Kiev Check-in Magazine - February - March 2018

FEB-MAR 2018

Discover

Kiev

-

the

City

of

Intrigue

Ukraine’s ELECTRIC CAR BOOM

ITRevolution

Be a part of it

Speaking to Expats: RELOCATING to Kyiv

Gifts

& Surprises to Impress your

Beloved Valentine ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS and BARS in Kyiv

TOPEVENTS Calendar

IDEASTHAT WILL MAKE YOU

FALL IN LOVE ith Kyiv w

Beauty and lOVE will save the world!

Winter is a fascinating season. And what makes it even more fabulous is that after winter comes spring, a time of revival, beauty, and expressions of love.

These months, we are celebrating Valentine’s Day and Women’s Day, wonderful occasions that remind us all of what is really important in life. Kiev is one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Its ancient streets, beautiful parks and palaces are part of a breathtaking story. Іf you are looking for brilliant ways to celebrate these lovely holidays in Kiev, you’ll be spoiled for choice! Walk in Mariinsky Park and admire the beauty of recently renovated Mariisky Palace, invite your valentine for a candlelight dinner that begins with contemplating a beautiful sunset (Romantic Restaurants Designed to Impress, page 24), take in a vibrant concert (Top Events Calendar, page 4), or experience the spiritual depth of Ukrainian art while exploring the beautiful Andriyivsky Descent, and pick up a favorite painting for your beloved one (Women in Art, page 12).

Whether you love coming up with grand surprises or usually shop for presents together, find creative gifts from Ukrainian brands on page 14 that will be sure to light her eyes up with appreciation and delight.

It’s so easy to fall in love in Kiev — with the city, with the people, or even with the love of your life.

Whether it’s warm Ukrainian hospitality or the country’s beauty and charm that draws them, more and more non-Ukrainians seem to be discovering what a hidden treasure Kiev is, and are actively considering relocating there. Are you one of the lucky ones? Then read the impressions and advice of Kiev expats (Relocating to Kiev, page 37).

CONTENTS EDITOR’S WELCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 TOP EVENTS CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-11 WHAT’S NEW IN THE CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SHOPPING - Gift Ideas for Your Loved One - What & Where . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-17

Love, be loved, and stick with us!

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018

SEE & DO - Women in Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

FOOD & DRINKS - Romantic Restaurants Designed to Impress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-26 TRAVEL - Take Me to the Carpathians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 LIVING - Are We Entering the Era of Electric Car? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-33 BUSINESS - Buying Property in Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-36 EXPAT CORNER - Relocating to Kiev? Advice from Fellow Expats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37-43 BUSINESS - IT Careers for non-IT People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45 BUSINESS - Business Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-47

All the materials published in Kiev Check-in are intellectual property of the publisher and protected in accordance with Ukrainian law. Publisher does not accept any responsibility for the goods and services advertised in this magazine. While every effort has been made to make sure information provided in this magazine is accurate and up-to-date, the publisher is not in anyway liable for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions.

ADVERTISE WITH US

FOOD & DRINKS - Sweets & Bakery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 FOOD & DRINKS - Great Wine & Good Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23

hief, C n i Editor venko o k a Y Nadiia

Kiev Check-in is an English language bimonthly magazine, aimed to promote tourism to Kiev and highlight local events, news, attractions, leisure options, and investment opportunities in the city.

Registration Information: Contact Ukraine LLC Publisher: Kiev Check-in is registered Chief Advisor: Pradeep Boparai with Ministry of Justice of Ukraine Editor-in-Chief: Nadiia Yakovenko as a print media Legal Advisor: Tetiana Yakovenko (license number КУ № 802-439Р).

Marina Bochok Editors: Printing Doreen Martens House: Maria Samovarova Victoria Mozolevska

Sales Director: Nataliya Shamray llona Ryabchenko Designer: Photography: Shutterstock, iStock

Each bimonthly issue of our magazine is available and distributed through more than 100 businesses in Kiev including leading hotels, cafes, restaurants, pubs, bar, clubs, business centers, embassies, business associations, various events, etc.

Our Kiev Check-in brand extends beyond the pages of the print magazine to our website www.kievcheckin.com where we optimize the magazine content for online searches.

FOLLOW US ON: kievcheckin

For advertising or general enquiries, please contact us at kievcheckin@contactukraine.com or tel. +38 068 1180505, +38 093 253 9048 Scan and visit our website here

SEE&DO

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

TOP EVENTS CALENDAR ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FESTIVALS

HOLIDAYS February 12-18

Maslyana (also known as Butter Week)

February 14

Valentine’s Day

February 20

Day of Heroes of Nebesna Sotnya / Day of the Heaven’s Hundred Heroes (participants killed during Euromaidan)

February 21

International Mother Language Day

FEB 17 GLOBAL VILLAGE FESTIVAL

March 08

International Women’s Day (National holiday, day off)

March 21

Lavina Mall (6D Berkovetska Str.) www.facebook.com/events/1532518020194912

FEB 3 - 7 UKRAINIAN FASHION WEEK FW18-19

World Poetry Day

March 23

Mystetskyi Arsenal (12 Lavrska Str.) www.facebook.com/events/1504719972957869

World Meteorological Day

March 25

Day of the Security Service of Ukraine

March 26

Day of the National Guard of Ukraine

March 27

Ukrainian Fashion Week has been held in the capital since November 1997. It became the first professional fashion event in Eastern Europe.

It is an exclusive event that corresponds entirely to the world standards for prêt-a-porter shows, takes place twice a year, gathers more than 60 participants, accredits more than 200 Ukrainian and international mass media and is attended by over 20000 guests every time.

Ukrainian Fashion Week is a dynamic force of the Ukrainian fashion industry, a place where the Ukrainian fashion becomes worldwide.

Global Village is an annual festival held by the international youth organization AIESEC, which gives you the opportunity to better understand the aspects of life in different parts of the world. The participants of the international exchange programs will show and teach you how unique and special each culture is.The festival includes: food and other cultural attributes of representatives from different countries, master classes, prizes and an exclusive opportunity to become a member of the international youth organization AIESEC. If you are interested in travelings, participation in international exchange projects and eager to broaden your horizons - join!

World Theatre Day

FEB 24-25 PRO.ACT FEST - ENGLISH-SPEAKING THEATRE FESTIVAL Les Kurbas Centre (23V Volodymyrska Str.)

P O T ndar

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FEB 17-18 MASLYANA FESTIVAL

www.expocenter.com.ua/ua/events/3928/3929 www.facebook.com/events/969654846546939 www.facebook.com/pirogovo.museum parkkyivrus.com/maslenitsa/maslyana.html

At the end of February Ukrainians will celebrate Maslyana, emphasizing the coming of spring and the beginning of a new life cycle. The most colourful celebrations will be held at the Pirogovo Museum (Akademika Tronko Ave.), the Expocenter of Ukraine (1 Akademika Hlushkova Ave.) and the Feofaniya Park (32 Akademika Lebedeva Ave.). At the Pirogovo Museum you will hear incredible folk bands, who will sing songs and invite you to the hilarious dance.

Guests will be treated with delicious varenyky, caviar pancakes and sugary compote! You can also celebrate Maslyana together with Nalewka Fest at the Expocenter of Ukraine and take part in funny “Shotglass Checkers” tournament! The entrance is free!

For those who want to dance around the fire and play “Tug-ofwar” game - welcome to the Feofaniya Park! There will be a lot of entertainments for kids as well.

The great Maslyana celebration will be also held at the Kyivan Rus Park starting from 1:30 pm (Kopachiv village, Obukhiv region).You will have a unique chance to see the burning of the greatest scarecrow in Ukraine and enjoy the massive horse-trick show and “Kolodiy” ritual performed in the Old Slavonic language with striking special effects and a fire show. www.kievcheckin.com

www.facebook.com/proactfest

Pro.Act Fest - Ukraine’s first English-speaking theatrical festival.

Visitors of the event are able to see plays to suit every taste, take part in interesting acting workshops, poetry evenings, musical performances, and enjoy lectures on the history of theatre. All of this is in English, and the admission is free. Viewers of any age are welcome as well as all Ukrainian and International theatres, theatre companies and communities that stage performances in English. Let’s make Ukraine more theatrical and English-speaking together!

MAR 24-25 KURAZH BAZAAR CHINA START

Art-Platforma (1A Bilomorska Str.) www.facebook.com/events/162530494502209/

Kurazh Bazar Season Opening will be held on March 24-25 at the Art-Platforma! It is the biggest festival of goods and products that represents almost 370 Ukrainian brands and offers visitors food, clothing and live music! Take off the puffer jackets, put on your favorite sneakers - you are going to celebrate Chinese New Year and dance all weekends long! Entrance fee: UAH 80 (UAH 30 out of 80 goes to charity).

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ENTERTAINMENT

TOP EVENTS CALENDAR

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

CONCERTS FEB 2 7 PM

FEB 10, 17, 24 6 PM

FEB 13 7 PM

FEB 13 7 PM

FEB 14-16 7 PM

FEB 16 7 PM

FEB 26 7:30 PM

MAR 2-4 7 PM

MAR 2 7 PM 6

Kiev Check-In

MAR 5

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 2018 National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.) concert.ua/en/eventpage/viva-samye-krasivye A loud, secular Viva Awards Ceremony “The Most Beautiful 2018” will bring together all Ukrainian celebrities to announce the names of the most beautiful people of the country according to the version of Viva! magazine and the website viva.ua readers. By tradition, the evening will start with a red carpet, which will host the stars of Ukrainian showbiz. The concert program includes performances of the popular singers, bands and dancers. Ticket prices vary from UAH 600 to UAH 6000.

NATIONAL SELECTION FOR THE 2018 EUROVISION SONG CONTEST Center of Culture and Arts KPI ( 37 Peremogy Ave. )

karabas.com/en/tours/eurovision

Take a unique chance to see what is going on in the heart of the National selection for the Song Contest and feel incredible emotions of true fans of the Eurovision 2018! You will have an opportunity not only to watch live performances of the artists, but also to see everything that is happening in the auditorium and beyond during the breaks for advertising and voting. The first semi-final will be held on February 10 , the second semi final - February 17 , and the final will be on February 24. The judges will identify and name the artist who will represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon! The judges’ tribune consists of Jamala, Andriy Danylko (known as Verka Serduchka), and Eugene Filatov - a composer, founder of the band The Maneken, a sound producer of ONUKA and The Elephants. A ticket price is UAH 250 - 1290.

FRANK SINATRA. MUSIC OF LOVE Ukrainian house (2 Khreshchatyk Str.)

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

concert.ua/en/eventpage/frank-sinatra-muzika-kohannja

Have you ever dreamed of a perfect Saint Valentine’s Day? This concert is a must component of the romantic celebration! Incredible prominent Frank Sinatra’s songs played by the striking National Brass Band will help you to get the harmony of feelings, to feel the satisfaction of life and to catch the uniqueness of the moment together with your partner! Come to experience real pleasure and vivid emotions! A ticket price is UAH 150 - 450.

7 PM

MAR 7 7 PM

MAR 7-11 7 PM

THOMAS ANDERS National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.) concert.ua/en/eventpage/thomas-anders Get ready for a brilliant concert of a man, whose voice is remembered even by those who never lived in the 80’s or 90’s. When they hear the words of these songs, they exclaim: “Oh my God! I know this song!

My parents always listen to it!” Thomas Anders - a member of the former Modern Talking duo returns to the capital of Ukraine - to show more and to surprise you with new insane hits! Hurry up, tickets are selling like hot cakes! Prices vary from UAH 450 to UAH 3450.

“LES MEILLEURES CHANSONS DE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS” CONCERT National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.) concert.ua/uk/events/notre-dame Seven incredible voices together with violins and cellos will make you fall in love with beauty again and again. Muffled in the magic of beauty, you will have a unique opportunity to clean your mind and soul, to forget about anxieties and to feel the unique taste of the legend.

All heroes are taken from the book of Victor Hugo “Notre Dame de Paris”. The concert involves 150 artists and more than 30 tons of light and sound equipment. Come and you won’t regret! A ticket price is UAH 400 - 1750.

“LOS VIVANCOS” DANCE SHOW Zhovtnevyi Palace (1 Instytutska Str.)

MAR 8 7 PM

kiev.karabas.com/ls-vivancoso

World famous flamenco kings - Vivancos brothers are coming to the capital to strike you with an insane and fantastic show! Brothers have a truly incredible combination of talents: they do not only dance brilliantly, but also sing and play various musical instruments. Unsurpassed masters combine traditional flamenco with modern dance, step and incredible acrobatic tricks. They transform the concert into an exciting choreographic performance. The show from LOS VIVANCOS is a real performance with stunning decorations and modern light technologies. A ticket price is UAH 350 - 2250.

MAR 21 7 PM

YUNA MUSIC AWARDS National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.) kiev.karabas.com/ua/yuna Tina Karol, O.TORVALD, MONATIK, Boombox, MOZGI, Pianoboi and many other Ukrainian beloved celebrities will entertain guests during the 6th YUNA (Yearly Ukrainian National Awards) prestigious award ceremony held in the National Palace of Arts “Ukraina”. Major Ukrainian musicians and showmen will compete for the title “Best song”, “Best video”, “Best performer”, “Best duet”, “Opening of the year” and other. A ticket price is UAH 200 - 3000.

LARA FABIAN. CAMOUFLAGE National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.) concert.ua/uk/events/lara-fabian The legendary Canadian singer and composer Lara Fabian is coming again to the capital with her new album - “CAMOUFLAGE”. The charming owner of a unique lyric soprano will give three concerts in Kiev, which will be held at the National Palace of Arts «Ukraina» on March 2, 3 and 4. Don’t miss one of the most touching evenings of the year! A ticket price is UAH 550 - 5500.

ARTURO SANDOVAL

Zhovtnevyi Palace (1 Instytutska Str.)

concert.ua/uk/eventpage/arturo-sandoval

The legend of the world jazz Arturo Sandoval will perform again in Kiev at the Zhovtnevyi Palace on March 2. The famous pianist and trumpeter will surprise you with not only classic jazz compositions, but also with many well-known covers! You will undoubtedly feel the atmosphere of passion, eternity and love during this magic performance. Ticket prices vary from UAH 500 - UAH 2650.

www.kievcheckin.com

MAR 29 7 PM

ENTERTAINMENT

LAIMA VAIKULE National Palace of Arts“Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.)

concert.ua/uk/eventpage/laima-vaikule

A talented world-famous Latvian singer is coming to the capital to give a grand concert after a long break.

This incredibly stylish and extravagant woman burst into the life of music lovers in 1986 and since that times she has been performing all over the world! Ilya Reznik gave her the first hit, and composer Raymond Pauls unfading fame and unshakable recognition. Come and see! A ticket price is UAH 350 - UAH 2650.

“WOMAN IN LOVE” CONCERT

Ukrainian house (2 Khreshchatyk Str.) kiev.karabas.com/svyatkovij-koncert-woman-in-love

On the Eve of the Woman’s Day show how much you appreciate your woman’s feelings and present her an unforgettable warm evening at the “Woman in love” festive concert at the Ukrainian house. The National Academic Brass Band of Ukraine will create a unique atmosphere of romantic nostalgia with the help of covers of famous love songs originally performed by Joe Cocker, Queen, Whitney Houston, Robbie Williams, Adele, Ennio Morricone, Robbie Williams and others. A ticket price is UAH 150 - UAH 450.

GEORGIAN NATIONAL BALLET SUKHISHVILI WORLD TOUR National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.) kiev.karabas.com/ua/balet-suhishvili-5 They are called: a hurricane on the stage, a spectacular miracle, a unique phenomenon, the eighth wonder of the World! Their performances were watched by over 90 million viewers. Every year people are waiting for them in different countries to recharge with a positive force and enjoy this fantastic show! 100 dancers and 2500 costumes. Amazing Orchestra and Unique Instruments.

This day you will remember forever! Ticket prices vary from UAH 200 to UAH 1750.

HELENE SEGARA & ROBERTO KEL TORRES

Zhovtnevyi Palace (1 Instytutska Str.) kiev.karabas.com/ua/ele-nsegara-helene-segara-roberto-kel-torres

On the eve of the International Women’s Day, the French Esmeralda of Notre Dame de Paris, Helen Segara and the best performer of romantic and dance music Roberto Kael Torres will warm the hearts of the audience with piercing voices at Zhovtnevyi Palace.

This magnificent music show will be the best gift to all the ladies!A ticket price is UAH 350 - 2900.

ONUKA & NAONI

Zhovtnevyi Palace (1 Instytutska Str.) concert.ua/ru/eventpage/onuka

A perfect combination of world-famous Ukrainian folktronic artist ONUKA and striking NAONI orchestra is back with a new drive program! The organiser promises to surprise you with more than 50 musicians that will demonstrate their incredible playing skills with the help of unusual folk instruments: zozulka, kozobas, Jew’s harp, Surma-horn and many others.

They will harmoniously interweave into a strong and free electro-folk from ONUKA. You will learn how the hits of the modern ONUKA can “get along” with the instruments of the NANOI orchestra. Creativity without borders, beyond all limits will turn your consciousness upside down! Tickets vary from UAH 350 to UAH 3200.

VAHTANG KIKABIDZE. 80 YEARS JUBILEE CONCERT National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” (103 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.)

concert.ua/uk/eventpage/vahtang-kikabidze

The legendary actor, singer Vahtang Kikabidze will give a jubilee concert in Kiev at the National Palace of Arts “Ukraina” on March 29! This man has been known and loved by representatives of several generations.

His songs are popular among many cultures and nationalities. Unforgettable energy, sincere emotions and real Georgian flavor are promised! Tickets vary from UAH 349 to UAH 2249.

www.kievcheckin.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

TOP EVENTS CALENDAR ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS FEB 3-4 II INTERNATIONAL CROSSFIT COMPETITION KYIV BATTLE 2018 Exhibition Center “ACCO International” (40 Peremogy Ave.)

www.kyivbattle.org

On February 03-04, don’t miss the second crossfit tournament in Ukraine, sponsored by the Reebok sports brand. It will bring together 120 talented athletes from different countries: 60 professionals and 60 amateurs will compete for 120, 000 UAH prize. Crossfit is a system of physical exercises and at the same time, it is kind of sports.

When it is necessary to determine the level of training of the crossfitathlete, you have to estimate his strength, endurance, gymnastic and weightlifting skills, weight training, and so on.

The competition will last for two days and will take place at the ACCO International Exhibition Center with over 3,000 spectators.

Everyone can watch this spectacular struggle for the title of the best crossfitter as the entrance is free.

FEB 11 LOVE RUN 2018

1 Rusanivska Naberezhna

athletic-events.com/events/466

Do you want to add some vibrant emotions to your relationships?

Or to say goodbye?A joint jog on a pre-holiday day is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons, to find new friends or a new partner. There is a distance of 4 km and 8 km that you may try alone or together with your partner! All participants will receive memorable medals that symbolize the eternal feeling. There are going to be hot tea, music and hundreds of like-minded runners who will enter the Rusanivska Naberezhna on February 11 no matter what! Come! It will be fun!

APR 22 8TH NOVA POSHTA KYIV HALF MARATHON

4 Kontraktova Square kyivhalfmarathon.org/en/race/nova-poshta-kyiv-half-marathon

We all come from different cities, we run for different reasons, but we all run! 8th Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon is one of the most titled event in Ukraine which unites both amateur and professional runners. It became the first race in Ukraine to receive the IAAF Bronze Label!

As far as running a half marathon is a serious challenge, the organizers highly recommend to start preparing for the event in advance, especially for those who are planning to run for the first time. Traditionally, there are several distances at the Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon: 21,0975 km, 5 km, 2 km and two relay distances: 2x10 km and 4x5 km. You will run through picturesque streets of Podil and down beautiful streets along the mighty Dnipro River.

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ENTERTAINMENT

TOP EVENTS CALENDAR

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

BUSINESS & EXHIBITIONS

Souvenirs

Gifts

Narodnyi Dim Ukraina NARODNYI DIM UKRAINA is a unique arts and crafts shop and the first of its kind in the heart of Kiev. Its 150 square meters are filled with exclusive souvenirs, ceramic ware, books, icons, Ukrainian costumes and many other items representing the national culture, most of them handmade by the finest craftsmen. Its staff is enormously happy to see a growing number of young people becoming interested in Ukrainian history and traditions and would like to introduce Ukraine’s rich culture all over the world.

7 Febryary 2018

FEB 7 IV LEGAL BANKING FORUM 2018

FEB 8 COMMUNITY PARTY

People’s deputies of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine and the Supreme Court of Ukraine representatives, lawyers, bankers, law firms and partners will gather on the conference that will become a platform to expand the professional network, share experience and learn fresh tendencies in the professional area. IV Legal Banking Forum speakers are going to discuss the transformation of Ukrainian banking system, digitalisation of financial sector, how to deal with problem assets, banking risks, legislative gaps and arbitrage practice, etc.

The organizer guarantees that within two hours you will receive 300 new potential business partners because the format of the event provides the maximum number of acquaintances for a short period of time. Each guest will receive a holder with business cards of all potential business partners who are present at the event. This project is also an amazing event for your children. They are going to learn the experience of the most progressive companies in the country!

Non-standard format will ensure the presence of some of the most interesting personalities.

Premier Palace Hotel (5-7/29 T. Shevchenka Blvd. Pushkinska Str.) pravo.ua/events.php?id=75

National Clothes

Klitschko Expo (55 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.)

EMBROIDERED SHIRT, OR VYSHYVANKA It’s hard to imagine something more Ukrainian than the vyshyvanka — an embroidered shirt in traditional style that has recently become a fashion trend worldwide. It is a truly Ukrainian clothing element and the most popular item in the store.

kiev.karabas.com/community-party

Sometimes an entire family comes in to choose embroidered shirts for each family member, down to the very youngest one.

Vyshyvanka styles aren’t limited to shirts and T-shirts. There are also exquisite and stylish dresses with beautiful embellishments and patterns that spotlight the beauty, femininity, and perfect taste of the lucky woman who wears one of them. The men’s embroidered shirt also looks very stylish, and any toddler seen wearing a small embroidered shirt always draws admiration.

PETRYKIVKA PAINTING This traditional decorative painting style, originating in the Dnipropetrovsk region, is so unique, it was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. It’s notable for colorful embellishments featuring flowers, berries, and birds, applied to plates, cutlery, and vases that have deep universal symbolism. Gifts featuring petrykivka painting not only add beautiful detail but bring special warmth and comfort to your home.

CERAMIC WARE Every plate, bowl or cup featured in the shop is a work of art as well as a functional item you will enjoy using in your everyday life at home. Ukrainian ceramics are usually made of highquality clay that will serve you for many years or become memorable gifts for those you love.

FEB 27- MAR 01 9TH UKRAINIAN ENERGY FORUM

MAR 2-4 PLUG-IN UKRAINE 2018

We are delighted to invite you to the 9TH UKRAINIAN ENERGY FORUM - the annual meeting-placefor Ukrainian & international energy communities - which will take place on 27 February – 1 March at InterContinental Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine. With this invitation via Kiev Check-in magazine, you are entitled to a 10% discount. Simply quote your VIP code: 1141mKCI upon registration online.

Leading industry decision makers such as Andriy Kobolyev (Chief executive officer, Naftogaz of Ukraine), Oleg Prokopenko (Chairman of the board, UkrGasVydobuvannya), Maxim Timchenko (Chief executive officer, DTEK) and many more will share their insights into the market developments, reform and future prospects.

Among the main topics are: integration of the Ukrainian and European energy systems, market reform, energy security and competitiveness of the energy market of Ukraine, new opportunities in Ukrainian petroleum and gas processing, increasing volumes of domestic gas and oil production, Ukrainian energy market after 2019.

The third international Trade Show of Electric & Hybrid Vehicles Plug-In Ukraine 2018 will be conducted on March 2-4 at KyivExpoPlaza.

It showcases such products as electrobuses, electric cars, e-bikes, EV-scooters, motorcycles, charging stations, electric accessories, accumulating batteries, motors, controllers and much more.

You will have opportunity to meet with the representatives of Auto, Automotive, Electronics & Electrical Goods industries, EV service and leasing providers. Ticket price: UAH 60 (if you buy in advance), UAH 80 (if you buy on-the-spot).

InterContinental Hotel Kyiv (2A Velyka Zhytomyrska Str.) www.ukrainianenergy.com

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KyivExpoPlaza (2B Salyutna Str.)

ICONS AND BOOKS The shop features an exclusive selection of Icons and books to appeal to true art lovers, made by a devoted team of creators who are great fans of Ukraine and its rich, ancient history. Icons are produced using a method called galvanoplasty, with the use of silver and gold coatings, and are considered a very special and valuable gift. Many of the books presented here are issued in limited editions, and you won’t find some of the full collections even in Ukraine’s largest book archives.

www.pluginua.org

MAR 1-3 EVIM2018

At Narodnyi Dim Ukraina, you can choose the perfect gift amid an atmosphere of romance and inspiration, in a place that reflects all the love, patience, diligence and uniqueness of the Ukrainian people.

Almost all products at the manufacturers’ prices!

International Exhibition Centre (15 Brovarsky Ave.)

EVIM Summit is an international event aimed to provide the discussion and networking framework for development of new mobility in the CEE region, bring new opportunities, technologies and investments into the fast growing new mobility and electric vehicles market. www.kievcheckin.com

nd-ukraine.com

4 Prorizna Str.

+38 044 539 17 00 +38 096 539 17 00

www.facebook.com/narodniydimukraine www.instagram.com/narodniydimukraine

SEE&DO

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

WHAT’S NEW IN THE CITY ENTERTAINMENT

What’s New in the City?

ELECTRIC VEHICLES EXPECTED TO BOOM IN UKRAINE

On December 7, 2017, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to amend Ukraine’s tax code, opting to cancel the value added tax (20%) and the excise tax (EUR 109) on the import of electric cars throughout 2018 (Bill № 6776-д). The bill also implies an exemption from VAT for taxi services with battery-only electric vehicles. Additionally, the bill aims to reduce the cost of renting all forms of passenger transport with all-electric vehicles (including leasing, EV hire, and transport movement by EV on a by-order basis). The bill came into force on January 1, 2018.

TIGER CONFERENCE 2017

On December 5, 2017, the 6th Kyiv Post Tiger Conference, dubbed “Vision 2020: Capturing Innovations,” took place at the 5-star Hilton Kyiv. The annual Tiger Conference brings together 400+ Ukrainian and world leaders as well as key decision-makers in government, business and civil society.

At a panel on Transforming Security and Defense, speakers agreed that Ukraine’s defenses are strong and have huge potential, but due to massive corruption and obsolete management style, the sector fails to reform progressively.

The Strategic Communications: Branding Ukraine panel discussed the importance of proper strategic branding of Ukraine. Leading communication and branding experts offered advice and opinions

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MARIYINSKY PALACE HAS REOPENED AFTER 10 YEARS OF RESTORATION!

On January 16, the renovated Mariyinsky Palace finally opened its doors and became a venue for official diplomatic receptions.

The reopening ceremonies, conducted by the President of Ukraine, were attended by the heads of the diplomatic missions of foreign countries and international organizations accredited in Ukraine.

Mariyinsky Palace, built in 1755, serves a broader purpose as the official ceremonial residence of the President and has undergone reconstruction since 2007 at a cost of more than UAH 1 billion. When not in use for ceremonial purposes, the Palace is supposed to become a museum of architecture and history to which the public can arrange a visit. Let’s keep our fingers crossed! on how to improve Ukraine’s brand as a nation and gave examples of how branding works in well-developed successful countries.

According to them, Ukraine needs to develop a consistent story and positive, well-prepared message to promote itself. Successful commercial products and success stories can greatly help with this task. What is more, most participants, while speaking about country brands, agreed there is a direct connection between the degree of foreign investment and a boost in tourism.

Speakers at the Renewables Revolution panel agreed that, despite Ukraine’s promise in the energy sector, the lack of quorum at the National Energy regulator and political instability dampen investor confidence when thinking of strategic investment in that sector of the economy.

Speakers at the Transformational Innovations panel discussed the importance of financial technology innovations for the country’s economy. While banks in Ukraine retain traditional “old-school” service structures with the ability to invest, financial technology enterprises are innovative, yet struggle to find seed money. The two can and should find a way to collaborate and help each other out, the panelists agreed.

At the panel on Cybersecurity, speakers discussed the main threats as well as the best virtual defenses, and had some suggestions for the government. Special attention was paid to the global danger of recent big cyber attacks on Ukraine, including ones using the Petya and NotPetya ransomware viruses. Speakers agreed that Ukraine is very likely a testing platform for those willing to attack other countries based on Ukraine’s experience.

In addition to the expert panels, participants in the 6th Kyiv Post Tiger Conference were able to check out 10 of Ukraine’s hottest startups, which are promoting innovations in fields ranging from energy to education and agriculture.

Kiev Check-In

13

SHOPPING

Gift Ideas for Your Loved One

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

SHOPPING

Soap Flowers www.soap-flowers.com.ua l

Soap Flowers Unique Flower Bouquet

These days, when the whole world seems focused on finding creative solutions and innovative ideas, even flowers—thought of worldwide as a most traditional gift for a loved one—can appear in delightfully unpredictable new forms. Charming bouquets crafted out of fruits, vegetables, and candies create a timeless message of romance that she’ll not just admire but also find delightfully tasty. But here’s another interesting bouquet idea I was lucky to discover several weeks ago, whose charm and exquisiteness honestly took my breath away.

What would you say to presenting your sweetheart with a beautiful bouquet of handmade soap roses enriched with natural oils, which never fade and will delight the eye indefinitely? It’s easy to make her feel like a princess when you can decorate the bathroom with soap petals and dissolve a few of them into the bath. What a wonderful surprise! Each rose looks like the real thing, while the extremely delicate petals feel as smooth and soft as silk.

One touch and you’ll fall in love. We found an abundance of colors, types and bouquet designs at the soap Flowers Shop, located in the Obolon district in Kiev.

for S A E D Gift I e n O D E V O Your L here What & W

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www.kievcheckin.com

Dozens of Choices

Soap Flowers Shop offers a variety of soap-rose bouquets. Besides classic colours, soap roses come in unusual shades of purple, brown and even light green. The shop can help you create your own bouquet, turning your imagination into reality and letting you boast of having made the gift with your own hands, all with the help of professional florists.

Natural Soap Composition

One of the main advantages of such a bouquet is its incredible fragrance, thanks to the tender notes of aromatic oils infused into each petal. Each shade in the collection has its own, special scent, and she’ll love the great skincare properties of the spa-quality soap.

Creative coverage

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but the wide variety of packaging styles for your Soap Flowers bouquet is really impressive, ranging from small decorative baskets to large gift-wrapped bouquets containing more than 100 flowers!

Surprise someone beautifully with Soap Flowers!

Kiev, “Dream Town 2” Shopping Center (the 1st floor, entrance 3) +38 093 984 44 55, +38 098 984 44 55 www.facebook.com/SoapFlowersUA soap-flowers.com.ua www.instagram.com/soapflowersua

SHOPPING

Gift Ideas for Your Loved One

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

Gift Ideas for Your Loved One

SHOPPING

Helena SAI

Women’s clothing by

Olga Gramm

Women’s clothing by

Frizman

VEG COUTURE

Welcome to the Helena SAI jewelry boutique, where every woman can find an original handcrafted accessory that celebrates her individuality, while every man can choose a perfect gift for his Miss Right!

Accessories by Helena SAI inspire women to be themselves and explore new facets of their true character. Every item of jewelry has its own flair: lighthearted tassel earrings, graceful necklaces, romantic twisted bracelets, eye-catching woven earrings, and statement-piece chokers.

Every accessory is handcrafted in Helena SAI’s workshop in Kiev using natural materials such as precious and semiprecious stones, silk threads and mohair yarn, glass and hypoallergenic steel. Each piece is made with a commitment to the principles of perfect quality, original design and elegant form.

Helena SAI looks forward to introducing its accessories to you and offering to all its customers the pleasure of wearing beautiful natural stone jewelry.

An elegant brand of women’s contemporary clothing comes from young designer Olga Gramm, who knows exactly how to help a woman present her most beautiful self to the world — creating an image that highlights her unique features and makes her feel absolutely inspired yet comfortable.

Olga Gramm uses exclusive, high-quality fabrics, which the designer selects personally. Every item and every detail exudes style and elegance. Wearing clothes by Olga Gramm, she’ll be so gorgeous you may find yourself falling in love all over again. If she’s dithering as usual about what to wear on your date, she’ll be in for a luxurious surprise when you hand her a beautifully wrapped package with that perfect dress made by Olga Gramm.

Olga Gramm invites women to visit her showroom, see the bright new collection and pick up some beautiful clothing that will bring magic to any woman’s wardrobe.

Note, Olga Gramm clothing can be delivered throughout Ukraine and Europe. If you’re buying an evening dress, dry cleaning is Olga Gramm’s gift to you.

What can warm up your heart apart from love and care?

How about a stylish coat made of natural fabrics, or an ecofriendly, down-filled jacket with an ultra-light heater inside, made by Frizman?

This Ukrainian brand is particularly distinguished for its warm unlined coats made of double-faced wool, carefully crafted using an intricate Hand Made technique that Frizman was one of the first to use in Ukraine.

In 2016, Frizman presented capsule collections of women’s clothing, including dresses, trousers and suits. In autumn-winter collections, brand uses exclusively naturalfiber fabrics: high-quality merino wool, alpaca fiber and cashmere, while summer collections are made of natural flax, silk and cotton.

Check out discounts available in February on the 20172018 fall/winter collection. The new spring-summer collection will be released this March.

VEG COUTURE is a deluxe brand of outer clothing made of fabulous fake fur for women who want guilt-free luxury. VEG COUTURE respects the beauty of the female soul and body, and creates warm winter coats that reflect and enhance that beauty in everyday life.

Furs and other materials for VEG COUTURE creations are purchased only from quality suppliers and pre-tested for durability to ensure you’ll enjoy your garment for many years.

Holofiber technology makes each coat light and yet incredibly warm, even when it’s -30C outside.

The brand offers a wide range of styles, some of them in limited editions. VEG COUTURE knows that every woman aspires to a unique look, so many styles offer the opportunity to customize your purchase to meet your every desire with individual size, color, and options like a removable hood and sleeves.

In 2018, VEG Couture plans to release capsule collections of jewelry designed to work harmoniously with the brand’s clothing. Stay warm, stylish, and luxurious with VEG COUTURE!

Accessories by

86 P Kazimira Malevicha Str. (office 316) +38 067 464 15 13 www.instagram.com/helena_sai_/ www.facebook.com/helenasai.jewelry helenasai.com

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48 Kazimira Malevicha Str. +38 068 666 58 66 www.facebook.com/olgagrammclothes www.instagram.com/olga_gramm/

www.kievcheckin.com

Frizman store, 10 Verkhnii Val Str. (1 floor of the BC) +38 044 459 73 73 Frizman store, SM Metrograd, Central block +38 044 394 83 05 Satin store, SM Ocean Plaza, 0 level +38 095 550 45 63

Ukrainian Designer’s Corner, TSUM Kyiv Department Store 0 800 60 02 02 instagram.com/frizmanbrand www.facebook.com/frizmanbrand frizman.ua

www.kievcheckin.com

Women’s clothing by

TSUM Shopping Mall (3 floor, in the Ukrainian Designers section) 21 Khoryva Str. (*The shop opens on February 10)

+38063 445 70 88 (Telegram Messenger)

www.facebook.com/ Vegcouture/?ref =bookmarks www.instagram.com/vegcouture vegcouture.com

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Women in Art

SEE&DO

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

Women in Art Throughout the centuries, women have always held pride of place in Ukrainian society. Respect for one’s wife and mother is an essential feature of our cultural mentality. Ukrainian family relationships are built on the equality of man and woman, on the principles of democracy. Women take pride in and are lauded for their role as preservers of the hearth, of family values and traditions, and as creators of beauty. Traditionally, women used the embroidery of the Ukrainian rushnyk as a mean to express themselves and their hopes for health and well-being in a ritual cloth believed to hold spiritual power and serve as a protection for the family. Often during wars, Ukrainian women have risen to the challenge of protecting their country, on par with men. Women have also written and performed the inspiring songs that cheered and encouraged the Ukrainian nation to persevere through tough times in its history.

It’s no wonder that women have made a significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian art, transforming their strong perception of beauty into charming and meaningful paintings. Here we invite you to dive into the graceful world of Ukrainian women’s art, particularly fabulous masterpieces by the highly renowned Maria Prymachenko, Tetyana Yablonska, Kateryna Bilokur and Valentyna Kozyar, whose works glorify Ukrainian art throughout the world and have become a source of inspiration for numerous admirers.

by Tetyana Yablonska

by Valentyna Kozyar

by Kateryna Bilokur

EXPLORE UKRAINIAN ART AT: NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF UKRAINE Address: 6 Mykhayla Grushevskogo Str. (nearest metro station: Khreshchatyk) About 40,000 items are exhibited on the museum’s two floors, including Ukrainian painting, sculptures, and graphics from various periods from Kievan Rus to the present.

Entrance fee: Adults UAH 40, children UAH 10.

CENTRAL HOUSE OF PAINTER 1-5 Sichovykh Striltsiv Str., 3rd floor While the main emphasis is on nationwide annual exhibitions, you will also find occasional one-man show, international and themed exhibitions at Central House of Painter.

Entrance is free of charge.

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by Maria Prymachenko ANDRIYIVSKY DESCENT Dotted with beautiful churches, art galleries and souvenir shops, Andriyivsky Descent is a favourite spot for tourists in Kiev. This extremely beautiful ancient street is adorned with numerous paintings by talented Ukrainian artists presented in the open air and offered for sale on the spot.

Visitors are fascinated by the uniquely creative atmosphere developed by artists and craftsmen, the main inhabitants of these streets.

Lifehack: To enjoy the abundance of art to be found here to the full, it’s better to come during the daytime on weekends when the weather is fine.

As you go up the descent, just before Saint Andrew’s Church, turn to the left and you will find an alley fully packed with works of art. www.kievcheckin.com

FOOD & DRINKS

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

Sweets & Bakery

FOOD & DRINKS

SMIYAN CONFECTIONERY

y r e k a B & s t e e w S

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MADAME JOSY PATISSERIE The first thing that appeals about this confectionary is its location. It’s in the heart of Kiev, but on a street so calm and cozy that the city bustle seems to have no chance.

Breathe in the shop’s magical Parisian charm and meet the refined Madame Josy, who is ready to share the secrets of French hospitality and acquaint you with the most exquisite of French desserts.

Most of the ingredients here are imported from France. Violet and rose water, sublimated berries, flower petals — you’ll taste little miracles spun from elements like these in desserts such as the Violeta, an elegant mousse cake in floral hues flavored with the sweetness and tang of berries.

Or enjoy a classic eclair, perfect just as it is with no need to gild the lily. Don’t miss the vanilla one (48 UAH), with a harmony of flavors, simply presented. A minute after it arrives, don’t be surprised to find your plate empty and yourself enthusiastically requesting the second.

The drink menu perfectly complements the fantastic desserts. There are beverages for every taste: classic and specialty blend

20 Kiev Check-In

If the smell of freshly baked croissants leaves you feeling cheerful all day, a great dessert gives you a surge of endorphins, and a cup of fragrant coffee seems to send your creativity soaring, Smiyan Confectionery is your kind of place, a combination of all the most delicious from the past, present and future! Here you’ll find all kinds of deliciousness, starting with traditional desserts beloved from your childhood, the recipes carefully preserved yet improved and embellished. Melt-in-your-mouth eclairs filled with excellent custard (from UAH 50) and classic macarons with various fillings (from UAH 25) transport lucky customers directly to France.

The wonderful homey aroma of Smiyan’s freshly roasted coffee is matched by its maximal flavor, from a Central American blend. In order to achieve the desired culinary result, Smiyan imports premium products from Italy.

A distinctive feature of the confectionery is that desserts are sold by weight rather than by the piece, which means you don’t need to buy a whole cake if you want just a little indulgence. You can buy as little as an 150–180 g slice if you prefer.

Note, the cafe also offers fast and convenient delivery service, seven days a

week, and you can order any product you like for delivery on their website (with 5-10 % discount).

The Kingdom of Sweet Phantasies Smiyan actively participates in the development of culinary art in Kiev and is also a frequent guest and partner of largescale events in Ukraine.

Menu highlights: Drunken Cherry Cake (UAH 146 / 320 g.)

Cherry pie with cream and powdered sugar (113 UAH / 380 g.)

Kiev cake on the recipe of 1956 with the addition of cashew (UAH 138 / 280 g.)

Cheesecake of real Philadelphia cheese (175 UAH/ 350 g.)

perfect cappuccino for all lovers of coffee with milk. Royal Bakery changes its menu two times a year, but some things never leave it, such as its signature veal salad and soup served in bread bowls. Prices for the full menu, pastries and coffee are moderate, ranging from UAH 70 for coffee and pie to 160-250 UAH for a full dinner.

As this is a family neighborhood institution, Royal Bakery holds many celebrations for children as well as master classes on various topics, such as «Create your Fir-tree», «Make a Pie,» «Christmas Miracle,» and «The Best Croissant.» There are also competitions, for example for the

best Easter drawing, for which the winner receives a basket of amazing paskas.

Menu highlights: Caramelized pear tart (UAH 45) Profiteroles with custard (UAH 30) Raspberry cheesecake (UAH 55) Banana dessert (UAH 70)

45 Vyshgorodska Str. 24А Heroes of Stalingrad Str. 2 Esplanadna Str. +38 044 223 78 22 Hours: 8 am – 10 pm www.smiyan.com.ua www.facebook.com/sweetsmiyan/

ROYAL BAKERY

teas, fragrant fresh-roasted coffee, and fine French wines. The choice depends on your mood and how long you choose to linger. But be careful — time can fly by imperceptibly here.

Madame takes orders for cakes, and the shop’s confectioners are prepared to translate your wishes into incredible French-style desserts.

This is more than a confectionery; it’s a place with its own sincere and vibrant personality, where you can’t help but want to return again and again. It doesn’t matter whether you’re there to meet friends,

to talk business, or cultivate a budding romance. Madame Josy confectionery will conquer your heart as soon as you cross its threshold.

Menu highlights: Vanilla eclair (UAH 48) Violeta mousse cake (UAH 97) Cerise mousse cake (UAH 103) 4 Grinchenka Str. +38 068 133 80 87 Hours: 8 am – 10 pm (Mon - Fri), 9 am – 10 pm (Sat - Sun) www.facebook.com/Madame.josy www.kievcheckin.com

The Royal Bakery cafe is located in one of the most beautiful places in Kiev — Obolonska Quay. Guests, regardless of their status and level of popularity, feel very comfortable and informally in the cafe.

Thanks to its huge assortment of baked goods, and a balanced and tasty menu, you’ll always enjoy passing time there.

What makes Royal Bakery a unique place is the nightly routine of mixing, shaping, baking and filling pastries in time for the morning rush. You won’t find fanciful, unnatural desserts here, because Royal’s goal is quality, good taste and absolute safety of the products. If you come any morning, you’ll be impressed by the array of choices.

You’ll see divine desserts, low-calorie pastries, and, for those with special needs, baked goods made without yeast, sugar or gluten. In the evening, these items can be purchased at a big discount, and you may even be given something as a gift. As the night begins, the process of baking starts all over again, so morning customers can enjoy nothing but the very best, freshly baked foods. Also, we must not fail to mention the excellent coffee, made in the best Italian tradition. We recommend their www.kievcheckin.com

Obolonska Naberezhna Str., build. 7, part 2 +38 097 223 32 22 Hours: 8 am – 10 pm www.royalbakery.com.ua instagram: @royal_bakery_kiev www.facebook.com/royalbakerykyiv

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FOOD & DRINKS

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

Great Wine & Good Food

FOOD & DRINKS

KHMELI–SUNELI

Great Wine & >>> >>> Good Food

22 Kiev Check-In

www.kievcheckin.com

Khmeli–Suneli is a sunny piece of Georgia in the central Pechersk area of Kiev.

The restaurant was nominated by the New Time magazine as one of Ukraine’s 100 best eateries, so it’s definitely worth visiting due to the combination of professional service, truly Georgian hospitality, modern design and delicious food. Therefore Khmeli-Suneli is among the most popular restaurants of Kiev.

Its menu gives something special to every customer. The best dishes of Georgian cuisine are presented in the menu such as Chicken Tabaka with a crispy crust (UAH 280); fried aubergines rolls with walnuts and Georgian spices (UAH 153); Dakepili a la Hevsureti (a kind of khinkali prepared according to an old recipe with chopped veal, UAH 149), and a lot of other dishes. The Head chef develops and changes the menu of Khmeli-Suneli seasonally.

It should be highlighted that Khmeli– Suneli is a real paradise for a sweet-tooth, with a variety of Georgian sweets (hazinaky, baklava, pelamushi, churchkhela), housemade jams, and other classic desserts.

Cocktails with Georgian twist contain chacha brandy, have the authentic names (Tbilisi, Batumi, Georgia peach), and perfectly match to the menu.

>>>

Every Friday and Saturday, live musicians draw guests into incendiary Georgian dancing in celebration of the weekend.

Traditionally on the occasion of important winter and spring holidays such as February 14 and March 8, the restaurant prepares the variety of surprises and special offers to make your rest here even more delightful. English speaking waiters provide an outstanding service for the customers from abroad.

Everyone is welcome to feel an authentic Georgian atmosphere here, and one day you may find yourself buying a ticket to Tbilisi!

4/6 Omelyanovycha - Pavlenko Str. +38050 415 28 28 Hours: from 12 pm till 12 am (Sunday Thursday), from 12 pm till 2 am (Friday and Sunday) www.instagram.com/hmelirest/?hl=en www.facebook.com/HmeliSuneli

FERMER GREEN Get fresh, high-quality, locally produced products from farmers and small craft enterprises delivered straight to your door!

The online shop Fermer Green encourages you to try this new shopping experience that excludes exhausting trips to the market, checkout lines and carriage of heavy bags back to home.

They offer around 3,500 exclusive, carefully selected, high-quality products that can’t be found in supermarkets or other markets. Residents of Kiev and its suburbs can enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and fish, milk products, groceries and sweets supplied by local farms, family and craft enterprises.

When choosing suppliers, Fermer Green gives priority to tasty, natural, highquality products grown in an ecologically clean environment without chemicals, and produced not far from Kiev. Instead of keeping goods in stock, Fermer Green organizes direct delivery from suppliers to clients three times a week, which ensures that everything customers receive is as fresh as possible.

Orders arrive on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and you can request a preferred time of delivery. Fermer Green has also recently launched delivery of www.kievcheckin.com

+38 044 333 47 03 fermergreen.com www.instagram.com/fermer__green www.facebook.com/fermergreen

products to restaurants, bars, cafes, and pizzerias, providing them with quality local goods consistently and on time.

Please note, orders can be placed only via the website (it is available in Russian); no orders are taken by phone. iOS users may find it even handier to use the FermerGreen app.

Don’t miss: Rabbit cutlet with cheese (UAH 279 /270 g.); Escargot Bourguignon (UAH 165 /150 g.); Blue Stilton cheese with port and red cheddar (UAH 296 /250 g.); Bukhanets craft beer (UAH 160/4 bottles of 0,33 l.).

Kiev Check-In

23

FOOD FOOD&&DRINKS DRINKS

Romantic Restaurants

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

Romantic Restaurants

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FOOD & DRINKS FOOD & DRINKS

There’s no doubt that spending a memorable evening at an excellent restaurant or bar contemplating a beautiful sunset together is always a welcome addition to your plans for romance. Just pick from this list and put a smile on your valentine’s face!

Romantic

Restaurants

24 Kiev Check-In

to

Impress

MATISSE

ALTECHO, the Romance Service Altecho, the romance service, stands ready to assist you in devising a truly unforgettable surprise for the one you love, such as a charming rooftop dinner with a panoramic view of the main sights of Kiev including the Motherland Monument, Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Dnipro River, Podil, Pechersk and the capital’s five bridges.

Don’t worry: she can wear that elegant dress without shivering even at this chilly time of year, thanks to a warm and transparent gazebo that will keep you both cozy while you enjoy the spectacular view.

The atmosphere is romantic to the max, in a setting decorated with rose petals, candles and fresh flowers, exquisite lamps and vases. You can be serenaded by a masterful saxophonist or violinist, and dance to “Careless Whisper” while you admire the red sky at sunset, or later the thousands of lights of glowing Kiev, merging with the stars of the night sky.

A professional photographer will be at your disposal to capture her radiant smile.

The range of possible additional services is really astonishing: fireworks, a telescope on the roof, delivery by limousine, and even a Champagne bath!

Designed

Highlights of the menu: Dinner on the roof with table service, a telescope for star-gazing, candles, rose petals (the “Classic”): from UAH 900 per hour Every additional hour: UAH 300 Photo session: UAH 400 per hour Live music: UAH 450 Delivery by limousine: UAH 1500

If she is a real cinema addict, Altecho can organize your date in a cozy room with an individual viewing of your favorite movie on a big screen. She won’t refuse a chance to watch Titanic again, snuggling up to you during the most exciting scenes.

Every date, of course, is unique. The menu, prices and services can vary, depending on your wishes. A growing number of foreigners have been using the services of Altecho, which has some employees fluent in English and Spanish, and who also understand French.

Romance tip: If you’re planning something spectacular, don’t tell your love where you are taking her. If you’re a

good actor, it’s easy enough to invent some banal plan for the evening and let Altecho’s employees know about it in advance; they’ll do their best to play along until it’s time to spring the big surprise. That’s the key to making this a really memorable occasion, one sure to surprise and delight your date.

She is truly worthy of that, so do your best!

5 Yuri Shumski Str. (here

is a creative space and playground, where a romantic dinner on the roof is held)

+380 93 549 54 54 +380 97 267 97 72 www.altecho.club (available in English) www.facebook.com/altecho.club www.instagram.com/altecho

www.kievcheckin.com

At a height of 52 meters in the very heart of the capital is a warm little paradise for couples, Matisse restaurant.

It’s the perfect spot for those looking to spend a wonderful evening in an atmosphere of romance and tranquility.

With its range of exquisite dishes, elegant service, vibrant choice of fine wines, and breathtaking views, accompanied by relaxing lounge music, it’s no wonder Matisse is a popular choice for declarations of love and marriage proposals. (And of course, the ladies say “yes!”)

The best time to visit is in the evening, when Kiev lights up, or at sunset, when you can enjoy the changing colors of the sky from its panoramic glass walls.

Traditional Ukrainian cuisine, French and Italian dishes are lovingly cooked in Matisse’s open kitchen.

Your tastebuds will be delighted by their special salad with duck, mango and soft goat cheese, foie gras with mango puree and berries, classic cheesecake, and a special sweet surprise timed to the holiday.

Complete the picture by sampling from Matisse’s collection of vintage champagnes, divine wines and other alcoholic beverages available in the wine www.kievcheckin.com

bar. The sommelier can help you make the best choice.

On Valentine’s Day, Matisse invites couples to enjoy a special program and extra surprises in its romantic atmosphere.

To be sure to get your lucky table, with an excellent view, remember to book well in advance.

Lifehack: to reach the restaurant from the lobby of CITYHOTEL, take the elevator on the left side (which will work without a hotel guest card).

56A Bohdana Khmelnitskohgo Str. (15th floor of CITYHOTEL) daily from 7 am till 12 pm +38 044 393 59 29 +38 067 408 38 38 matisse.com.ua www.instagram.com/matissekyiv www.facebook.com/MatisseRestoran

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FOOD & DRINKS

Romantic Restaurants

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FOOD & DRINKS

TERRACE RESTAURANT at the Vozdvyzhensky BOUTIQUE HOTEL The Terrace Restaurant is just a few steps from the magical Andriyivsky Descent, the real heart of Kiev.

This restaurant attracts many guests with its romantic atmosphere, cozy garden terraces, and a reputation for tasteful hospitality.

Traditionally on February 14, for Valentine’s Day, couples are invited to an especially romantic evening. This year the Terrace is going to amuse guests on “BAR/ADAM&EVA” party with an aphrodisiac menu, specially created cocktails, and dancing topped off by prize draws and surprises!

On this festive occasion, hotel guests are greeted with a glass of “Oh, my Paradise” welcome cocktail in the elegant lobby, which ensures the party begins the moment you step into the hotel. Live music, exquisite treats including the unforgettable dessert show, and gifts from the hotel and restaurant await in the Banquet Hall (Price: UAH 2000 per person). If you like, you can ask for an especially romantic tete-a-tete table at the Terrace Restaurant.

On March 8, Women’s Day, the Terrace Restaurant offers the ladies exclusive cocktails in a very friendly atmosphere.

Perfect service and a great variety of dishes guarantee you’ll have a nice time here. Just don’t forget to book your table in advance.

As the restaurant is a part of the Vozdvyzhensky boutique hotel, it’s a great idea to book a charming room for the night

and enjoy a fresh in-room breakfast in the morning, letting the festive mood continue into the next day.

60 a,b, Vozdvyzhenska Str. +38 044 585 99 33 +38 067 242 90 03 (for table reservation) vozd-hotel.com www.facebook.com/Vozdvyzhensky www.instagram.com/vozd_hotel

WHISKY CORNER St. Valentine is a regular guest at Whisky Corner restaurant. Perhaps, he’s a great fan of Mortlach Pedro Ximénez, whisky that is as sweet as the first love?

On the 14th of February, he is expected to pay a visit to Whisky Corner and create an unforgettable atmosphere that all lovers aspire to find this day: a candlelit dinner with delicious dishes (aphrodisiacs, if you wish), accompanied by the sounds of romantic music and declarations of love.

On this special day, the chef highly recommends sauteed scallops with bacon and leek (UAH 385) and assorted royal prawns, mussels, and scallops with cream sauce (UAH 695), together with a glass of scotch or a disarming custom cocktail crafted by a professional sommelier at Whisky Corner, just the thing to accompany a passionate kiss.

Some people seem to think Whisky Corner is a restaurant catering mainly to men, but we certainly never said that!

Our female guests at Whisky Corner are simply charming and fond of whisky, so on Women’s Day, in particular, they receive the maximum amount of attention and love. Whisky Corner restaurant is open daily and ready to make any holiday even more pleasant and enlightening.

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Discover the world of whisky, brighten up any gloomy evening, and remember that a well-chosen drink is the perfect accompaniment to a Scottish feast. Find, love, and enjoy!

16/16 Sofiivska Str. +38 050 4803803 +38 044 279 02 15 www.facebook.com/WhiskyCorner www.whiskycorner.kiev.ua/ru/home www.kievcheckin.com

www.kievcheckin.com

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TRAVEL

Interview

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

Take me to the

CARPATHIANS

Looking for an exciting adventure? Welcome to the Carpathians!

The second-longest mountain range in Europe includes Ukraine’s highest peak, Mount Hoverla (2,061 meters, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast), and a year-round tourist and recreation complex that offers a great number of breathcatching outdoor activities. The Carpathians are a real pearl of Western Ukraine, located 650 to 750 km from Kiev.

Fresh air, great mountains, unique landscapes, beautiful national parks, and a wide choice of mineral and thermal waters make the Carpathian range an extremely popular tourist attraction. Note, this is a particularly popular destination in winter, so it is better to make hotel reservations a few months before the trip.

How to get there: The route to the Carpathians passes through the cities of Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv, which can be easily reached from Kiev by plane, train or bus. A bus will take you to the mountains from IvanoFrankivsk in two to three hours for around UAH 45-70, and from Lviv in four to five hours, for around UAH 150-200. There is also an overnight train from Kiev to Uzhhorod that can drop you at the northern part of Ukraine’s Carpathians, where the prominent ski resort Slavske is situated. Check on train tickets here: www.uz.gov.ua

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TOP REASONS TO VISIT THE CARPATHIANS:

1

SKI TOURISM

Developed ski trails with varying levels of difficulty, winter sports competitions, and a great tourism infrastructure including ski equipment rentals, all these are waiting for you here.

The season starts in December and lasts till March or April, depending on the weather. Travel tip: It is much cheaper and less crowded in the Carpathians in February and the beginning of spring.

Here you’ll find one of the largest top-ranked ski resort in Eastern Europe, BUKOVEL (Ivano-Frankivska oblast), that is situated on five mountains and notable for the high level of service and well-developed tourism infrastructure.

There are around 62 ski slopes suitable for beginners and children (12 slopes), amateurs (41 slopes), experienced skiers (12 slopes) with a total length of approximately 50 kilometers.

All of them are well-equipped and have 14 modern ski-lifts. A daily adult ski pass will cost you near UAH 975. Keep in mind that prices are not cheap in Bukovel, typically 20% to 30% higher than in lesspopular Ukrainian resorts.

There is also a SPA all-year-round resort, as well as a medical center with its own source of mineral water. Tourists often prefer to stay in near ski resorts YABLUNYTSA (13 km. from Bukovel, has its own colored tracks - 9 slopes of red and blue difficulty levels) and YAREMCHE (30 km. from Bukovel, has 2 ski trails of 200 and 300 meters in length with a www.kievcheckin.com

Take Me to the Carpathians

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018 small height difference) enjoying well-priced accommodation and go to Bukovel for skiing and snowboarding.

Other bright ski spots in the Carpathians include: DRAGOBRAT (18 km from Yasinia urban-type settlement, Zakarpattia oblast) – the highest ski resort in Ukraine located at the height of 1300-1400 meters above sea level with amazing landscapes located in isolation from the“civilization.” Such location ensures snow cover until late spring (seriously, often till the middle of May).

This is a beloved spot for experienced skiers and snowboarders who are looking for extreme adventure. There is a great variety of routes (around 20 ski trails ranging in length from 300 m to 2 km), with a combined length of about 10 kilometers, as well as a freestyle track built to the international standard. It’s possible to travel even higher by snowcat vehicle, prolonging the slope and your fun for about two to three kilometers.

A daily adult ski pass costs close to UAH 650 here. Note that it’s rather tricky to reach this extreme ski resort, as the only route passes through the mountains and requires all-wheel drive. It’s recommended that you travel to the nearest town, Yasinia (you can take a direct train there, “Kiev-Rakhiv”), and then take an off-road taxi to get to the resort (UAH 400 for the whole vehicle, or about UAH 100 per passenger). If you arrive in Yasinia in your own car, you can leave it in one of the paid-parking lots there.

SLAVSKE (130 kilometres southwest of Lviv, Lviv oblast). This is a very popular winter sports center famous for its Trostian mountain, which rises to 1232 m. The resort has six world-class ski trails, making it a beloved destination for advanced skiers. A daily ski pass will cost you about UAH 420 (+UAH 30 deposit).

Slavske has numerous ski slopes rated at various difficulty levels, with a total length of about 22 kilometers, served by dozens of ski-lifts. So everyone from little beginners to world-class athletes will find slopes that fit their tastes and abilities. Overall, the welldeveloped infrastructure, good hotels, a wide choice of slopes, and direct train from Kiev make Slavske a very attractive destination for a winter getaway.

2

HOT MOUNTAIN BATHS AND VIBRANT LOCAL COLOR

Today, thanks to the development of a service industry in this region, in almost every place you stay you will be invited to visit a traditional bathhouse — known here as a temple of health, relaxation and beauty — and be treated to Hutsul Banusz (a delicious traditional dish popular in the Carpathian region, prepared from cornmeal topped with pork rind, mushrooms and bryndza (sheep’s milk cheese). What’s more, your trip to the Carpathians will turn into a bright discovery of mentality of Hutsul (an ethnocultural group of Ukrainians who for centuries have inhabited the Carpathian mountains) who carefully preserve and proudly tell about the ancient Ukrainian customs and traditions.

3

HIKING AND CHARMING MOUNTAIN VIEWS

The Carpathian area has an intensely beautiful landscape, with majestic mountains and numerous spruce forests, covered with light snow and frost in winter. It’s a wonderful place to experience harmony with nature, draw inspiration for the whole year and take lots of wonderful pictures.

To enjoy that breathtaking panorama to the full, many hikers are prepared to conquer the highest peaks. The Carpathians have no equal when it comes to such trips, as these mountains feature more gradual slopes and thus are very attractive for hiking. You’ll find routes suitable for various skill and physical-conditioning levels: one-, two-, and multi-day tours. No doubt, the rewards are worth the effort. The best time for climbing is from the beginning of May till the end of September. www.kievcheckin.com

TRAVEL

Check out the TOP 5 highest mountains in the Carpathians below: MOUNT HOVERLA (2,061 m, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast), translated as “snow mountain,” is the highest mountain in Ukraine and, thus, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Carpathians. Every year, thousands of tourists climb the mountain.

BREBENESKUL (2,032 m, Zakarpattia Oblasts). The country’s highest-altitude lake, also called Brebeneskul, is situated at an altitude of 1801 meters, in the shadow of the mountain.

PIP IVAN (2,022 m, at the border between Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia Oblasts.)

PETROS (2,020 m, Zakarpattia Oblasts), or “storm mountain,” is one of the most dangerous and attractive mountains for tourists.

HUTYN TOMNATYK (2,016 m, Zakarpattia Oblasts). Not far away is Lake Brebeneskul, mentioned above.

All of these mountains are located in the highest mountain range in Western Ukraine, Chornohora.

4

RECREATIONAL TOURISM

Fresh air, crystal-clear water, and clean soils are the greatest advantages of the Ukrainian Carpathians. This region is incredibly rich in mineral waters that made it one of the most popular recreational area among tourists.

The list of the best health resorts in Ukraine includes Shayan spa resort (Zakarpattia Oblast) - used for the treatment with carbonated mineral water; Truskavets (Lviv oblast) - famous for its 14 mineral springs with their unique health properties (including well-known sulfur-scented, slightly saline “Naftusia”), reservoir of ozocerite (“mountain wax”) and Truskavets salt “Barbara”; Yaremche (IvanoFrankivsk Oblast) - with more than 40 recreational facilities and health centers and about 50 sites of green tourism; Morshyn (Lviv oblast) - rich for mineral springs, peat (torf), mineral wax, a leader in the treatment of the liver, pancreas, intestine, stomach diseases and diabetes.

5

NATURAL WONDERS AND CULTURAL SIGHTS

If you’re still hesitating about a visit to the Carpathians in winter, this could clinch the deal! Rich in cultural and natural sights, this western wonderland is packed with castles, palaces, ancient parks, waterfalls, lakes, wine cellars, interesting museums, and wellpreserved wooden churches you shouldn’t miss. I’ll talk about one of my favourites, a real gem also called the “Sea Eye” of the Carpathians, but believe me, there are many other wonderful places worth a visit in this area.

Lake Synevyr is the largest mountain lake in Ukraine, shrouded in Carpathian legends, secrets and romantic stories. It is famous for its extremely crystal-clear water, inhabited by trout, and recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine in 2008. This pearl is a part of the Synevyr National Nature Preserve and is surrounded by majestic cliffs and mountain forests. The smooth surface of the water has a beautiful blue sparkle, and a small island appears in the middle of the lake — calling to mind the blue “eye” of the nickname.

With a maximum depth of 18 to 24 meters, Synevyr doesn’t thoroughly warm up even in summer, so save your dreams about swimming for Odessa! People come here to enjoy the delightful panorama, catch a breath of the scent of fir needles in the air and dream …

Note, pitching a tent near the lake or lighting a campfire is strictly forbidden and may result in a large fine. But those who love camping may climb to the Ozirna meadow, which offers a charming view of Synevyr, and stay there for the night.

There is an amazing story set at Synevyr, involving love between a girl named Syn and a man named Vyr, but let me stop right there, as it will sound all the more intriguing if you hear it on the spot. Keep exploring!

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LIVING

Are We Entering the Era of Electric Car?

FEBRUARY-MARCH 18

ARE WE ENTERING THE ERA OF THE ELECTRIC CAR?

Here’s everything you need to know…

FEBRUARY-MARCH 18 At the moment, most electric vehicles in Ukraine are second hand imports from the US and EU. In fact, several reports have stated that in a five-month period in 2017, only 124 of 958 newly registered electric cars were new.

Leading the charge is the Nissan Leaf. “In general, the Nissan Leaf is imported from the USA,” explains Arsenii Abduraimov, Chairman of the Association of Electric Vehicles Market Participants - an organisation whose chief aim is to promote electric vehicles in Ukraine.

“Because of the beneficial lease offer provided by Nissan, a large number of people in the US have switched to electric, and drivers - who tend to upgrade every two to three years - are selling them on for a good price.

As a result, it’s really popular in Ukraine at the moment, however in one to two years, I would expect to see more varied brands appearing here.”

INTERESTED IN GOING ELECTRIC? 2018 MAY BE THE TIME TO DO SO…

Worldwide, we are experiencing an earthquake in the automobile industry. The electric car – once a small and sluggish box – is officially set to replace the internal combustion engine vehicles that we know. As governments around the world bet big on electric vehicles, money is channeled into charging infrastructure, car prices drop and ranges increase, ever larger numbers of drivers are opting for ‘cars with a plug’. Already, there are more than two million electric cars on the roads (40% of which were sold in China in 2016). European countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Norway all aim on going fully electric in the next few decades.

The Verkhovna Rada has not just voted to scrap the 10% import duties on all cars with electric motors. In December 2017, the country’s politicians went even further when they voted to amend Ukraine’s tax code, opting to cancel VAT and the excise tax on the import of electric cars throughout 2018. This is a big step,

Are We Entering the Era of Electric Car? matching market leaders like Norway, and will offer substantial savings to buyers and help make electric cars increasingly affordable. But beyond price, experts also believe it will help to create a more developed, fair and transparent market which is easier for customers to navigate.

“The introduction of this law will encourage official dealers and companies offering official repairs and servicing to enter the Ukrainian market, which itself will become much more competitive with more brands available. As a result, clients will be able to gain a better understanding of electric vehicles, particularly the difference between new and secondhand cars - and we will gradually see an improvement in the level of education amongst buyers,” explains Abduraimov.

Electric cars are still more expensive to buy than their traditional counterparts – some cars could set you back more than $100,000.

However, as manufacturers race to grab a slice of the electric market and battery prices drop, cheaper vehicles are appearing on the global market. In Ukraine, the Nissan Leaf now retails for approximately $1000-$1500 more than a standard conventional vehicle.

And those extra dollars may well be worth it in the long run. Cheap to maintain (electric vehicles don’t have gears or exhaust systems and don’t need oil changes) and cheap to run, electric cars can also offer serious longterm savings to those who wish to fork out the initial cost.

LIVING

THE NUMBER OF CARS MAY BE RISING, BUT WHAT IS THE STATE OF UKRAINE’S CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE? Ukraine’s network of charge points and charging stations is certainly growing, although most would agree that there’s still some way to go. Since the first charge point was opened in 2012 in Kiev, there are now well over 600 charging devices across the country – 25% of which are in Kiev.

These include free charge points at shopping malls, and outside bars, restaurants and cafes.

However, most of these chargers are only hooked up to 220-240 VAC (Voltage in Alternating Current) and with few available ‘superchargers’ which operate on a much higher voltage, the time needed for a full charge is still lengthy for most users - 6-8 hours in fact. Moreover, as Abduraimov explains, “there are very few municipal superchargers, and those superchargers which are available belong to various enterprises where payments or club cards are needed.”

Those wishing to use their cars for long journeys throughout Ukraine will, therefore, need to plan their charges well in advance and “charge cars at home overnight so that the cost of charging is simply added to the regular domestic electricity bill,” says Abduraimov.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN UKRAINE? The electric vehicle (EV) trend is certainly not bypassing Ukraine.

Today, increasing numbers of Ukrainian drivers are switching gears and opting for electric – whether that be for environmental reasons, quality of driving or long-term financial reasons. “We consider the development of electric cars a peaceful and “on wheels” revolution,” says Oleksandr Kravtsov, the co-founder of Electrocars.ua and the man who brought one of the first electric cars to Ukraine. “It’s a change in philosophy and a good choice for the environment - two steps forwards in one go!”

And it’s not just car enthusiasts with niche interests who are switching to electric. While Ukraine had just a handful of electric vehicles on the roads in 2014, parliament’s decision to scrap the 10% import duties in 2015 has resulted in a surge in the number of electric vehicles. In 2017 there were 4,000 (that’s approximately the same number as in Australia) - with 2,400 registered between January and October that year alone.

Today, there is even an electric taxi service - ‘Oxy-Taxi’, run

by Oxygen Group - in Kiev, and the country’s police force is also embarking on its journey towards electric with its recent delivery of hybrid SUVs. Yes, numbers may still seem relatively low - especially when compared to a country such as Norway where nearly a third of all new cars sold in 2017 was a plug-in vehicle - but with this pace of adoption, experts have their eyes on Ukraine.

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Norway has 29% combined share, 16% for EV, 13% for PHEV

Statistics provided by EV-Volumes.com

www.kievcheckin.com

www.kievcheckin.com

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LIVING

Are We Entering the Era of Electric Car?

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHALLENGES FOR THE EV MARKET IN UKRAINE? It is evident that developing the country’s charging infrastructure is vital for any genuine development in the EV market. But as Abduraimov explains, one of the main obstacles preventing this lies in Ukraine’s legal code: “in Ukraine, those who install charging stations don’t have the right to take payment as electrical energy can officially only be sold by companies who have a licence.”

At present, such a licence can essentially only be obtained by large state companies such as Oblenergo or Kyiverergo.

“That’s why charging companies are trying to draw a veil over selling electric energy, representing it as another kind of service. This legal code is undoubtedly one of the largest obstacles we currently face.”

Some experts also warn that the lack of electric vehicles specifically adapted to Ukraine’s road conditions will hinder the meaningful development of the EV market - particularly the non-Kiev market.

Elements such as suspension are easily damaged by potholes and poor driving conditions. And as Abduraimov comments, “My hope is that sooner or later we will start to see more electric vehicles, which are adapted to the realities of Ukraine, appear on our market.”

SOME COUNTRIES OFFER INCENTIVES TO BUY ELECTRIC CARS. IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THIS AVAILABLE IN UKRAINE? It is true that in their efforts to meet strict emissions standards, certain governments around the world are now offering incentives to help drivers make the move to electric. In the UK, where the government has pledged to end the sale of gas and diesel vehicles by 2040, grants of up to £4,500 and substantial discounts on the installation of home charge points are currently provided.

Norway, meanwhile, has been offering incentives since the 1990s and it has clearly paid off: there are now 121,000 registered electric cars in the country of just 6 million people. Unfortunately, other than scrapping import duties and VAT, there are currently no cash incentives available in Ukraine to assist drivers in making the move.

SO WHAT’S NEXT? As car buyers across the world make the switch, some such as Abduraimov are hopeful that the country can become a hub for electric vehicle production itself. “I always say that Ukraine has a lot of potential to become a country which produces electric cars and even next-generation driverless cars,” he says. “Our engineers have the knowledge and qualifications to do this.

FEBRUARY-MARCH 18 At the same time the average salary of engineers in Ukraine is four times lower than it is in China, so we offer amazing value here. Actually, I know of a company in China which produces electric buses - it’s one of the leaders in EV production - and the manufacturing technology they are using was originally developed by engineers at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic University.

This tells you a lot, I think!” Despite Ukraine’s charging infrastructure still needing some development, current data shows no sign of electric vehicle adoption slowing in Ukraine and generally, hopes remain high - particularly in the wake of the Rada’s decision to scrap VAT and excise taxes.

As Kravtsov comments, “we are now really optimistic about the development of electric vehicles here, and hopeful that as soon as the crisis ends, this will become a huge trend for Ukrainians.” Abduraimov agrees. “I hope that in 2018 we will see a lot more electric cars entering the Ukrainian market, and a much wider range of brands available for buyers.”

With a host of benefits, from helping the environment, saving on fuel costs, ensuring Ukraine’s energy independence and even helping out Ukrainian manufacturers, the electric revolution may hit Ukraine sooner than you think.

IN-MARKET REPRESENTATIVES

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single-phase or three-phase chargers.

Each has a range of options equal to that of other charging stations available on the international market.

These electric vehicle charging stations are certified with an IP65 rating and are equipped with overtemperature protection and ground fault circuit interruption systems 15ma - 20ma, safety interlocks, pilot signal, ground monitoring, welded contact detection, self test power-on and before energizing, throttle, electric vehicle ID, ventilation check. One prominent feature of Elecar group charging stations is

Are We Entering the Era of Electric Car?

LIVING

VLS ENERGY

VLS Energy is a young, fast-growing company, founded at the beginning of 2017, that’s charging ahead in the expanding market for electric charging stations in Germany and Ukraine. Powered by the rapid development of electric cars and the scarcity of fast-charge services for such vehicles, VLS’s network in Kiev and Kiev Oblast has quickly grown to 20 EV charging stations and 11 locations.

Charging a Nissan Leaf, currently Ukraine’s most popular electric car, takes about 30 minutes at a 50kW charging station (available at Kyiv Airport Zhuliany (Terminal A); BILLA in the Pozniaky neighbourhood (3 Mykhaila Hryshka Str.), and Socar Boryspil (at 29 km on Boryspilske Highway). A charge costs around UAH 120160, depending on the battery status.

VLS Energy is a distributor of the European brand Circontrol, but operates as a full-cycle business, selling and delivering charging stations, performing the setup, and putting the equipment into operation. Even better, VLS has its own software that allows it to monitor, control and monetize charging services through a mobile app called VLS Greenspot (works on Android and iOS). All that, together with the simplicity and transparency of transactions, makes VLS Energy a

highly competitive player in the charging station market. As a result, the company has launched a rather complex business from scratch in less than a year. During the eMobility Expert Meeting, an international forum organized by Circontrol, VLS Energy competed along with 104 other companies from 38 countries, winning in the “public charging stations” category ahead of Britain’s Tokheim and EVolt (Swarco UK).

“The development of electric cars is a worldwide trend that is constantly growing.

And for Ukraine, thanks to the cancellation

of VAT, 2018 should mark a breakthrough year, helping us leap to a totally new level,” says the Head of VLS Energy project in Ukraine and Germany, Volodymyr Smirnov.

had become a market leader in the EV segment and had sold about 100 electric cars in Ukraine, mostly in Kiev. Later in November, ElectroCars was chosen by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as a recipient of Climate Innovation Vouchers, which will help to develop a billing system for electric vehicle charging stations.

“At ElectroCars, we now resell electric cars in our two big auto centres, have started to offer maintenance support for EVs, and are getting ready for an infrastructure boom after the Verhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) adopted amendments to the tax code aimed at

ensuring the balance of budget revenues in 2018, which allowed electric vehicle imports free of VAT and excise taxes for a period of one year,” says the co-founder of ElectroCars, Oleksandr Kravtsov.

87а Mezhyhirska Str., office 4, Kiev +38 067 100 02 96 +38063 4377010 9:30 am -7 pm sales@vlsenergy.com www.vlsenergy.com www.facebook.com/VLS-Energy-14486 35278512936

ELECTROCARS

ELECAR GROUP

Elecar group is a producer of electric vehicle charging stations based in Zaporizhia, Ukraine. Elecar group was founded in 2016 (as an offshoot of an electrotechnical company that has been operating since 2008) with the goal of helping car owners minimize car maintenance costs while reducing their impact on the environment.

For many years, Elecar and its parent company have been producing the necessary electrical products, electrical fixtures, mechanical components and automation systems, as well as carrying out testing and calibration.

After investigating growing market demand for electric vehicle charging stations, the company began developing its own charging device, emphasizing contemporary design, ergonomics, operating convenience, and an accessible price. To make all that happen, the company has applied to its designs modern rust-inhibiting materials, components produced by leading global manufacturers, and the cumulative knowledge and experience of Elecar group engineers.

The result was the introduction of a wide range of charging station designs, from portable domestic units to public and commercial versions, with a regulated capacity ranging from 3 to 22 kW, and

FEBRUARY-MARCH 18

a “client-oriented” card payment system, which allows a driver to pay for charging simply after scanning the QR and choosing the duration of charging. Elecar Group invites you to visit their stand during the international Trade Show of Electric & Hybrid Vehicles Plug-In Ukraine 2018 that will be conducted on March 2-4 at KyivExpoPlaza (2B Salyutna Str.).

Zaporizhia city, 17 Persha Lyvarna Str. +38 050 322 56 46 9 am - 7 pm (Mon-Fri), 9 am - 6 pm (Sat) www.elecargroup.com.ua www.kievcheckin.com

ElectroCars is an EV auto center that imports cars from the United States as well as a specialized maintenance service for electric cars and an operator of Kiev’s first public supercharger of certified European production, offering 24/7 access. It is a pioneer of the electric-car movement and a co-founder of the Association of Electric Vehicles Market Participants of Ukraine.

The company was launched as a startup three years ago, immediately after the Ukrainian revolution of 2014, with the idea of promoting electric vehicles as a way for Ukrainians to limit their dependence on fossil fuels. Using electricity to fill your “tank” is smart thanks to its low cost.

Currently, ElectroCars is concerned with EV sales, rental, maintenance, tradeins and charging. Last year, ElectroCars registered its own company in the U.S.— ElectroCars USA LLC—so now it operates without intermediaries and is directly responsible for controlling delivery from five U.S. ports. “While buying the car from a large company, the client benefits from guaranteed delivery terms, control at every step, and maintenance service in the future,” the company explains.

In September 2017 the company acquired a competitor, the conceptual EV center ECO CARS (12 Lugova Str.), which www.kievcheckin.com

5 Stepana Bandery Ave., Kiev +38 044 338 33 53 +38 067 353 87 86 9 am - 8 pm (Mon. - Fri.), 10 am - 6 pm (Sat. - Sun.) electrocars.ua support@electrocars.ua 12 Lugova Str., Karavan Shopping Mall, 1st floor ECO CARS +38 044 221 26 27 +38 097 007 09 10 info@ecocars.com.ua

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BUSINESS Buying Property in Ukraine

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018 Based on the results of property due diligence, you may need additional approvals and/or consents to perform the deal legally. In order to avoid fraud and conclude your deal safely, you should make sure that all the necessary checks have been completed by the professional legal consultant to satisfaction. Don’t just rely on your real estate agency for this because its liability is minimal and its interests are often not aligned with yours.

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE At the planning stage, you must decide on the most suitable form of ownership of the property. You can own real estate as an individual or through a legal entity, registered in your country of residence.

Additionally, in certain cases, it can be reasonable to register a company in Ukraine and buy property here as a Ukrainian legal entity (where you are a shareholder).

You’ll need to take into account several important factors, such as the following: •the type of property you are buying, and if the chosen form of ownership allows you to own the chosen type of property under Ukrainian law; •the number of investors in the property and their residentship; •the purpose of the investment (personal use, lease etc.); •applicable taxes while buying, owning and selling the chosen real estate; •inheritance and gift taxes in the case of owning property as an individual; •easiness of selling and repatriation of your investment and investment profits.

BUYING PROPERTY IN UKRAINE A Foreigner’s Guide A carefully selected property in Ukraine can be a great investment regardless of whether you purchase it for investment purposes, rental income or personal use.

As a result of Ukrainian banking crisis, coupled with a lack of access to credit funds, prices for Ukrainian real estate have significantly decreased since 2013. For this reason, an increasing number of foreign investors consider Ukrainian real estate an attractive investment, particularly in major Ukrainian cities. That said, you don’t want to go in blind! Like any nation, Ukraine has some unique situations and laws that you should be aware of before making your investment. If you are a foreigner who is considering buying a real estate in Ukraine, read below on what you should be aware of while selecting a property and preparing for the deal. Note that this guide covers the purchase of already constructed real estate, not investment in real estate construction projects.

SEARCHING FOR REAL ESTATE Searching for real estate property in Ukraine is one of the most difficult parts of the purchasing process. The process is usually time-consuming, and often even basic information is not readily available, so you may need to be patient.

Ukrainian real estate is generally sold through real estate agencies. There is no consolidated property listing database in

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Ukraine. Each agency has its own database with in-house listings however they may advertise their properties on various marketing websites. Below there are few important points that you should note about real estate agencies in Ukraine: •Real-estate business is not licensed in Ukraine. In other words, there is no regulatory authority that oversees real estate agencies. This situation coupled with the fact that these agencies do not earn money unless they make a sale, means that buyers have to be very careful when selecting a real estate agent.

•It’s very common that little due diligence is done upfront on the listed properties. Therefore you may end up wasting time in viewing and making offer on a property, and only find out later that there are some issues with the property such as disputed title, etc.

•Agencies’ commissions vary from 1% to 5%, but you can often negotiate this to 2–3%. Normally, they ask the buyer to pay their commission, although exceptions exist when the seller is willing to pay the commission.

Bottom line: be very careful when selecting your real estate agent in Ukraine.

REAL ESTATE DUE DILIGENCE The most crucial part of the purchase transaction is performing a thorough and detailed due diligence on the property.

As a general rule, it’s better to own residential property as an individual, whereas commercial property is best

Buying Property in Ukraine BUSINESS owned through a legal entity registered in Ukraine. Nevertheless, it’s highly advisable to take into consideration all of the above factors before deciding.

PAYMENT ISSUES By law, payment for a purchase of real estate in Ukraine can only be performed through a bank in Ukraine (cash deals above UAH 50,000 are not allowed according to Ukrainian Banking law).

Depending on how you buy real estate (as individual nonresident, legal entity registered overseas or legal entity registered in Ukraine), the allowed mode of payment will differ.

If you buy real estate as a foreign individual or legal entity, you are allowed to pay for real estate either a) directly from your foreign bank account in a major currency; or b) through an investment bank account in Ukraine in national currency of Ukraine Hryvna (UAH). If you buy property as a legal entity registered in Ukraine, you can pay only in UAH from your business bank account to account of the seller.

Despite provisions of the law, most property sellers (especially individuals) prefer to receive US dollars in cash as payment rather than money in their bank account. Such situation is a direct result of lack of trust in Ukrainian bank system and instability of local currency Hryvna (UAH).

Be careful! Remember the following if you are considering a full or part cash deal: •Under Ukrainian law, when you sell your property in the future, in order to repatriate your investment back to your country of residence, you will need to provide the Ukrainian bank with proof

of lawful payment for your real estate at the time when you purchased it.

However this requirement to provide payment proof applies only if you repatriate your investment within 5 years of your initial purchase.

•If your sale-purchase agreement reflects a reduced price than the actual price you are paying, all the risks are on the buyer’s side.

If the purchase deal is later disputed for any reason, you as a buyer will have the legal right only to the amount mentioned in the sale-purchase agreement.

For these reasons, we advise you to act in accordance with Ukrainian Banking & Investment law while injecting capital to Ukraine at the time of investment and make sure the sale-purchase agreement complies with the law.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FROM THE BUYER While preparing for the deal, make sure you have collected all the necessary documents for the deal.

As a foreign individual buyer, you will need: •foreign passport •residence permit in Ukraine (if any) •Ukrainian tax number •wife’s consent in notarial form and marriage certificate, if married •notarially certified Power of Attorney for the deal (if the deal will be signed by representative) If the buyer is a legal entity (Ukrainian or foreign), you will need documents, issued in the country of registration of such legal entity, confirming the powers of the company’s representative.

TETIANA YAKOVENKO Director of ContactUkraine LLC ​www.contactukraine.com Unlike in most developed countries, where the legal framework for regulating the real estate transaction is well established, the laws in Ukraine are still in infancy and often even contradict each other.

Real estate due diligence generally consists of the following steps: •Title documents legal analysis •Real Estate Registers Check •Court Decisions Register Check •Debtor’s register Check •Technical Inspection of Real Estate •Seller’s Legal Capacity Check •Other checks as appropriate depending on type of real estate (for example, the rights of spouse and children under 18 for the property; a check if a dwelling is an object of cultural heritage; for residential property, a check of all persons registered in the apartment etc.) www.kievcheckin.com

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BUSINESS Buying Property in Ukraine For the exact list of documents, it is better to check in advance with the notary who will certify the deal.

Note that all documents issued overseas have to be duly legalized or apostilled unless otherwise stipulated by international treaty between Ukraine and your country of residence.

For example, apostille and legalization are not required for documents issued in Poland, Czech Republic and few others.

SALE-PURCHASE AGREEMENT All real estate sale-purchase agreements in Ukraine have to be concluded in writing and notarially certified.

A notary by law is obliged to make sure that sale-purchase agreement complies with Ukrainian law and check official registers in respect of property and parties to the deal just before the signing of the agreement.

Real estate sale-purchase agreement in Ukraine is concluded from the moment of its notarial certification; therefore, it is important to find an experienced and reliable notary to certify the deal.

TAXES AND FEES Ukrainian law requires that all taxes and state duty applicable to the real estate deal be paid before notarial certification of the deal (but can be on the same day).

Notary is legally obliged to check payment of applicable taxes & duties by the parties.

On the buyer’s side, the following taxes and fees are applicable: •pension fund fee of 1% of the real estate sale amount •notary fee for preparation of salepurchase agreement, registration of ownership title in Real Estate Register and extract from the Real Estate Register. This is usually in the range of 100-200 USD. On the seller’s side, the applicable taxes may range from 1% to approx. 20% depending on: •The type of the property (residential vs commercial) •The ownership structure (individual, foreign entity, local entity) •For how long the real-estate property was held in possession •How many properties are being sold by the seller in a 12 month period Important to know: Ukrainian tax law provides great tax exemption for individuals, who are selling residential property: providing such residential property (apartment/house) has been owned by the seller for 3 + years and this is only realestate sale within a reporting year, the seller does not pay individual income tax (5-18%) and military tax (1.5%) when selling real-

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EXPAT CORNER

estate (in this case only 1 % state duty for sale of real-estate applies).

While a detailed discussion on the seller’s applicable taxes is beyond the scope of this article, it is always better to buy real-estate from the seller who owned residential property for more than 3 years, complies with the above requirements and pays minimum tax on sale of property (as it will greatly influence the price for the real-estate).

Summing up, in order to choose a suitable property, minimize risks associated with the deal, avoid fraud and save on taxes, you should perform proper planning and due diligence.

Taking into consideration the complexity of purchasing real estate property, safety of repatriation of your investment and profits, and optimization of your tax liabilities, we highly recommend that you hire a professional real estate consultant in Ukraine for this purpose.

Our firm has extensive experience in providing legal and investment support to foreign investors in their real-estate and business transactions in Ukraine.

For more information on Ukraine’s real estate market and regulations, please visit our website at www.contactukraine.com, or contact us directly at info@contactukraine.com.

RELOCATING TO KIEV? Advice from Fellow Expats

Thanks to liberalized visa rules, ratification of an Association Agreement with the European Union and a reinvigorated investment climate, Kiev is currently experiencing a boost in foreign visitors and temporary residents. Whether the big draw is a low cost of living, dynamic city life, Ukrainian hospitality or the country’s beauty and charm, it seems non-Ukrainians are discovering what a hidden treasure Kiev is, and are actively considering relocating there. Of course, that decision brings a host of questions: How will I find a place to live? Set up my daily finances?

Overcome the challenges of an unfamiliar language? And many more. The Kiev Check-in team decided to ask some prominent Kiev expats to shine a spotlight on these matters. We’re grateful to those like Emmanuel Lowe, Elitsa Zaimova, James Brooke and Sona Kaliska, who kindly shared their practical advice about what it’s like to live as a Ukrainian.

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EXPAT CORNER Relocating to Kiev? Advice from Fellow Expats

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MEET KIEV EXPATS

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Relocating to Kiev? Advice from Fellow Expats EXPAT CORNER

WHERE TO LIVE IN KIEV?

ELITSA ZAIMOVA From Bulgaria, an international business development/project management director of INTEGRITES I was born and raised in Bulgaria, but most recently have lived in the U.S. (Washington DC and Boston). I moved to Kyiv in January 2016 because my husband was relocated for his company. Currently, I work at an international law firm, Integrites, which helps international organizations and companies conduct business in Ukraine more efficiently and effectively. My team and I actively promote investment opportunities in the region, specifically in the agriculture, IT, energy, and manufacturing sectors.

My husband and I really enjoy living in Kyiv, and have decided to prolong our stay here.

There are several reasons why I recommend moving to Kyiv. First, it’s a fascinating city with an interesting history and architecture. There is always something to do, whether it’s attending conferences, walking around Andriyivskyy Descent, checking out museums, going to concerts, etc. At the same time, there are many fun speakeasy bars and restaurants for people to socialize and meet new friends. Last but not least, Ukrainians are very nice, friendly, and hospitable.

Overall, I highly recommend living in Kyiv and exploring the city for several years. It’s a great place to live with lots of opportunities and great people. If any of the readers have questions that aren’t covered in this article, they should feel free to contact me via Facebook: Elitsa Zaimova. I’d be glad to help!

JAMES BROOKE From the United States; Editor in Chief of Ukrainian Business Journal (UBJ) I am American, from a small town in New England, in the northeastern United States.

I have been in and out of Kyiv for the past decade and moved here two years ago. After eight years in Moscow — and an eighteen-month break running a newspaper in Cambodia — I moved to Ukraine in November 2015 to help the Kyiv Post as CEO. I soon realized that Ukraine was approaching a business turning point with the start of the free-trade pact with Europe. In the 1990s, as Brazil bureau chief for The New York Times, I had witnessed the investment magic created by free trade between the U.S. and Mexico: the combination of free trade, low wages, and a land border with an economic powerhouse. Then I decided to launch the Ukraine Business Journal, or UBJ. For me, Kyiv is a pleasant change. Residents are more relaxed, more courteous than in Moscow. The city is on a more human scale and has a lot of greenery, with parks and trees. Many of the buildings are three to four stories. I enjoy the civilized lifestyle — a clean, historic city with high-quality and affordable entertainment.

SOŇA KALISKÁ From Slovakia, homemaker, volunteer Head of Fundraising in IWCK I was born in Slovakia and lived for ten years as a permanent resident in the Czech Republic before moving to Ukraine. I came with my husband and 5-month-old daughter to Kyiv in February 2016, so I’ve been here more or less two years. I am on maternity leave, expecting my second baby at the end of March. Initially our expectations before moving to Kyiv were quite low. In our local media, Ukraine was always presented as a country at war and full of corruption. So it was a nice surprise to find out that in Kyiv we can find a lot of cosy restaurants, nice city parks and botanical gardens, beautiful spa resorts, modern shopping malls, and many things to do in our free time. We did not expect to have such a rich family life here. We found out more about the local culture, food, and lifestyle, and we like it.

I can share with you a list of dislikes as well, but I must honestly say that I feel at home here after two years. I know Ukraine will always be a country that carries nice memories for me and, after leaving, I’ll want to come back to visit.

Emmanuel Lowe The French expats are living between the National Circus, Zoloti Vorota, and Intercontinental (Shevchenkivskyi district). Why? Because here you will find French embassy, the Institut Français d’Ukraine, the French school, and French Chamber of Commerce.

If you want to live in a district where there’s plenty of nighttime action, it’s preferable to live near NSC Olimpiyskiy, Gulliver, Zoloti Vorota, and that’s a nice area to live when you like to go out often. Obolon is good also, as it’s younger, and cheaper in a way; it has everything you need but it’s still far from the center. The metro works well for getting around, but it’s four or five stops from the city center.

Shevchenko University). I initially requested a place in the center of the city. I absolutely love the location. Most of the expats live around that area (Shevchenko Park, Golden Gate, Khreschatyk area). My husband and I are relatively young and we like to go out, explore the city, go for a run, etc.

A couple of things that were important to me: 1. I like minimalistic apartments (most foreigners do as well). Many apartments in Kyiv are decorated like contemporary museums or Barbie houses, not as actual places for living and calling home. 2. Make sure that the apartment is not on a busy street, because it can be very noisy. 3. I like to live by a park so I can go for a run, and Shevchenko Park is very nice. 4. It’s always good to have a supermarket nearby.

Elitsa Zaimova When it comes to finding an apartment, it was relatively easy. We were lucky to find an American guy, Sean, who owns a real estate company, AIM Realty. He helped us look for an apartment online while still residing in Washington D.C., and we were able to find a great place thanks to him.

I live right by Shevchenko Park (Taras

James Brooke Kyiv’s historic center is very appealing for a foreigner. There is a rich variety of architecture. Each building seems to have a story to tell. I now live in the Golden Gate area, where I am three blocks from Saint Sophia Cathedral, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. My wife is from Cambodia and she had a hard time

believing that Saint Sophia is older than Angkor Wat. Kyiv is a walking city, but also a city of hills. Enjoy the walking, but calculate the distance to your office. In the winter, the sidewalks are poorly cleared of snow and ice, so walking downhill can be treacherous.

Soňa Kaliská I recommend living in the area around Zoloti Vorota and Saint Sophia Cathedral, where most of the expats live; that makes it easier to meet together. If you have children attending school, of course, it is better to live close to the school or the office where you work, because traffic jams are very common in Kyiv. Take into account the fact that there is heavy traffic around Gulliver and Besarabsky Market, etc.

Note, marketing for rental apartments is not developed enough yet, and it can be very difficult to find a nice one for a reasonable price.

Be ready to pay rent in cash, as it may become an issue to find an apartment where you may pay rent by bank transfer.

Also, we do not like the local style of the interiors; most of the flats are in bad taste.

RENT OR BUY? Emmanuel Lowe As a former real estate asset manager, I’ve been asked this question often. The answer has to be determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on many factors. I tend to say that it’s preferable to buy because ownership helps you build a future. If you don’t need the property in the long run, you can then rent it or resell it. Sometimes it’s better to rent in a place you really want to

live because buying is too costly.

Another factor is whether you can handle renovations or not. Some people are comfortable paying higher prices for a home that doesn’t need extensive changes.

Others like to bargain about the price and are willing to do some renovation. You can also buy and have good luck with renting out the property. I do the same with investments.

Many investors are reluctant to invest in

Ukraine because they focus on the fact that it’s risky, that there’s lots of corruption, and so on. Yes, however corruption is manageable, and you are risking a lot less money than you could in similar deals in Europe. Overall, it’s less costly and the IRR (internal rate of return) is much higher in Ukraine. It’s your willingness and appetite for risk that makes the difference.

EMMANUEL LOWE From France, Managing Partner at Elese International LLP, Head of SMEs committee of CCI France Ukraine I was an independent wealth manager at my company in France. When I met my future wife, who is Ukrainian, the question of course arose: Who moves? My wife to Paris, or me to Kyiv? We created a list of pros and cons, and the list came out totally balanced.

At work, I was pursuing only international clients, so there was no need to have a deep knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian. So for me it was much easier to move to Kyiv.

I’ve lived in Ukraine for five years so far, and I like this city, feel comfortable here and have no regrets. I have three daughters, the youngest born in Kyiv in December 2013, in the middle of the Maidan protests. She is named Mary-Ann, after the national symbol of the French Republic, a personification of liberty. We were with a lot of expats going to Maidan, and we were quite amazed that you were still fighting for values that we seemed to have forgotten about because we hadn’t fought for them in so many years. That gave me pause; I decided to close my company in France, and together with some friends we decided to launch a project to help Ukraine.

We implemented this vision by creating Elese International LLP, which currently helps Ukrainian companies to export their goods or services, mainly to Western Europe.

Additionally, I founded MultiNations Kyiv in 2015 (a platform for the expat community in Ukraine, which was frozen in July 2017) and currently I am a head of the SMEs committee в CCI France Ukraine and also involved in BIG. U (Business Incubator Group. Ukraine), focusing on SME development and promoting sustainable future businesses in Ukraine. www.kievcheckin.com

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EXPAT CORNER Relocating to Kiev? Advice from Fellow Expats James Brooke I rent in Kyiv partly because the rents are so low. For what I pay for a lovely twobedroom apartment in Golden Gate, my son would be lucky to rent a parking spot in New York City. Of course, the low sale prices are tempting: because of overbuilding, the average apartment price dropped 6% last

year in Kyiv. To buy an apartment in the historic center, there are often landmines in the form of unexpected bureaucratic issues that can be quite expensive to solve: illegal modifications that have to be registered, multiple owners, bureaucratic hurdles for modifications, etc. A Scottish friend bought an apartment two blocks from me,

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018 opened up the (empty) attic, and triggered a resident row that forced him to pay about $10,000 to shore up the foundation of a different wing of the building. It is no accident that so many lovely buildings in central Kyiv are half empty.

Familia Dental Clinic

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Emmanuel Lowe There are some very basic things we expats find ourselves repeating the same conversation when newcomers complain someone had stolen his phone or paper or whatever: “Where was it when you last saw it?” “On the table when I went to the toilet.”

“So why are you shocked?” When I go out, I won’t let my coat get out of my sight; if I’m sitting in a restaurant and someone behind me could potentially lift my wallet, I’m careful to put it somewhere safer. But it’s normal precautions, general rules you should follow anywhere. If we were to go

out together in Paris, there are some places where you’d find yourself saying, “Wow, I feel much safer in Kyiv.”

Elitsa Zaimova Generally, people in Kyiv are very nice, and over the two years I have lived here, I have not felt unsafe. However, be mindful when you walk in the tunnels alone at night, and be street smart. This is valid advice for being new to any city in world.

One thing that many foreigners (and locals) should be mindful of in Kyiv is the women who hang out in gangs in

overcrowded places in the center of the city (the Opera House during a busy performance; Shevchenko Park in the summer, markets, etc.), using deception to steal from people. After several attempts, they finally stole my phone while I was shopping at an outside food market.

James Brooke The most dangerous thing you will do is walk on sidewalks in the winter. The U.S. Embassy pays a 25% ‘hardship’ bonus for diplomats living in Kyiv. This is comical and a waste of U.S. taxpayer money.

SETTING UP DAILY FINANCES Emmanuel Lowe When it comes to opening a bank account in Ukraine, I would advise sticking to banks connected to foreign companies, because they are safe, follow strong duediligence principles and tend to comply with European regulations that are stronger than Ukraine’s.

Among them are Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas Group, Raiffeisen Bank Aval, OTP Bank, UniCredit.

I would regard Oschadbank as one of the best state banks, but to do business with it is better if you speak Russian or Ukrainian.

If you don’t need services such as cash deposits, no-limit cash withdrawals and so on, an online bank account (for example, with German bank N26) may be sufficient.

The system of paying for community facilities is somewhat tricky here,

particularly if you rent a сommunal apartment and the landlord doesn’t register you officially as a resident.

As a result you may end up overpaying.

For example, if you live alone in a flat where three members of a family are registered, you will often have to pay the amount due for three people.

So it’s better to know and negotiate those fees in advance.

The first thing to take care of when you’re negotiating a rental agreement is to certify that you’re officially registered and insist on getting that in writing.

Also, I would recommend checking bills yourself. If you don’t understand the bills, show them to a Ukrainian friend and ask for his help.

Elitsa Zaimova I don’t use Ukrainian banks. I use my U.S. bank account and a credit card, with no fees for any purchases in Ukraine. I actually don’t pay utilities (as a separate bill), and I’d highly advise all expats to negotiate having utilities included in their rent.

When it comes to the banking system, it is very hard for a U.S. citizen (resident) to open an account in a foreign bank, as lots of paperwork needs to be done, I have to declare the account if I have over $10,000, etc. Also, I don’t think that Ukrainian banks are quite stable, and with the fluctuation of the hryvnia, I would not suggest keeping any local currency in a bank account. Also, I am not sure how liquid the banks are in regards to foreign reserves, so trying to keep U.S. dollars and withdraw them from a local bank might be a challenge.

TRANSPORTATION & COMMUTE Emmanuel Lowe Compared to Paris, I like Kyiv’s public transport system. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about overloaded public transport, especially marshrutkas (small buses), and yes, that happens, but I would add that the network of trolleybuses, city trains and metro is quite good in terms of getting you where you need to go. The Metro is easier to figure out than Paris’s, because there are fewer lines and fewer people using them. I am very comfortable with it and feel it is very safe.

As to taxis, I’ve never been overcharged because I pay attention to what rides should

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cost. Do your homework and know the prices. Apps like Uklon or Uber are especially helpful for foreigners. The Ukrainian IT software, Uklon, is very convenient; it’s in English and Ukrainian, and you’ll know in advance what you will pay. Yes, there are taxi drivers that will take the long way on purpose or otherwise break the fare rules, but it’s like that in many countries.

Fortunately, thanks to a Turkish contractor there’s been a significant improvement in the condition of Kyiv’s roadways. In the first year after Maidan, there was 100 km of roadway improvements, then 1,000 km, and this year it’s 2,000 km. With that much

improvement, you can breathe easier and conclude, “Yes, that is real change!”

Elitsa Zaimova Kyiv’s metro is the best one I’ve ever experienced. It’s always on time and never breaks down. The only problem is the long escalators (fun fact: Arsenalna metro is the deepest in the world). However, my workplace is far from the metro, and for that reason I take Uber every day. It’s inexpensive and relatively good (cars are old and drivers are not familiar with the streets, but overall, it’s good). Uklon is another option (this is the Ukrainian Uber). Most expats use Elite www.kievcheckin.com

Your first visit During your first visit to the dentist in the Familia Dental Clinic, you’ll get an individual consultation from one of our specialists who will address your case individually. If needed, we can use an orthopantomogram (a panoramic X-ray scan) and CT scan for 3D modelling that will help the dentist to provide expert advice on what needs attention. Then we’ll calculate the preliminary cost of treatment and the dentist will explain the stages and duration of the treatment you need.

Innovations Familia Dental Clinic is equipped with a latest state-of-the-art equipment, such as CEREC 3D that allows us to create crowns, inlays and veneers immediately, even during your first visit, without taking impressions. That means that you will look and feel great in a remarkably short period of time.

Let’s say you arrive at your dental appointment with a problematic tooth with very little remains of your original tooth. After a thorough examination and a decision to place a crown, we’ll perform a scan with the help of an intraoral camera.

There’s no need to make a physical mold of the teeth, because the computer creates a three-dimensional virtual model of your crown. After accurate modeling of the tooth, taking into account individualized shape and color designed to blend with your own teeth, the data is transmitted from our computer to a CEREC 3D Milling Unit, where a 3D printer creates your perfect crown using a prepared ceramic block. Once this is done, the dentist places and firmly attaches the crown in place. Your new crown has a natural, esthetically pleasing appearance. This high-tech procedure allows us to make crowns, inlays, and ceramic veneers in just one visit, instead of the two or three which was done in the past.

Quality control In Familia Dental Clinic, precise planning of treatment is done using special software based on the data received from a precise CT scan. Using the results of the CT scan and 3D modeling of your jaw, the computer can do a virtual placement of your dental implant to determine its ideal positioning.

A patient-specific, biocompatible template printed by the 3D printer provides maximum precision in placing your implant.

We care about the safety and welfare of our clients and do our very best to provide you with high-quality, long-term results that will leave you pain-free and smiling!

familiaclinic.com.ua/en 12 a Mykoly Bazhana Ave., 5th floor, the building of Boris Medical Clinic

+38 044 291 01 97

+38 067 537 5 777

EXPAT CORNER Relocating to Kiev? Advice from Fellow Expats taxi. Among my dislikes are pretty heavy traffic in rush hours and the monopoly on the airline market — tickets are relatively expensive to other European capitals.

Catching a cab from the airport: The average ride from Boryspil Airport to the center of the city is about UAH 300. The taxi

guys at the airport will charge you about 800–1500. Make sure to order Uber; it works well in Ukraine.

Soňa Kaliská I rarely use the metro. It is very fast and super cheap, but overcrowded. Those who

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018 like to walk a lot using a stroller, be prepared for poor pavement conditions. I once took a train to Lviv, and I can assure you that it was very convenient. In general, roads are in bad shape, but I’ve seen significant improvements over the two years we’ve been here.

OVERCOMING LANGUAGE CHALLENGES Emmanuel Lowe I can read and understand Russian to an extent; I have a feel for the structure and get the gist of what’s being said, but I won’t catch all the details, and I’m not able to converse easily about general topics. That’s generally sufficient for me, because I work with international clients.

There’s even some benefit to not being entirely fluent, as at home we speak mostly in English. My wife often talks in Russian or Ukrainian to the children, while I speak French to them. That means they get a chance to learn four languages, which provides them with an early advantage in life. The negative aspect of not speaking Russian or Ukrainian fluently is when we’re in gatherings of friends; even if people are

making an effort to communicate with me, I tend to feel sidelined sometimes. It’s not totally uncomfortable, but it would be better if I could speak Russian or Ukrainian.

Of course, whenever you know some words in Ukrainian and use them, it really breaks the ice with local people.

What I advise foreigners to do is at least learn the alphabet. Thus, even if you don’t understand anything but are starting to read, you will catch some of the words, as many are derived from French or English, or sometimes German.

Elitsa Zaimova I speak Russian (not fluently) and understand Ukrainian. I am taking classes from an online platform called Preply. It’s

super helpful, as I work and need flexible hours. I am Bulgarian, so the culture and the language are similar.

However, I had a lot of fun teaching my husband the Cyrillic alphabet. I’d like to learn Ukrainian, but Russian is hard enough, and most likely my husband and I will be transferred to another Russianspeaking country, so for that reason it makes more sense to continue improving my Russian language skills. However, I’ve noticed difficulty communicating in Russian (this is my personal observation).

If you don’t speak either of the two languages, I think English will be fine (besides communicating with some Uber drivers and elderly Ukrainians).

SHOPPING FOR GROCERY & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS Emmanuel Lowe We go to ATB and Silpo because it’s close to us; also to Auchan and Fozzi for a bigger shopping. For an open market, we go to the Lukyanivskyi market and Zhitnii market in Podil district. We can find almost everything there. Of course, if you have some very specific product you need for a certain type of recipe, you may not be able to find it, or it will be high-priced. But if you are openminded, you will discover that Ukrainian cuisine is quite good. I can cook French recipes here and find almost everything I need. I should say that my Ukrainian wife helps a lot in finding ingredients.

We like oysters from Ukraine and cook mussels from the Black Sea. I was pleasantly surprised when this summer, during the “Breakfast with 1+1” TV show with Miroslava Ulyanina, she asked an Italian guest, a

Spanish one, and me to do a blind test of eight cheeses from different countries — and my favorite was goat cheese from Ukraine! So you have really good product.

Soňa Kaliská For buying food I definitely recommend the Silpo chain of stores (next to the circus, Le Silpo, big Silpo in Obolonskyi District).

Sometimes we do shopping at Fozzy or Auchan. We love local markets, with fresh food, meat and vegetables from babushkas (old women). In summer I often go to Zhitnyi Rynok; it’s my favourite one. Volodymyrskyi is also good, with a convenient location for us.

For buying household items, we go to Epicenter; for kids’ stuff we choose Antoshka. I used to bring baby food from home, and the same with clothes and

healthy food products. Clothes are more expensive here, at least the international brands. The chain EkoLavka is rather good, but assortment is very limited in comparison to what I am used to in Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic.

The issue for me is that online shopping is undeveloped here (bad service, no international credit cards accepted, no or very short warranty for products, long delivery times).

GETTING MEDICAL CARE Emmanuel Lowe There are plenty of options on the market depending on your needs, and a number of private clinics. But for serious problems, say a complicated surgery, it’s probably best to go elsewhere: Switzerland, Germany or France. Kyiv has very good diagnosticians but they’re very poorly equipped. My advice is to, at minimum, get acquainted quickly with an expat able to introduce you to a Ukrainian who will guide you and help with documentation, etc. In general, Ukrainians are really helpful.

Soňa Kaliská If you have money, you have access to good medical care. However, if you apply to public hospitals, bribes are necessary, and it is not easy to find doctors speaking English.

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interesting to take part in even if you are not directly concerned with the IT world.

Elitsa Zaimova Ukrainians are very friendly and openminded. If they speak English, it’s easy to socialize. I was able to find friends through IWCK (International Women’s Club of Kyiv).

I had a hard time adjusting in the beginning because I didn’t have many friends in Kyiv. However, after joining IWCK, I was able to meet 80+ wonderful women and found many friends.

As I am currently choosing a maternity hospital to deliver our second baby here, I discovered that often there is no relevant information about equipment, experience of the doctors, or emergency units available for the client. This makes choosing a place a difficult decision.

Elitsa Zaimova I’ve visited a few private clinics in Ukraine and I think the level of care is not bad. While customer service is practically nonexistent and most doctors don’t speak much English, the private hospitals are quite nice and efficient. The prices are relatively low (in comparison with the U.S.). I don’t have healthcare insurance and pay out of pocket.

In regards to spas, I like to go to banyas (sauna houses) with friends. You can rent

rooms with a sauna and cold pool, and have drinks and other amenities for about $10/person for three to four hours (drinks included). The beauty industry is very well developed and relatively inexpensive. Laser epilation and all sorts of beauty procedures are offered in almost every corner of Kyiv and are quite affordable. I hope to find time to make use of some of them soon.

James Brooke Medical care in Ukraine, in dollar terms, is far cheaper than in the U.S. At a very modern clinic, I had my teeth cleaned for USD 40. At a good government hospital, I had a non-urgent hernia operation. At Dr. Sam’s, I had a full range of medical tests. In 10 years, it is conceivable that Ukraine will be a destination for medical tourism.

SURVIVING WINTER Emmanuel Lowe No doubt, you’ll need a good coat! (laughing) As to activities, there is a slope in Kyiv where you can enjoy some light snowboarding or skiing. There is also a good entertainment center on the north side of Kyiv called Blockbuster, which is packed with numerous activities. There is ice-skating, bowling, carting, an amusement park and plenty of other things to do for kids.

Bukovel might be a really good winter getaway in our case, but our usual practice is to spend a week away in a warmer place where we can get a good dose of vitamin D, and then enjoy the winter charm of Kyiv.

Elitsa Zaimova Kyiv is beautiful in the winter. If the weather is not too cold, I love going to the outdoor Christmas market on Sofiiska and

getting a glintwine and shashlik. On a cold Saturday, I usually do brunch with friends or play tennis indoors in Podil. If the weather is very cold and I have friends in town, we eat Ukrainian food (it’s quite heavy and keeps you warm), give long speeches (very typical for Ukraine), and drink vodka shots.

I also love borsch.

Flotation therapy is completely effortless, truly one of the most relaxing experiences on Earth. If you’ve never tried it, here’s how it works. You’ll be placed in a lightless (completely dark), soundproof tub filled with concentrated salt water held at skin temperature.

This ensures that, as you float, all external irritants and sensations are turned off, making you feel practically weightless and free, and letting every single cell in your body fully relax. Flotation therapy has proven benefits to your spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being.

James Brooke My wife and I generally shop at Silpo, which has a wide variety of goods, so we find everything we need — fresh vegetables, fresh fish, baby diapers, etc. On Saturdays, she often goes to the Asian food market at Iziumska Str.

Floating therapy may: • Provide relief from stress and chronic fatigue, and increase your body’s natural production of endorphins, the happiness hormones • Stimulate brain activity and improve mental clarity; it’s a perfect envi ronment for generating creative solutions to any problem • Relieve muscle tension and aid in the treatment of hypotonia • Help restore deep, peaceful sleep • Help normalize weight, thanks to accelerating the metabolism, and improve skin, hair, and nails • Ease the pain of arthritis, migraine, backache and fractures, and acceler ate the healing of recent injuries • Facilitate normalizing of blood pressure, pulse rate and heart rhythm • Aid in the treatment of depression and anxiety • Improve physical fitness and concentration, and contribute to sports achievements • Cultivate healthy motivation, by developing deeper contact with your inner world • Increase the effectiveness of yoga practice and deepen meditation • Be safe to use during pregnancy, lessening the load on joints and having a positive influence on the physical and emotional state of an expectant mother • Help keep your body sharp and filled with positive energy

SOCIALIZING & NETWORKING Emmanuel Lowe Discovering everything as it comes, being open — I think that’s the key to discovering Ukraine. For me, it was very easy to socialize here. If you are open-minded and accept some differences, you can really enjoy your life here. Of course, it’s much easier if you encounter people who are kind enough to help you to find your way into local society.

For networking, I would recommend the meetings of Silicon Drinkabout Kyiv, because of the great atmosphere and nice people. It’s an IT environment but may be

Relocating to Kiev? Advice from Fellow Expats BUSINESS

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

James Brooke I go to Frydays fairly often. I like classical music so I go to the Opera, Sinfonia, Operetta, etc. The quality is high and the prices are as cheap as you can hope for.

Ukrainians can be reserved to the point of shyness, but frankly most Europeans are reserved. Europeans like to make fun of Americans as too outgoing, but openness is a trait of the New World, from Brazil up to Canada.

Float Studio CLOUD NINE, located in Kiev, is equipped with ultramodern tubs that allow for maximum isolation from outside sounds and light, providing tailor-made comfort and complete rest for the senses.

Relax, de-stress, and heal with each floating session at CLOUD NINE!

Check it out for yourself at! www.kievcheckin.com

www.kievcheckin.com

5А-Б Anri Barbyusa Str.

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www.facebook.com/CloudNineFloatStudio

BUSINESS IT Careers for non-IT People

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

IT Careers for

NON-IT PEOPLE

Don’t have a computer science degree but still want to get into a career in the Information technology (IT) industry? Don’t worry—there are still plenty of careers in the IT field which you can succeed in. It’ll take some effort but if you are willing to put in the time, it is a rewarding career.

The information age has rapidly made advances in computer and communication technology, advances that have sparked what has been termed as the “information revolution.” At the heart of this revolution is the exponential demand for access, management, and transformation of information. IT drives the dynamic information infrastructure that has become integrated on a global scale socially, culturally, and economically.

Careers in information technology deal with the design, creation, quality assurance, management and maintenance of the varied components of the system, including software, hardware, networks, systems integration, websites and multimedia. Broadly, IT can be divided into four central pathways: network systems, information support and services, programming and software development, and Web and digital communication.

Although many of the careers in IT industry require hardcore IT skills that can only be acquired through a rigorous 4-5 years of education in computer science, there are still many careers in this industry that a person with non-IT degree can succeed in. However, almost all IT careers require a set of basic soft skills that a person must possess in order to succeed in this industry.

MUST-HAVE SOFT SKILLS FOR IT CAREERS

CREATIVITY & PROBLEM SOLVING IT professionals are constantly looking towards the future, anticipating and developing solutions for potential tech problems and needs. This sort of forward thinking requires a lot of imagination and creative problem solving. Employers, therefore, seek out people who are able to think up unique solutions.

An IT professional must have a scientific, methodical approach to problem solving.

In other words, the ability to isolate the symptoms of a problem from the actual problem, the ability to identify a set of potential solutions and the discipline to try methodically one solution at a time until an appropriate solution is found.

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COMMUNICATION With the number of emails, proposals, and design documents an IT professional faces, written communication skills are essential. Verbal communication is equally important. As an IT employee, you often have to explain technical processes in clear, easy-to-understand terms for customers and employers. You also need to be able to explain your ideas in such a way to make others want to support them.

LISTENING IT professionals not only need to communicate their own ideas but also need to actively listen to others. Listen closely to what the client or your employer wants so that you can give them exactly what they are asking for. Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions to make sure you un-

PRADEEP BOPARAI Singapore-based entrepreneur and investor in technology-driven business ventures

derstand the other person. Good listening requires an open mind where you are ready to listen to the ideas of others and discuss them objectively without being defensive.

PATIENCE A large part of an IT professional’s day often involves finding solutions to problems, explaining, and listening to others — things that require a great deal of patience.

TEAM WORK To have a successful career in IT you have to work well with others, period.

Sure, there will be instances where you’re solely responsible for certain tasks or projects, but for the most part, IT teams work closely to complete large tasks.

As a member of an IT department, you need to know how to listen to others, take www.kievcheckin.com

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018 criticism and direction well, and carry your own weight to get things done correctly and in a timely manner.

WHICH JOB SUITS YOU?

Ok, so if feel confident that score well on soft skill requirements, what are the suitable careers for you as a non-IT person?

In this article, I will list a few of the many such careers.

SOFTWARE TESTER This is also known as Quality Assurance (QA). If you’re really debating whether you’d want to get into QA or not, just ask yourself if you could be a decent detective or not? The detective mindset and the willingness to look for ways to make things better and more efficient are two biggest indicators whether a QA professional will be successful or not.

Software testing can be broadly categorized into two areas: manual testing and automated testing.

Testing is an integral part of any successful software project. The type of testing (manual or automated) depends on various factors, including project requirements, budget, timeline, expertise, and suitability.

Manual testing is acceptable for smaller projects but larger projects require a combination of manual and automated testing. Automated testing requires certain programming skills and therefore for a non-IT person, it will take a lot more effort to get into automated testing.

On the other hand, people with automated testing make 2-3 times more than manual testers.

The best you could do to get ready for a new career in software testing would be to enroll in a training program. With some minimal training, you will be able to start in a position that requires manual testing where the tester is not required to have an understanding of the technologies involved, but tests purely as a user.

Domain knowledge expertise can be very helpful when starting a career in software testing.

BUSINESS ANALYST A Business Analyst is the liaison between the customer and the technical people in the IT company.

The stakeholders of the project are the ones whose business needs are catered to by a software company. It is the role of the Business Analyst to capture the business needs and document them in a structured and prescribed matter that the technical team can understand and develop a software solution for it. The demand for Business Analysts is growing and is expected to continue to grow.

Business analysts need to possess exwww.kievcheckin.com

IT Careers for non-IT People BUSINESS cellent communication and writing skills.

As an effective communicator, you must be able to facilitate work meetings, ask the right questions, actively listen and take in new information.

The ability to communicate proficiently in person, on conference calls, in meetings both digital and otherwise, and through email is essential.

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST Traditional advertising is no longer as effective as it used to be. Companies must now provide meaningful content to consumers and allow themselves to be found quickly and easily online.

A digital marketing specialist is someone who works alongside company’s marketing team to identify a target market, create a brand image, and create and maintain a marketing campaign for the internet and for digital technologies.

The digital marketing specialist role has similar objectives and goals as a marketing professional – to increase brand awareness, promote company products or services and to drive prospects to conversions.

Unlike using more traditional marketing channels, digital marketers effectively communicate through appropriate technology platforms.

Marketing specialists can choose to specialize in certain areas, such as search engine optimization (SEO), paid search (PPC), display media, social media, and shopping feeds. Additionally, they can have more general digital marketing expertise and can still be referred to as a digital marketing specialist.

List of key skills needed to be a digital marketing specialist: •Knowledge of the basics of marketing •Good presentation and creative writing skills •Knowledge in key areas of marketing (SEO, social media, content marketing, email marketing, PPC and SEM) •Stay current in marketing trends and news e.g. Google updates and changes in algorithms Google offers excellent courses on digital marketing as well as certification programs in Google Adwords and Google Analytics - two of the key tools used in digital marketing.

USER INTERFACE DESIGNER User Interface design is the discipline of designing software interfaces for devices, ideally with a focus on maximising efficiency, responsiveness and ease to create a pleasant user experience.

When it comes to user interface design for software applications and websites, there are visual designers, interaction designers, user experience (UX) designers, user interface (UI) designers, product de-

signers, graphic designers and the list goes on. Then there are the generalists who do a little of everything!

User Interface designers help design the software and websites so that they are easy to use and appealing to the user.

The following are some of the skills that are essential for a good User Interface designer.

•The UI Designer has to have basic UI design skills and need to know both the design sides as well as the technical sides of design. User Interface Design has elements of both graphical design, user experience design and application development.

•The User Interface developer must have the knowledge of front end software tools like HTML, CSS and JS (Java Script).

Also, knowledge of photoshop, graphical design and the ability to write a code is essential in User Interface (UI) design.

•The User interface designer needs to have the capability to use the UX designs and develop a user interface that is a balance between technical functionality and visual elements.

•The key job here is to understand what the user wants and create a design that accommodates all the technical functions of the product along with making the product easy to use.

•UI Design is a dynamic field of design.

This field is seeing new innovations and techniques and new methods to create UI design every now and then. The UI designer must be able to adapt to change.

•UI designers must be able to create clear and useful designs that can be implemented easily.

SHOULD YOU CONSIDER IT CAREER?

Consider your own personal characteristics before pursuing a career in IT. Do you enjoy change? Do you get bored easily? Do you want to do something different often?

Are you comfortable not always knowing what you are doing, but trying to do the work anyway? Do you like working in a fairly fast-paced environment? If yes, then IT may be for you.

Technology changes so often that you will probably never feel very comfortable or confident that you know exactly what you are doing. But you won’t be bored, either.

If you need some adviсe on how to get started with your IT career, Pradeep can be reached at pb@contactukraine.com.

Pradeep is also planning to provide free talks on various topics on entrepreneurship during his travels to Ukraine.

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BUSINESS Business Listings

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

WE RECOMMEND! ACCOMMODATION ACCOMMODATION Hotels

Hyatt Regency Kyiv 5-star business hotel +38 044 581 1234 kiev.regency.hyatt.com 5 Ally Tarasovoi St. Fairmont Grand Hotel 5-star business hotel +38 044 322 8888 www.fairmont.com 1 NaberezhnoKhreshchatytska St. Hilton Kyiv 5-star business hotel +38 044 393 5400 kyiv.hilton.com 30 Tarasa Shevchenko Blvd.

Radisson Blu Hotel 4-star business hotel +38 044 492 2200 www.radissonblu.com/en/ hotel-kiev 22 Yaroslaviv Val St. Radisson Blu Hotel in Podil 4-star business hotel +38 044 393 1373 www.radissonblu.com/en/ hotel-kyiv-podil 17-19 Bratska St. Khreschatyk Hotel 4-star business hotel +38 044 596 8004 www.hotel-khreschatyk.kiev.ua 14 Khreschatyk St. Hotel Ukraine 4-star local budget hotel +38 044 590 5474 www.ukraine-hotel.kiev.ua 4 Institutskaya St. Podol Plaza 4 star hotel in Podil +38 044 503 9201 podolplazahotel.com.ua 7-A Konstantinovskaya st.

4* Holiday Inn Kyiv Hotel

Your Home away from Home +38 044 363 3020 www.holidayinn.com/Kiev 100 Velyka Vasylkivska Str.

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Boutique hotel Vozdvyzhensky Modern boutique hotel in Andrew descent +38 044 585 99 00 +38 067 242 90 01 Vozd-hotel.com 60 А, Vozdvyzhenska St. Hotel Dnipro 3-star local budget hotel +38 044 254 6777 www.dniprohotel.ua 1/2 Khreschatyk St. Royal Olympic Hotel 3-star business hotel +38 093 377 77 81, www.rhg.com.ua 12 D Hospitalna St.

Rent of apartment Kiev Apartments Good selection of short-stay furnished apartments +38 050 926 7104 kievapartment.com

KievInn Apartments Complex Apartments for daily rent in the city center +38 050 079 2844 www.kievinn.ua 9, Mykhailivska St. Вars/Pubs/Clubs ВARS/PUBS/CLUBS Arena City Complex of night clubs, bars and restaurants in the city center +38 068 387 1702 arena-city.com 2a, Baseina St. Loona - modern Asian Restaurant & Karaoke / Skybar - spectacular dance night club in Kiev

+38 044 223 88 88 / +38 097 223 88 88 (What’s Up, Viber) loona.com.ua / skybar.ua 5 Velyka Vasylkivska Str. (7th Floor/Arena City) Disco Radio Hall Great club with the best ‘80s songs

+38 044 428 7388 disco-club.kiev.ua/en/ 32 Moskovskyi Ave. Caribbean club Various concerts, crazy parties and dancing workshops +38 067 224 4111 caribbean.com.ua/en/ 4 Symona Petlyury St. Le Cosmopolite High quality beer and european food +38 044 278 7278 peesboy.com/ru/restaurants/ le-cosmopolite/ 47 Volodymyrska St. O’Brien’s Pub Irish pub +38 044 279 1584 obriens.kiev.ua 17a, Mykhailivs’ka St. Docker’s ABC Atmospheric Irish pub with concerts of rock bands +38 044 278 1717 abc.docker.com.ua 15/4 KhreschatykZankovetska St. Coyote Ugly Popular bar with crazy parties and dancing on the bar +38 044 363 06 88 www.coyoteuglysaloon.com/kiev 9a, Mechnykova St Shato Robert Doms 24-hours open restaurant-brewery with great location +38 044 279 3704 kiev.shato.com.ua 24 Khreschatyk St. Golden Gate Pub Irish pub with live music on Friday and Saturday evening +38 044 235 5188 www.karta.ua/restoran/restaurants_kiev/golden_gate.html Zotolovoritska St, 15 FOG AREA Lounge Hookah Bar in Podil district +38 068 3543176 www.facebook.com/fogarea.bar/ 2 Voloska St.

Sunduk pub Great place to meet friends in a cosy atmosphere sunduk-pub.kiev.ua a) 16 Mykhailivs’ka St. +38 044 279 1465 b) 22 Prorizna St. +38 093 015 3016 c) 7 Leontovycha St. +38 044 270 55 19

RESTAURANTS Ukrainian cuisine

O’Panas Good place to try pancakes while walking in Shevchenko park +38 044 235 2132 www.opanas.com.ua/en/ 10 Tereshchenkivs’ka St. Tsarske Selo Cozy warm atmosphere and live local music +38 044 288 9775 tsarske.kiev.ua 22 Lavrska St. Pervak Delicious Ukrainian dishes at mid-range prices +38 044 235 0952 www.pervak.kiev.ua 2 Rohnidynska St.

Turkish cuisine

TIKE Turkish restaurant in Podil +38 044 482 4819 tike.com.ua/en 31a, Sagaydachnogo St.

European cuisine

Terrace Restaurant Panoramic summer terrace on the roof with the street food menu +38 044 5859933 +38 067 2429003 Vozd-hotel.com Boutique hotel Vozdvyzhensky 60 a Vozdvyzhenska St.

Business Listings BUSINESS

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018

Mexican Cuisine

La Cantina Tex-Mex Texan and Mexican Restaurant in city center +38 044 278 2214 La-cantina.com.ua 23A Prorizna St.

Fish Restaurant

Fish Market Restaurant Good selection of fish dishes +38 044 278 2265 fishmarket.in.ua 24a, Volodymyrska St.

Italian cuisine

Fellini The world of gourmet Italian dishes +38 067 43 00202 fellini.in.ua 5 Architect Gorodetsky VA BENE bistro High-end Italian restaurant near the National Opera House +38 044-377-75-65 +38 067 480 61 61 carteblanche.ua/restaurants/ VaBene.html 19-21 Bogdana Khmelnitskogo St. La Cantina Italian Cafe and wine room +38 044 234 7074 La-cantina.com.ua 20 Yaroslaviv Val. Babene Italian home-style cooking restaurant in Pechersk +38 044 585 9651 www.babene.com.ua/ 18/7 Kutuzova St. Mansarda Cafe Wonderful Italian restaurant in Obolon +38 067 407 6565 facebook/mansardacafekyiv 49-A Vyshhorodska St.

Cafes

CAFES

Coffee House (network of cafes) Great place to relax, have a meeting or even work a)24 Lesi Ukrainky Blvd. +38 044 284 25 49 b)72 a Velyka Vasylkivska Str. ( Olimpiysky Mall) +38 044 206 84 04 Lviv Handmade Chocolate Cafe Chain of cosy cafes with good coffee & sweets selection +38 044 425 0320 www.chocolate.lviv.ua 2Б Andriivs’kyi descent BaoBab cafe Cosy atmospheric cafe with great selection of coffee just near Sofiivska square +38 096 451 0101 18/2 Volodymyrska St. Kaffa Cafe Two oriental cafes in center to enjoy kaffa.ua a) 3 Shevchenka lane (near Maidan) +38 044 270 6505 b) 5 Hryhoriya Skovorody St. (Podil) +38 044 425 3845 L`KAFFA CAFE Cafe and restaurant close to Bessarabska square 2 Lesi Ukrainky Blvd +38 044 360 76 21 Lkafa-cafe.com.ua Cafe L`etage Cafe and restaurant with live music +38 067 171 16 16 etage.kiev.ua 16-A, Shota Ruslavelli

Dom Bergonie Art Cafe Art cafe near Teatralna metro +38 044 234-22-02 www.dombergonie.com.ua 17 Pushkinska St. Videnski Bulochky Network of Vienna-style cafes in city center www.videnski-bulochky.com.ua a) 14-a, Instytutska St. +38 044 253 3129 b) 14/1, Mechnykova St. +38 044 246 4525 c) 107/47, Saksaganskogo St. +38 044 289 1365 d) 44/42, Shovkovychna St. +38 044 221 2472 e) 1-3/5, Pushkinska St. +38 044 270 53 90

HEALTH & WELLBEING Health & Fitness Clinics

Familia Dental Clinic

Yoga & dance studios

Kiev Wellness International

7 days/WEEK x 365 days/YEAR Wellness support for foreigners +38 098 8285247 www.kiev-wellness.com 7/14 Mykilsko-Botanichna Str.

LANGUAGE COURSES TOP WAY Language Center

Quality language courses near Zoloti Vorota metro station +38 093 580​ ​82​ ​28 +​​38 067 799​ ​82​ ​28 +38 050 770​ ​82​ ​28 www.topway.in.ua 37A,​ ​O.​ ​Honchara​ ​street,​ ​office​ ​1

BUSINESS SERVICES Familia Dental Clinic-Creating the territory of Care +38 044 291 01 97 +38 067 537 5 777 familiaclinic.com.ua/en 12 a Mykoly Bazhana Ave., 5th floor, the building of Boris Medical Clinic

Contact Ukraine LLC

Medical Center Hertz

SHOP Narodnyi Dim Ukraina

We know how to save your health +38 066 336 82 74 +38 096 959 07 06 www.med-herz.kiev.ua 15 Reitarska Str., 2nd floor

National clothes, souvenirs, gifts, icons and books art, ceramic ware and many other items with most being handmade +38 096 539 17 00 nd-ukraine.com 4 Prorizna Str.

Business and investment consulting services for foreigners info@contactukraine.com www.contactukraine.com

SOUVENIRS

Lebanese & European Cuisine

Mon Cher Lebanese restaurant with great location close to Golden Gates +38 044 235 1596 moncher.in.ua 11 Yaroslaviv Val St. www.kievcheckin.com

www.kievcheckin.com

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