US citizens traveling between Ukraine and Russia

US citizens traveling between Ukraine and Russia - People in the Street Protesting against War

My brother and I, American citizens, are planning an Eastern Europe trip where we fly into Saint Petersburg, journey through western Russia and parts of Ukraine, and fly back to America from either Poland or Hungary.

Does anyone know if this can even be done? Are there legal issues for travelers traveling either to Ukraine from Russia, or visa versa?

My brother would ideally like to go to Crimea, but I keep assuring him that isn't possible these days. Am I wrong?

Edit: Just so everyone knows, I understand we would need visas to travel to Russia.



Best Answer

There are currently no direct flights between Russia and Ukraine. You'd need to factor that into consideration.




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Can you travel between Russia and Ukraine?

Given the ongoing armed conflict, U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling by land from Russia to Ukraine.

Can a US citizen travel to Russia now?

To enter Russia for any purpose, a U.S. citizen must possess a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. It is impossible to obtain an entry visa upon arrival, so travelers must apply for their visas well in advance.

Can I travel to Russia right now?

Latest update:Do not travel to Russia due to the security environment and military conflict with Ukraine. If you're in Russia, leave immediately using the limited commercial options available or private means if it's safe to do so.

Can us citizens travel to Ukraine to fight?

Yes, it's legal for individual Americans to fight in Ukraine. American citizens can legally go abroad to fight in foreign wars, including in Ukraine's defense from Russia's invasion.



Americans travel to Ukraine to help Ukrainians defend against Russia




More answers regarding uS citizens traveling between Ukraine and Russia

Answer 2

Your brother does not need to worry about crossing the borders between these countries. But it is worth considering that the entry-exit to the Crimea should be carried out only from the Ukrainian border.

Answer 3

  1. There should not be any problems crossing Russia-Ukraine boundary.
  2. Except if you visited Crimea previously by going in from Russia. Ukraine normally have no ways of knowing that you did, but if they do, there's threat of legal action or they will just deny entry.
  3. You can in theory visit Crimea from Ukraine as other answer suggests, but AFAIK they will not let you cross border to Crimea. They only let in Ukrainian citizens with urgent needs or so I have heard.

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