Why ordinary travel insurance doesn't work in Ukraine
The overwhelming majority of standard travel policies sold in Europe, the US or Asia contain a war exclusion clause. In practice, that means if a claim arises from combat, shelling or an air-raid situation, the company has every legal right to refuse payment. On paper you hold a policy, but under real conditions in Ukraine it can turn out to be worthless.
That's precisely why a trip to Ukraine in 2026 requires a separate type of cover — a contract that explicitly includes war risks rather than simply staying silent about them. Understanding this distinction is the first step to avoiding being left alone with a medical bill.
Which companies actually insure foreigners during the war
The market broadly splits into two categories.
International travel providers. The big global brands typically either don't sell policies for Ukraine at all or offer cover hedged with so many caveats that war risks are effectively excluded. They often work only with corporate clients, journalists or humanitarian missions, under bespoke rates and lengthy approval processes.
Local Ukrainian insurers and their specialised products. Companies operating in the Ukrainian market have a clearer grasp of the real situation, established links with local clinics and assistance services, and the ability to issue a policy online in a matter of minutes. Their products are more often built specifically for current conditions and set out war risks directly in the contract.
For a visitor, this is a fundamental difference: a local insurer with the right product usually delivers faster support on the ground and clearer rules on how claims are paid.
What makes an insurer reliable: what to look at first
To avoid a poor choice, watch for a few objective markers.
1. Licence and regulator
An insurer in Ukraine must operate under the supervision of the National Bank of Ukraine. The product we're describing here, for example, is provided by a company regulated by the NBU under licence class 18 and part of an EU-listed group subject to Solvency II requirements. That means independent oversight of solvency and reserves — in other words, the money for payouts has to be genuinely backed.
2. Transparency of the intermediary
Where a policy is sold by an agent, that agent must disclose its identity in line with the requirements on insurance product distribution (IDD). A trustworthy agent openly states its USREOU code — in our case 44559356 — and makes clear that it acts as an intermediary, not as the insurer itself.
3. Currency and payout mechanism
It's important to understand how and in what currency claims are settled. Local contracts usually provide for settlement in hryvnia (UAH) within Ukraine — which makes sense, since you pay for medical services in the local currency too. Check whether the insurer covers clinic bills directly through assistance, or whether you pay first and are reimbursed afterwards.
4. Round-the-clock support in Ukrainian and English
In an emergency, prompt help in a language you understand matters. Verify that the assistance service operates 24/7 and offers an English-language line.
5. Clear territorial exclusions
This is one of the most important points — and it's often exactly where the unpleasant surprises hide.
How to check that a policy really covers war risks
Don't take general phrasing like "full cover" at face value. Open the contract text and check the specifics.
Find war risks mentioned in the cover, not just in the exclusions. In many policies the word "war" appears only in the exclusions section — a red flag.
Check how the territorial limits are described. A properly drafted contract does not exclude entire oblasts of the country; instead it clearly defines exactly four categories of zones where cover does not apply:
- combat zones designated by the relevant state acts;
- temporarily occupied territories;
- a 50-kilometre buffer strip around the first two categories;
- areas under a special-access regime.
This approach means that travel across most of the country — where entry is permitted and safer — remains protected. If an insurer excludes entire oblasts without explanation, that's grounds to ask further questions.
Clarify limits and assistance. Make sure the sums insured are sufficient for a serious medical event and that assistance genuinely responds within Ukraine.
What it costs and where to arrange it
Specialised cover with war risks for short trips typically costs in the region of a few euros a day — the exact amount depends on the length of the trip, your age and the limits you choose, and it's shown on the quote page. That's a modest price for peace of mind on a trip where standard policies simply won't respond.
If you'd like a policy that explicitly includes war risks and meets all the reliability criteria above, you can calculate the price and buy your policy online in just a few minutes.
A quick pre-purchase checklist
- The insurer is supervised by the NBU and holds a licence of the appropriate class.
- War risks are stated explicitly in the cover.
- Territorial exclusions are described as four categories of zones, not entire oblasts.
- Payouts and assistance work within Ukraine.
- The agent openly states its USREOU code and intermediary status.
- Round-the-clock support is available in a language you understand.
Work through this list and you'll sharply reduce the risk of buying a policy that turns out to be void at the moment it matters most.