Ukraine and Russian Borders-Latest Intel

[motoreiter]

Hi,

Just rode from Germany to Moscow and thought I'd pass on my experiences at the Ukrainian and Russian borders. Nothing dramatic, but it is always good to get fresh data:

1) Ukraine: Passed into Ukraine from Romania, near Chergovsty. The border people could hardly have been friendlier. They spent a long time looking at the title from my bike (which I gave them because I don't have a registration) under an ultraviolet light (or something), maybe looking for a watermark or something. I didn't tell them that it was in fact a photocopy and ultimately they didn't have a problem with it. Since I was just passing through Ukraine, they proposed a transit visa, and they pushed me to pick an exit point. I told them I wasn't sure where I would exit, but probably near Glukhov, and they left it at that. Also, when I left the border, I did not see any insurance booths, so I did not buy any.

When leaving Ukraine near Glukhov, one fellow asked me for my Ukrainian insurance forms. I told them they were the bottom of my bag, and luckily he said not to bother, since I still didn't have any insurance. So a word to the wise--try to buy some insurance! Another guy asked me why they had not stamped an exit point in my passport, that I had violated my visa! I told them that I told them where I was exiting and it wasn't my problem that they had not entered it in my passport. After some bitching and moaning, he let it go. In retrospect, I think I should have asked for a tourist visa, which might not have the same restriction on exit points.

Each time, it took about 40 minutes to cross the Ukrainian border.

2) RUSSIA: Russia also went pretty smoothly, although I speak russian so could parley with the officials. the only snag was that I wanted my temporary entrance paperwork for my bike to last as long as my visa--a bit more than two months. They responded that they could only give three weeks and I would have to have it extended in Moscow. I told them that it would be very inconvenient to do this in Moscow, and they agreed to make it as long as my visa in return for 1000 rubles. Not sure what the rule is, but it was worth it to me. I tried to get them to grant the temporary import longer than my visa, but they said it wasn't possible and I didn't push the issue. This whole process took about an hour and a quarter.

Anyway, that's it, hopefully helpful to someone.