Safest cities in Ukraine
37 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Crimea
- Border with Belarus
- All other regions of Ukraine
- Volyn
- Rivne
- Zhytomyr
- All parts:
- Parts further than 50km from the border with Belarus:
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in UkraineTerrorist attacks in Ukraine cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- A state of emergency, put in place by the Government of Ukraine in February 2022, remains in effect, and martial law is in force throughout Ukraine.
Unexploded weapons
- There is a hazard from unexploded weapons throughout Ukraine, but particularly in the South and East of the country along the current conflict frontlines, and in areas where ground fighting occurred (particularly since 2022). Drone and missile strikes occur frequently across Ukraine and can deposit unexploded weapons in public areas. This includes…
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
- Explosions continue to be reported near the area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant indicating ongoing military activity. There have been no reports of any radiation release.
Crime
- Protecting your belongingsBe alert to the possibility of street crime and petty theft. Foreigners may appear to be lucrative targets.
- Drink and food spikingDo not leave drinks or food unattended as they could be spiked. Beware of accepting drinks from casual acquaintances.
- ScamsCloning of credit and debit cards is common. Be aware of who is around you when using ATMs and do not let your card out of your sight during transactions.
- Cyber attacksUkraine is a target for large cyber-attacks which disrupt basic services and risk data security, including personal data. In March 2025, a large-scale attack targeted Ukraine’s national railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia, impacting ticket purchasing.
Laws and cultural differences
- LanguageUkrainian officials generally only speak Ukrainian and Russian.
- Personal IDCarry your passport at all times to use as identification and to demonstrate your legal status in Ukraine if asked by the police. Police should identify themselves and show identification. If you’re detained because you have not been able to present your passport, ask for an official report.
- Access to moneyATMs are available and credit cards are widely used in cities. However, as a result of the current invasion of Ukraine by Russia, ATMs might not be refilled with cash and some bank cards might not be accepted. During power cuts, ATMs and card terminals may not work.
- Alcohol and smokingIt is illegal to smoke or drink alcohol in public places, including on public transport, at bus stops, underground crossings, cultural, sports and governmental establishments, playgrounds and parks.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesPenalties for being caught in possession of drugs are severe.
- Using cameras in secure areasDo not take photographs near government or military establishments.
- LGBT+ travellersAlthough same-sex relationships are not illegal, public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK and showing affection in public may receive negative attention. There’s no provision under Ukrainian legislation guaranteeing freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Surrogacy
- Due to the security challenges across all of Ukraine, we must currently advise against commissioning any surrogacy arrangements there. Further information about surrogacy overseas can be found here.
Transport information and risks
- TaxisUnregulated taxi drivers can overcharge. Use official taxis, which have the name and telephone number of the taxi company on the side of the door and on the top of the taxi.
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Ukraine, see information on driving abroad and read the RAC’s Ukraine guide.
- Car hireIf you intend to rent a vehicle for your travel in Ukraine, check with the car hire company and insurance company about their policy on renting cars in Ukraine and any other country you will pass through, especially non-EU countries. Ensure they provide you with a rental agreement permitting you to cross the Ukrainian border.
- Driving standardsRoads are of variable quality and routes may be affected by the ongoing invasion. Avoid night-time travel wherever possible.
- Driving regulationsIt is illegal to drive with any alcohol content in your blood.
- Leaving Ukraine by carYou can leave Ukraine by car through most border crossing points, but Ukraine’s border crossings with Russia and Belarus are closed to regular traffic.
- Rail travelIf you travel by train, make sure your belongings are secure. Do not agree to look after the luggage of a fellow traveller or allow it to be stored in your compartment.
- Air travelUkraine’s air space is closed.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingFloods can cause travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Check weather warnings from Ukraine’s Hydrometeorological Center before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Ukraine, updated 2026-08-14 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 3.78 /100k2021
- Income inequality
- Gini 25.62020
- Human development
- HDI 0.7792023
- Income
- $18,750/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 10.2 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 59/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 45/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 36/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 5.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.65GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 14.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 88%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 3.5 doctors /1k6.1 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 6.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 3.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 1.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Ukraine (as of 2025).
How Ukraine compares
| Measure | Ukraine | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.8 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +1.4 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 25.6 | 35.2 | −9.6 — better for Ukraine |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.779 | 0.763 | +0.016 — better for Ukraine |
| Road deaths | 10.2 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −5.2 /100k — better for Ukraine |
| Rule of law | 45/100 | 52/100 | −7/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 36/100 | 39/100 | −3/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −4.8 µg/m³ — better for Ukraine |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.7/10 | 3.8/10 | +1.9/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Ukraine | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.8 /100k | 1.0 /100k | +2.8 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 25.6 | 30.7 | −5.1 — better for Ukraine |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.779 | 0.911 | −0.132 — better for Europe median |
| Road deaths | 10.2 /100k | 5.5 /100k | +4.6 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Rule of law | 45/100 | 74/100 | −29/100 — better for Europe median |
| Corruption perceptions | 36/100 | 57/100 | −21/100 — better for Europe median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 14.9 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | +3.7 µg/m³ — better for Europe median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.7/10 | 2.5/10 | +3.2/10 — better for Europe median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 37 cities, safest first
- Chernivtsi70.3 · #3355 worldwide
- Uzhhorod70.3 · #3356 worldwide
- Ternopil68.4 · #3588 worldwide
- Ivano-Frankivsk67.1 · #3775 worldwide
- Khmelnytskyi65.9 · #3851 worldwide
- Lutsk63.6 · #4151 worldwide
- Rivne63.6 · #4156 worldwide
- Vinnytsia63.4 · #4174 worldwide
- Kremenchuk60.8 · #4362 worldwide
- Lviv59.8 · #4457 worldwide
- Simferopol59.4 · #4482 worldwide
- Sevastopol59.1 · #4510 worldwide
- Odesa58.6 · #4553 worldwide
- Poltava58.5 · #4562 worldwide
- Zhytomyr58.0 · #4591 worldwide
- Kryvyi Rih54.7 · #4875 worldwide
- Kamianske54.4 · #4896 worldwide
- Dnipro54.3 · #4921 worldwide
- Chernihiv53.7 · #4967 worldwide
- Bila Tserkva52.9 · #5029 worldwide
- Nikopol52.2 · #5062 worldwide
- Kyiv51.9 · #5079 worldwide
- Brovary51.9 · #5081 worldwide
- Kharkiv51.1 · #5125 worldwide
- Zaporizhzhia50.8 · #5137 worldwide
- Mykolaiv50.3 · #5174 worldwide
- Kherson49.9 · #5189 worldwide
- Sumy49.9 · #5190 worldwide
- Donetsk49.1 · #5287 worldwide
- Mariupol49.1 · #5288 worldwide
- Luhansk49.1 · #5289 worldwide
- Cherkasy49.1 · #5290 worldwide
- Kropyvnytskyi49.1 · #5291 worldwide
- Makiivka49.1 · #5292 worldwide
- Alchevsk49.1 · #5293 worldwide
- Horlivka49.1 · #5294 worldwide
- Kramatorsk49.1 · #5295 worldwide