Buses to & in Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked, large-scale military invasion of Ukraine, its neighbor to the southwest, marking an escalation to a conflict that began in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea and the Donbass region.
Ukraine offers a national bus network, which for a country of its size is great relief to frequent travellers because it cuts journey times in half compared with rail travel in Ukraine and is comparable price-wise.
Bus travel in Ukraine can be slightly less comfortable than taking the train, especially in mid-winter when taking a thick blanket is certainly advisable, but as a form of compensation you'll see a great deal more of the Ukrainian countryside as you whizz by. Ask for a window seat when you book your ticket, although there's no guarantee that the seat you have reserved will end up being the one that you sit in.
Outside of the major cross-country routes, the bus network serves rural and regional areas, albeit the buses shrink in size and the recognised bus stops become less and less adhered to by passengers.
Buses to Ukraine - From Germany, Eurolines - the overseas wing of National Express - offer return fares to many major Ukrainian cities including Kiev (24 hours), Donetsk (12 hours), Kharkiv (12 hours) and Lviv (17 hours).
Eurolines' routes stretch to over 30 countries from Scandinavia to Central Europe to North Africa and journeys to the Ukraine can be booked in many European cities.
Buses in Ukraine
Private-owned coach companies are now also starting to spring up, which can be a viable alternative if you're prepared to pay a slight premium for added comfort. Such companies as Avtoluks (Autolux), Ukrbus and Gunsel often have offices close to railway and bus stations in the major cities in the Ukraine. All these private buses make a mandatory and convenient stop at Boryspil Airport.
The main avtovokzal (bus station) tends to be on the outskirts of the major cities. Tickets can be purchased in advance or on the bus; but remember the golden rule that bus drivers drive the buses; they're rarely keen to answer questions even if the language barrier can be overcome.
See the timetables in the bus stations or visit www.bus.com.ua for travel time information. Some example travel times by bus are Kiev-Kharkiv (7 hours), Kiev-Odessa (6 hours) and Kiev-Uman (3 hours).
Finally, you can actually pick up a coach at Victoria Coach Station in London bound for Lviv and then Kiev. These leave at 4.30 pm on Sundays and ultimately arrive in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday evening.
Local Bus Services in Ukraine & Marshrutki
Local buses in Ukraine are of two main types: usually state-operated avtobusy that stop at designated stops and marshrutki - private minibuses that pick up and drop off passengers where they can. Marshrutki are the most popular form of urban transport in Ukraine and are similar to the dolmus in Turkey. Pay on entry and try to announce your destination to the driver before you get there to give him time to stop. Marshrutki are mainly yellow or white in Kiev.
Trolleybuses (tramvai) stop at designated stops. In Kiev you need to purchase a ticket from a booth before you get on and validate it on a machine inside the tram.
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