Odessa to Rostov on Don
 

Hi, i'm planning tour around black sea. Can anybody tell me what is situation in coastal part of Ukraine. My plan is to go from Odessa throu Mariupol to Rostov on Don.
Thanks.
bye

I went in that area last year: I do not advise doing that road, as you'll come into military or para-military roadblocks. There is a live conflict and one should be mindful of the implications.
Odessa is a very fine place of course. From there, I would suggest heading towards Mykolayiv. I crossed the border in Belgorod via Kharkiv a few times. Kharkiv is a really pleasant city too: make sure you arrive at the border well ahead (like 2h) of the official opening time or be prepared for anywhere between 4 to 7 hours of wait on the Ukrainian side. If it rains, you'll suffer even more as there is no shelter...
After Belgorod, it's a long ride to Rostov. You can either take the highway or follow country roads East or West of the M4. I did both the M4 and the country roads. The country roads are a lot more interesting. Fuel availability is an issue away from the highway and I had to head back to the M4 to get fuel. It is highly unlikely that you can cross the border and arrive in Rostov on the same day due to the long wait time at the border. The Ukrainian mountains out South-West are truly amazing though. If you can spare a few days touring the area that you won't regret it, but be prepared for very tough roads. The rest of the country is very flat and you'll get to see plenty of sunflower.

Thanks for info, it 's long detour around war zone . I think i will change my plans and make focus on Georgia and Armenia and will leave this part of the world to calm down -hope soon. I read some Ukrainian news and less then week ago there was incident with few dead in Mariupol.
thanks
bye

For my money, you don't miss a great deal in Rostov on Don. I went there a couple times. It's an ok city, but not too much to write home about from what I found out. Unless I missed things of course.
This year, am heading to Georgia, Armenia too but then back to Europe via Russia and Ukraine, Sumy crossing this time.
It's disappointing that South West Turkey and Van area might be problematic too with the Kurdish situation unfolding in the entire southern region. I was planning to ask guidance from the local police to keep clear of troubled areas and see if I could still make it to Van area possibly. At least there's no open war being fought there.

Yes, Mariupol is a bad idea.
Russian-Ukraine border crossing is possible in Kharkiv and all places north. Whithout any problems.

Safe ride to Van if you come from North. Very nice mountain region.
Really troubles near Syrian border only.

I'm guessing the situation hasn't changed much since last year?

I don't particularly care for visiting Rostov, but want to visit Crimea on the way down to the Caucus. I've picked Sumy as the easiest low-key crossing point, but wish there was a shorter way between the two points. The only other option I've found is UkrFerry from Odessa to Georgia, but I'm sure its spendy and is still a 48 hour journey + 800km to Crimea if going straight across Abkazia.

If anyone wants a quiet border crossing from Ukraine to Russia I reccomend the one at Veliky Pisarivka / Graivoron. I was there in June 2014 and was the only car at the border. I thought it was deserted but it was open as usual. The drive from Belgorod to the M4 goes through nice rolling countryside. There are a couple of limestone cave churches once you get closer to the M4 which might be of interest.

The furthest south you could cross would be in the north of Luhansk region of Ukraine. According to my research only the south of the region is occupied by separatists. So you might be able to cross at Milovo or even Horodysche. But this would be risky, you might be turned around by Ukrainian forces, plus I am not sure of the Milovo crossing is a multilateral crossing.

One of these days someone will find a way into one of the separatist areas and into Russia. I've done it in Abkhazia, but that was a couple of years since the last outbreak of fighting. The conflict in eastern Ukraine is still very much alive, and it is not clear how a foreigner would be received there by the separatist 'authorities'.

Please report back if you manage to cross at either of the crossings I have mentioned,

Good luck,

EO

In reply to the rider who is contemplating riding to Georgia via Abkhazia - the short answer is "Not Possible"! Please read other threads which refer to the problems of crossing into Georgia via Abkhazia or South Ossetia.