Is it possible for you to travel or book tours to Ukraine during the ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and Russia? The short answer is yes, but it takes a certain degree of careful planning as currently there are no direct flights to or from Ukraine since all major airports are closed to travelers. Consequently, timely connections to ground transportation services are essential for a safe and secure passage to be assured.
Also for your safety we cannot recommend doing so unless travel to Ukraine is an absolute necessity such as for a family or personal emergency; a business or governmental conference; a theological conclave; or for media coverage of cultural, social or newsworthy events.
Having said that, prospective travelers are free to book transport to Ukraine via car, bus or train from nearby countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary for which we at Ukrainian-Ancestry.com can offer assistance as part of our tour and transportation services.
The most popular route to either Lviv and Kyiv is to take the train from Krakow Poland. Although train departure times can vary, a typical trip begins midday for a ride from Krakow to Przemysi Glowny (station) lasting approximately 3 hours, then involves changing trains for either Lviv [5 hours] or Kyiv leg [15 hours] for the final leg of the journey.
Obviously this involves going through Ukrainian customs and immigration, which travelers would typically go through at the airports anyway, and with the number of volunteer aid workers available the process is relatively hassle-free.
For rail connections from Warsaw/Wroclaw/Krakow to both Lviv and Kyiv, checkout the Rail.cc page for scheduling and prices.
We do provide auto and van transit services between most Polish cities – including Krakow, Rzeszow, and Warsaw – and many popular locations within Ukraine away from the front lines – such as Kyiv, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Lutsk, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
As part of our Ancestry Research and Travel Services we provide Ancestry Research assistance and, for those whom find it impractical to physically travel currently, online Virtual Ancestry Services.
Please do not hesitate to Contact Us regarding your travel plans. We are here to help you.