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Crossing from Russia into Ukraine? Crossing from Russia into Ukraine?
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  • 1 Post By motoreiter
  • 2 Post By Bermuda Rover
  • 2 Post By Bermuda Rover
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  #1  
Old 10 Apr 2014
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Crossing from Russia into Ukraine?
Does anyone here know if any border crossings are open still between these two countries? Since Russia has parked 100,000 troops with tanks along the border...
Emails to the Ukraine embassy have not been replied to.
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  #2  
Old 11 Apr 2014
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Well, it looks like no one has first hand knowledge, which is not surprising. I would not expect any response from the Ukrainian embassy either. I'm sure the border crossings are still open, but "suspicious" individuals might not be allowed through. I read in the papers yesterday that Ukraine has been blocking many "suspicious" Russians from crossing the border. I doubt you'll have any significant problem, but I would certainly prepare a Plan B.

I would also not dally on the Russian side of the border and would refrain from taking pictures of all the pretty Russian tanks, etc.
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  #3  
Old 13 Apr 2014
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Well...as far as i know, at the moment there should mot be problem crossing the border...but you never know. The biggest problem at the moment, are non-official self-organised group ("local sheriffs"). There can be a problem. Those groups are not controlled by official authorised state members (police or army), and they made laws by their own. And you can find them all around eastern border.
I was planing these year travel through Ukraine to Kazakhstan...but under the information I will wait for next chance (maybe next year).
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  #4  
Old 13 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by BIF View Post
I was planing these year travel through Ukraine to Kazakhstan...but under the information I will wait for next chance (maybe next year).
Frankly I can't understand why someone would cancel their trip because of something like this, worst case all you'd have to do it enter through the Baltics instead of Ukraine. Personally at this point I would have few concerns about crossing the Ukraine/Russia border (other than the "new" border into Crimea), although I'd be prepared for a longer wait and try to have contingency plans in case there were any unforseen problems.

Of course, the situation could worsen in Ukraine or expand to the Baltics, in which case other plans might be in order!
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  #5  
Old 13 Apr 2014
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Should be able to provide some updates soon.

We will be crossing into Ukraine from Slovakia tomorrow. We'll be visiting Lviv and Kiev before crossing into Russia later this week.

Will let you know once I have anything to report.
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  #6  
Old 13 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by motoreiter View Post
Frankly I can't understand why someone would cancel their trip because of something like this, worst case all you'd have to do it enter through the Baltics instead of Ukraine.
Well it is not so easy for me. I will travel with ATV...so I'm quite slower than motorbike. I planed to ravel as much as possible on unpaved roads...so my travel time is far longer...and I have limited time for traveling...since I would like to visit also Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Some "extra" days I would like to spend enjoying in nature, than in some offices waiting for papers...and finally be happy that somebody MAYBE some day said..."ok you can go"...that's why.
My plan is travel through interesting places, visit interesting placesd, meet nice people, enjoy riding...I'm not war reporter and I'm not looking such adventure.
Maybe you understand now.
And I'm from forma Yugoslavia...believe me...I know how it looks when things go in that direction, like now in Ukraine...
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Old 14 Apr 2014
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Plus I guess one side or another might decide that your ATV has "military applications". And just yesterday looks like things have gotten worse...
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Old 14 Apr 2014
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Unfortunately you are so right....
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Old 15 Apr 2014
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We entered Ukraine today.

We encountered a 1 hour and 15 minute delay at the Poland side whilst they checked the vehicle registration. Nice, friendly border police - just took a long time to do the checks. Once the vehicle docs were cleared, we were sent over to the Ukraine side without any vehicle search. Most vehicles passing through were only delayed by a few minutes - they must have liked (or disliked) the look of my Defender!

The Ukraine side took a further 30 minutes. First, a cursory search of parts of the vehicle with questions about whether we had 'pistols' or 'marijuana'. Then we had to clear Immigration which only took a few minutes. Then we had to clear Customs, which meant more waiting.

No forms to fill out. No declarations to be made regarding what we had with us.

When we pass the other side into Russia, I'll post further info.
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  #10  
Old 15 Apr 2014
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Bermuda Rover, when you report on crossing into Russia, please let us know which border crossing you used, because I would think that experiences would be location-specific, depending on local developments, military deployments, etc.

Also, I guess this is kind of obvious, but it sounds like the local police headquarters and security headquarters in the towns in Eastern Ukraine are attracting a lot of attention from both (armed) sides, so you might not want to stay near them.

Generally are you camping, staying in truckstops, in city-centers, etc.?
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Old 15 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by motoreiter View Post
Bermuda Rover, when you report on crossing into Russia, please let us know which border crossing you used, because I would think that experiences would be location-specific, depending on local developments, military deployments, etc.

Also, I guess this is kind of obvious, but it sounds like the local police headquarters and security headquarters in the towns in Eastern Ukraine are attracting a lot of attention from both (armed) sides, so you might not want to stay near them.

Generally are you camping, staying in truckstops, in city-centers, etc.?
In Ukraine, we'll just be visiting Lviv and Kiev. I expect that we'll exit via the border post near Sumy, thereby avoiding the eastern Ukraine cities that are experiencing problems at the moment.

I'll confirm the border once we have crossed it.
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