War in Ukraine – facts you need to know traveling to Eastern Europe

After well-known events on Maydan Square in 2014, when the Revolution of Dignity took place, the hot spot moved from the capital of Ukraine to the east – to Donetsk and Lugansk regions. The war in Ukraine began.

The first victims of the revolution in Kiev were an Armenian from Dnepropetrovsk Sergei Negoyan and a 20-year-old belarus from the Dnepropetrovsk region Mikhail Zhiznevsky

Now the war is of local and rather protracted character; there is no significant exacerbations. However, Minsk Peace Agreement between Russia and Ukraine is regularly violated. The residents of the eastern regions that have remained in the provinces have already reconciled themselves to the conflict situation and continue to live their normal lives.

On the photo you see Institutska Street in Kiev which is full of monuments to the victims of the Heavenly Hundred who died during the revolution of 2014.

 Is it worth to be afraid for tourists who are going to visit Ukraine?

If you travel to Kiev, Lviv or Odessa, there is absolutely nothing to fear. Visiting these cities, you will not feel even a hint of any military actions in the country. Every week Kiev hosts international festivals, concerts of world stars, exhibitions and conferences with foreign speakers. At the end of 2017, the percentage of foreign tourists in Kiev will grow by 12% compared to the previous year. Everyday only “Guide me UA” agency provide dozens of tours for guests from all over the world.

To know more about the war in Donbass and Revolution of Dignity on Independence Square in 2014 you can during the General Sightseeing Tour.

However, speaking about the tense situation in the east of the country, it should be noted that the conflict will drag on for some time.

The war in Donbass lasts 3.5 years

History shows that military operations in Ukraine have lasted longer than the wars in Kosovo, Libya, Georgia and the First Chechen War. All these conflicts ended many times faster.

In less than a year, the war in the Donbass in its duration can catch up with the fighting in Croatia (1991 – 1995).

So how long do wars last?

First, in Donbas many interests are involved, and these are not only domestic Ukrainian, but, unfortunately, external as well. Secondly, these interests became especially prominent after sanctions were imposed against Russia. Thirdly, look at the political calendar: at the end of September 2017, the elections were held in Germany, which resulted in updated foreign policy doctrine. March 2018 – presidential elections in Russia. For all the seeming simplicity, it can be complicated.

Earlier, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that in 2017, the main task is to reach the international border of Ukraine with Russia on the territory of separate parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

Secretary of National Security and Defence Council Alexander Turchinov also called this year a turning point in the issue of the liberation of the occupied territories.

Even US Senator John McCain was previously confident that in 2017 Ukraine would defeat the occupiers.

Deputy Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories Georgiy Tuka voiced a less optimistic, but at the same time more specific forecast. According to him, in the autumn of 2017 there is an opportunity to begin to liberate the Donbass.

This year the only thing that can be considered a big victory is the progress of the issue of the UN peacekeepers in the Donbass.

However, this process was not quick either. Petro Poroshenko recently recalled that he began to deal with peacekeepers issue as early as 2015.

Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine since 2014

 Viktor Yanukovych, the president of Ukraine 2010-2014, betrayed the people and fled to Russia

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To visit the former residence Mezhyhirya of Ex-president Yanukovych,

book private Tour by Guide me UA HERE.

Many experts agree that it is better to connect the liberation of Donbass not to dates, but to the circumstances in which Russia and Vladimir Putin will find themselves.

Some say that the end of the war will happen when Putin leaves. Russian political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky shares this opinion.

Co-president of the Club of Rome Anders Wijkman says that the situation with the Donbass can improve after certain circumstances make Vladimir Putin more pliable.

Others mention another reason – the disintegration of Russia. For example, the former scout of the USSR Viktor Suvorov also predicts the collapse of Russia after the resignation of Putin.

So, to deduce the situation,

Traveling to Kyiv is safe
To Lviv – is safe
To Odessa – is safe
To the East of Ukraine – not safe

In 2016 more than 1 200 000 foreign tourists visited Kyiv. In 2017 this figure will increase by 30%.

You can talk more in detail about the last revolution and the war in Ukraine with the local, for this you need to hire a local expert in Kiev.

Contact us to hire a local expert in Kyiv:

• +380 66 067 90 89 WhatsApp, Viber, SMS, Calls
• info@guideme.com.ua
• Skype: Guide me UA

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