLA, POLIO, TB, HIV/AIDS  MEASLES, RUBELLA AND POLIO VACCINATIONS Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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World Health Organization (WHO) advises that before travelling to Eastern Europe (including Ukraine), vaccinations against measles, rubella and polio should be made….

o RADIATION RELATED FOOD CONTAMINATION; LEVELS OF RADIATION  Warning! Local wild berries, mushrooms, meet of wild birds/chickens (fowl) and animals (game) should be avoided…

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CRIME: Street Crime, Baggage Safety, Public Unrest, Racism, Terrorism o STREET CRIME: “WALLET SCAM”: you pick a dropped wallet; money is missing; your money is gone…  You walk and there is a purse/wallet/transparent plastic bag with money on a sidewalk.  A criminal dropped it in front of you when you couldn’t see it…

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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o STREET CRIME: BEGGARS are harmless in general but may belong to a “ring”  Beggars are usually harmless but, reportedly, many of them are not acting on their own and have to pay certain “protection fee” to hold their places in underground passages and around major attractions…

o BAGGAGE/LUGGAGE SAFETY in Ukrainian airports  Sometimes, handling of baggage/luggage in Ukrainian airports is a bit "problematic"…

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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o PUBLIC UNREST: Riot Police, Public Unrest Probability in 2012  Street protests are common but not violent, as a rule. The majority of large public gatherings occur in the city center of Kyiv, capital of Ukraine…

o RACISM: tolerance, report 2011, anti-Semitic, skinhead football fans  Race-related crimes occur, but racial tolerance is equal to this in Europe and the U.S.  The Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) report of 2011: “There have been some improvements in Ukraine in the fight against racism and intolerance…”

o TERRORISM-RELATED RISKS are, reportedly, low  In general, terrorism related risks are low…

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POLICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT o REFORMS:  Ukrainian Police and other law-enforcement agencies are being reformed with the aim to meet standards of the European Union…

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE: Why? Scholar’s view o CORRUPTION IN POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES  “Use of personal connections, or network capital, was more prevalent under Communism in Eastern Europe than in the capitalist West and became even more widespread in post-Communist conditions…”

o CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE 

“The practice of corruption by government officials in Ukraine reflects more than the opportunities provided by privatization and the collapse of Government and Communist Party supervision….”

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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o EMBASSY REFERENCES: SECURITY-RELATED

2. ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFORMATION  LANGUAGES AND USAGE o SUMMARY: Ukrainians speak either Ukrainian or Russian, no other European language is spoken Ukraine-wide as a rule o ENGLISH LANGUAGE is NOT widely spoken in Ukraine although it is an obligatory part of school curricula.

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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CURRENCY, BILLS AND COINS o Hryvna (UAH) o Warning! You CANNOT pay with any other than Hryvna (UAH) currency anywhere in Ukraine, except in “duty free” areas of international airport and at the border. Need to exchange…

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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TIME ZONE o Time zone in Ukraine is UTC/GMT +2.

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TELEPHONE CODES: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, NUMBER FORMAT, CALLING INOUT o TELEPHONE CODES: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Donetsk  Ukraine's country code is 380

o TELEPHONE NUMBER FORMAT 

Ukraine's city codes are usually written in round brackets: (0xx)

o APPLIANCES: COMPATIBILITY WITH EUROPEAN, UK, AND U.S.  Electricity standard Ukraine-wide: voltage 220Volt, 50 Hz

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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3. MENTALITY, MALE-FEMALE, CHILDREN, TRADITIONS, CULTURE  SOVIET MENTALITY, PATRIOTISM o MENTALITY: In Soviet Union or USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), a socialist state in Europe and Asia (1922 – 1991), people were taught that being rich was a bad thing because everybody was supposed to be equal, and the State was supposed to provide you with everything you needed…

o PATRIOTISM: Ukrainian Patriotism ratio decreases West – East, same for affiliation with European Union…

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MEN-WOMEN DIFFERENCES, CHILDREN, FEMINISM, WOMEN’S RIGHTS o MEN – WOMEN DIFFERENCES, HOUSEHOLD ROLES  EQUALITY vs. DISCRIMINATION  Ukraine has a long history of men – women equality coming from the Soviet times.

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TRADITIONAL HOUSEHOLD ROLES, EATING OUT  Traditional roles where women do cooking and cleaning and men earn most of income gradually go away…

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MEN – WOMEN COURTESY  Men are expected to open and hold doors, give way…

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UKRAINIAN MEN HAPPIER THAN WOMEN IN 2012  April 30, 2012 (Interfax-Ukraine) – February 2012 survey by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology: “Men are generally happier than women…

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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o CHILDREN  A child is, in general, a focal point of any family. Ukrainians are famous for their adoration of children…

o FEMINISM, UKRAINE IS FEMININE  “FEMEN Movement: Human Rights Protection Group Pressure Group” – known for flamboyant females protesting around the world - started in Ukraine…

o WOMEN’S RIGHTS  In Ukraine, gender inequality and discrimination against women are still reported…

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TRADITIONS: Greetings, What is Impolite/Rude? Sensitive, Smiling, Talking, Guests, Flowers o GREETINGS  Between women:  Traditional greetings between women are verbal…

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Between men  Men, as a rule, shake hands when meeting and parting…

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Women - men  Traditional greetings between women and men are verbal…

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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o WHAT IS CONSIDERED IMPOLITE/RUDE?  Passing gas, burping, picking one’s nose in public… o SENSITIVE TOPICS  Death-related jokes… o TALKING  While talking, men may touch each other’s arms to emphasize points…

o WHAT TO BRING WHEN INVITED?  Tastes differ, but as a rule many people take  FRESH FLOWERS

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Sending “thank you” letters is not common.

Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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TRADITIONAL CULTURE o Ukrainian Dance is often described as energetic, fast-paced, and entertaining, and along with traditional Easter eggs (pysanky), it is a characteristic example of Ukrainian culture…

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Ukraine Travel Guide: DANGERS/CRIME, ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFO, MENTALITY, TRADITIONS, MALE-FEMALE External links are selected and assessed when the brochure is published. GoUkraineExpat is not responsible for the content of external websites. By including an external link to this brochure, we do not endorse that website, its owners, or their products or services. Free report and weekly updates http://www.goukraineexpat.info/free_reportupdates Follow us on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GoUkraineExpat Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoUkraineExpat Copyright 2008 - 2013 GoUkraineExpat. All rights reserved.

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