On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded its neighbor country Ukraine, starting a war between these two countries.
This act of invasion caused many Ukrainians to flee their country and seek shelter in places like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, etc…
At this time, we recommend no travel to Russia or Ukraine, or any neighboring countries for your own safety.
Ukraine : Safety by CityKharkiv is a very important, huge city in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine and is the second-largest city in Ukraine.
As it was always located on the crossing of many roads, it was a merchant city from its foundation and later became a university city that it now is.
Therefore they usually display acceptance and tolerance to other cultures.
People are friendly and open to communication.
Kharkiv is an international city filled with many different cultures, nationalities, and races.
There are so many clubs, restaurants, bars, and parks in this city so living in Kharkiv means you can pretty much have a social life.
Warnings & Dangers in Kharkiv
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Generally speaking, Kharkiv is mostly safe for visitors. It is a country where travelers aren't too common, but if you do visit, some areas should be avoided at all costs but don't be too frightened - the risks are low.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Public transportation is one of the most common places where you'll find pickpockets operating. Transport is generally safe, though you should keep in mind that most of the signs are written in Cyrillic letters.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets are a serious issue in Kharkiv, and it occurs everywhere so you should be careful particularly in crowded places, in tourist areas, in bars and nightclubs and on public transportation.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
As for natural disasters, what still represents the biggest issue in Ukraine is the legacy of the Chernobyl disaster. It is also susceptible to frequent flooding, freezing winters, storms, and mine disasters.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
As for violent crime, it has been on the rise, especially after dark. This includes muggings and armed robbery but it's still not that common that you should be scared.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Terrorists are likely to try and carry out attacks in Ukraine, and the authorities in Ukraine have announced that they have already disrupted numerous planned attacks, including in the capital, Kyiv.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Scamming is also an issue in Kharkiv. There are the famous scams over dating sites where the victims are asked to send money to their prospective dates, Apart from online scams, be careful on the streets, keep an eye on your drink and check your change twice.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Kharkiv is relatively a safe place for solo female travelers. However, there is political turmoil as well as terrorist threats that are disrupting peace in the entire country. Try not to go anywhere alone and avoid dark and deserted areas.
So... How Safe Is Kharkiv Really?
Kharkiv is one of the safest cities in Ukraine even though, due to recent conflicts with Russia, people are skeptic towards coming here.
Due to the conflict, the people fear they will find the “wild east” in Kharkov – and, truth be told, there is a very large number of internally displaced Ukrainians (from Luhansk and Donetsk) living in Kharkiv, you’ll see “camps” on the squares collecting donations for the Ukrainian military, and the government is, to say the least, murky.
But the city itself is safe.
While you don’t see much racism, you do see ethnic groups hang out in their cliques.
They will be very interested in learning from you about the world.
Try to adjust to their way of life, and they will consider you as their life-long friend.
Don’t wear any Russian symbols on your clothes.
Russian symbols are not welcomed in the city since the Russian military occupied part of our country.
Also, make sure to pack a lot of winter clothes when visiting as the temperature falls way below zero.
Apart from the aforementioned, the city is very safe – it has tens of thousands of students from around the world and feels like a large college town.
How Does Kharkiv Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Kharkiv | 55 |
| Kyiv | 52 |
| Odesa | 47 |
| Lviv | 61 |
| Brussels (Belgium) | 60 |
| Shanghai (China) | 66 |
| Belize City (Belize) | 37 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
Useful Information
Visas
Many countries do not need a visa to enter Ukraine. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the planned date of your travel and you need to apply for your visa well in advance as they cannot be acquired on Ukranian airports. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Ukrainian embassy for further details.
Currency
Ukrainian hryvnia is the official currency in Kharkiv. ATMs are widespread throughout the city. Credit cards are also accepted in most establishments.
Weather
Kharkiv has a temperate continental climate. Winters here are warm without much snow while summers are rainy. The rainfall in Kharkiv is significant, with precipitation even during the driest month.
Airports
Kharkiv International Airport is an airport serving the city of Kharkiv. The airport is located to the south-east of the city center, in the city's Slobidskyi district.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Kharkiv, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Kharkiv Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | -2 | -1 | 5 | 14 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 20 | 12 | 4 | -1 |
| Low °C | -7 | -7 | -2 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 4 | -1 | -5 |
| High °F | 28 | 30 | 41 | 57 | 70 | 77 | 81 | 79 | 68 | 54 | 39 | 30 |
| Low °F | 19 | 19 | 28 | 41 | 50 | 57 | 61 | 59 | 50 | 39 | 30 | 23 |
Ukraine - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Kharkiv | 55 |
| Kyiv | 52 |
| Lviv | 61 |
| Odesa | 47 |
Life in Kharkiv
I agree with most of this article but the temperature and snow part is a bit wrong . The temperature at the moment 25/6/2021 is 34c and that is not unusual , the summers are hot in Ukraine most years and it brings on thunderstorms a lot . It is forecast to drop to 23c next week but that probably will not happen . Winters , there is snow every year and the amount varies , this last one it was not so bad , with about 30cm in places . Safety and other problems , I am English and have lived in Kharkiv for about 18 months and have never had any problems , in fact the people are very helpful as stated in the article , i have been out late at night and feel a lot safer than i would in England . Pickpockets?, yes they are around Barabashova market is a bad place for them but its a market where you can buy anything and i do mean anything , amazing place . The flea market is another bad place for pickpockets so if you go there be aware of who is close to you . The other places for them are places like the main rail station but thats the same in most cities , lots of what they call ”passing trade”))).
Overall Kharkiv is very safe , you would have to be very stupid to find yourself in a bad situation here . I have very limited Russian language but manage fine , you find ways and the people are willing to help and there is always Google translate )))
Excellent
I agree with almost everything you said, I very rarely feel unsafe in Kharkiv even though my russian level is only basic. People are generally helpful and friendly but you do have to work for it to get them engaged. Like in every city, don’t be stupid and you will be fine.
Yeah the temperatures are absolutely wrong lol. Summers are way warmer and winters are generally colder than specified.
good intention-poorly prepared
Interesting way to present a city, unfortunate, that there was not much of a homework done, to be credible:
– the history of the city foundation is wrong.
– Kharkiv is a university city but very far from being only that.
-The etnicity is also wrong: even though being quite tolerant, the majority of inhabitants are Caucasians.
– natural disasters part is sooo far off. No frequent flooding, no Chernobyl risk, come on it’s been over 35 years and Kharkiv is much further from it than the capital Kiev is. The same Chernobyl risk is as any country in 1k km radius. storms and mine disasters – ridiculous!
– low risk for women, not medium.
– weather is absolutely wrong, read what continental climate definition is! It has wide range of temperatures from +35 to -20 and it’s not rare to get them at all. The peaks I remember we’re +40 and -35