Why a regular travel policy doesn't work during wartime
Most policies that foreigners buy for trips abroad carry a plain exclusion for war risks built into their standard terms. In practice, that means any injury, treatment cost, or evacuation caused by combat, shelling, air-defence activity, or shrapnel is simply not reimbursed. Such a policy may look valid on paper, yet turn out to be worthless the moment something actually happens.
That's exactly why visiting Ukraine in 2026 calls for a different product — insurance with active war-risk coverage. This isn't an optional "just in case" add-on; it's the baseline condition without which a policy fails to do its main job.
Which insurers genuinely handle war risks
It helps to see the market clearly, without wishful thinking. Not every company that formally holds a licence for travel medical insurance is willing to take on war risks while active hostilities continue. A large share of Ukrainian insurers either exclude such events entirely or offer coverage only to domestic clients or corporate programmes.
So instead of listing specific brand names — which go out of date quickly and can mislead you — focus on the hallmarks of a reliable provider of this kind of coverage:
- A licence from the National Bank of Ukraine for the relevant class of insurance. The NBU is the sole regulator of the insurance market, and it decides who may operate legally.
- Explicit, written inclusion of war risks in the contract terms — not a manager's verbal assurance, but a specific clause in the insurance rules.
- Transparent limits and territorial exclusions, worded precisely and without vague phrasing.
- Membership of a group with a solid solvency position, able to meet its obligations even in large-scale events.
The service we offer at ukraineborder.com is built around exactly these requirements. The insurer is a company regulated by the National Bank of Ukraine (insurance class 18), part of an EU-listed group subject to Solvency II — the European standard for insurers' financial stability. Policies are arranged through an agent with USREOU code 44559356, in line with the disclosure requirements of the Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD).
Terms and limits: what to check before you buy
When comparing policies with war coverage, look at several key parameters, not just the final price.
Sum insured. This is the ceiling within which medical care and evacuation costs are covered. For realistic protection during wartime, choose a current level of coverage — enough for complex treatment and transport.
What's actually included. A solid policy covers emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and medical evacuation and repatriation caused specifically by war-related events. Check carefully that these items haven't been carved out into separate exclusions.
Term and territory of validity. The policy should stay in force throughout your stay and cover the regions you genuinely plan to visit.
Cost. The market range for this kind of coverage is a few euros a day and depends on the length of the trip, age, and the chosen limit. The exact figure is calculated individually on the quote page — there can be no fixed prices set in advance.
The four categories of territorial exclusions
No honest insurer covers the entire country unconditionally. But proper exclusions are defined not by whole oblasts, but by clear categories of zones. That approach is precisely what lets you travel freely across safe regions. As standard, exactly four categories are excluded from coverage:
- Active combat zones, as defined by the relevant state acts.
- Temporarily occupied territories.
- A 50-km buffer zone around the two categories above.
- Areas under a special-access regime.
Outside these four categories, the policy applies as usual. This is a fundamental difference from the outdated approach, where entire oblasts were "struck off" the coverage, leaving a traveller unprotected even in calm cities.
How to get a policy during wartime, step by step
The process is fully remote and requires no visit to an office.
- Open the quote page and enter your travel dates, age, and desired level of coverage.
- Review the terms — pay attention to the inclusion of war risks and the list of territorial exclusions.
- Fill in the details of the insured person in Latin letters, exactly as in the passport.
- Pay online — the cost is calculated automatically.
- Receive the policy by email as a PDF; you can show it from your phone.
You can run a quote and buy a policy with war-risk coverage on the insurance checkout page — it takes a few minutes and can be done before you even enter Ukraine.
The key points, in brief
A regular travel policy offers no protection during wartime. Choose a product with explicit inclusion of war risks, clear limits, and correct territorial exclusions in the form of four categories of zones. Check for an NBU licence and the insurer's financial stability — and arrange your policy online in advance.