The headline point: under martial law a drone, a long-range telephoto lens with a sensitive sensor, or a satellite device is dual-use equipment. Military counter-intelligence (SBU + State Border Guard Service) is required to vet every such import as a potential threat. As a foreign visitor it's easier to arrive without problematic devices and work with what's already in Ukraine (via the host organisation or an accredited media partner). If you do travel with equipment, the rules below apply.
Drones / UAVs: rules under martial law
From 24 February 2022, by Presidential Decree No. 64/2022 and subsequent rules, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by civilians without a special permit is banned across all of Ukraine. This includes:
- Hobbyist and consumer drones (DJI Mini, Mavic, Air, Phantom, Autel, Skydio, etc.).
- FPV-format drones for filming.
- Meteorological drones, agricultural drones, even if your work profile is agriculture.
- Radio-controlled aircraft and helicopters.
Exceptions apply only to:
- Armed Forces, National Guard, State Emergency Service, Border Guard Service, National Police, State Protection Department, and other security services.
- Legal entities with a licence and a permit issued by the State Aviation Administration + SBU (e.g. agricultural enterprises operating under an order, engineering firms doing infrastructure mapping, operator groups accredited by the Ministry of Defence).
- Journalists and documentarians — only with separate accreditation from the regional military administration and Ministry of Defence, with a specific flight plan and an agreed location. A tourist will not get this accreditation.
What this means in practice for a foreign tourist:
- Don't bring a drone into Ukraine. Customs will likely detain it at the border and place it in a holding facility until departure (sometimes confiscation). Hold-up time at the search: 30 minutes to 2–3 hours.
- If you're already in country with a drone, do not launch it under any circumstances. Locals will report a flight to the police 5–10 minutes after take-off via TikTok or by sound. Detention plus an administrative fine of UAH 17,000–34,000 (€350–700) under Article 185-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences in the milder case; criminal Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code (unauthorised use of UAVs under martial law) — in the harder case, up to 3 years imprisonment + confiscation.
- A soldier or border guard observing an unauthorised UAV in the air is formally required to destroy the aircraft as a probable threat. The loss of the aircraft is on you regardless.
If you are a journalist or NGO worker with a working need — arrange accreditation through your editorial team / organisation via the Ukrainian embassy and the Ministry of Defence before arrival. Without an official request, do not bring it.
Possible to import officially: a drone declared at the border with a written undertaking not to use it on Ukrainian territory and immediate re-export on departure. This isn't common practice and requires strong arguments (e.g. you're transiting Ukraine). At the import point a customs officer is likely to seal the suitcase.
Photo and video shooting: where it's allowed and where it isn't
Civilian photography for personal use is allowed in Ukraine. A tourist on Khreshchatyk with a phone is normal; an evening walk with a camera through Lviv is normal; portraits with friends in a cafe are no problem.
What you CANNOT shoot:
- Military objects — of any type, including checkpoints, military units, police stations on heightened-security mode, state border crossings with military presence. Criminal Code Article 114 (state treason, espionage).
- Critical infrastructure objects — power plants, substations, gas pipelines, oil terminals, nuclear power stations, water intakes. Criminal Code Article 114-2 (unauthorised dissemination of information about critical infrastructure objects), in force since 2022, carries up to 8 years imprisonment.
- Armed Forces and National Guard objects in motion — convoys, military-equipment trucks, deployment points, even in public conditions. Especially on social media — this is the biggest risk for a tourist.
- Aftermath of a missile or drone strike — specific addresses of damaged buildings, locations of impacts that would help the enemy correct the next strike. Photos with geo-tags published on social media — criminal espionage under Article 114, actively applied since 2022.
- Strategic rail objects — bridges, tunnels, depots. Standard tourist shots of a railway station from a platform — fine; shots of a bridge over a river — not fine.
- Borders and border zones — shooting a border crossing, border infrastructure, State Border Guard patrols — only allowed for accredited journalists.
What you CAN shoot:
- Architecture in the historic centres (Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Chernivtsi, Kamianets-Podilskyi).
- Parks, museums (subject to the specific museum's rules on tripod/flash).
- Restaurants, cafes, hotels (hotels often ask for permission for commercial shooting).
- Nature and countryside, away from border zones and critical-infrastructure objects.
- Religious sites (with respect for the rules of the specific place).
General rule: if your frame contains anything that could give the enemy information about defence, infrastructure, military movement — don't shoot. When in doubt, don't shoot and don't publish.
Social media: a separate risk
Shooting for a private archive and posting to TikTok/Instagram/Twitter are different legal situations.
Publishing photo/video of:
- Checkpoints — even if you're just passing through and shooting from a car — a violation.
- Military columns — direct violation of Article 114 (collection and transmission of information about armed forces).
- Strikes and damage with geo-location — direct violation of Article 114-2.
- Front-line cities with coordinates (Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Pokrovsk) — even an ordinary "selfie next to a famous building" can carry geo-tags helping to fix the location of civilian movement.
Base rule: while in eastern and southern regions, do not post live or stories in real time. Strip GPS geo-tags from photos before publishing. If you publish, publish with a 24–72 hour delay after shooting.
Ukrainian digital literacy: an average resident of Kyiv/Lviv knows that publishing convoys in real time is a crime. Tourists often don't. If you publish a real-time video of military equipment, expect: SBU detention within 6–24 hours, interrogation, possible criminal proceedings.
Long-lens cameras
A classic tourist camera (Sony Alpha, Canon, Nikon mirrorless) with a kit lens is fine and not classed as specialised equipment.
Categories where to be careful:
- 600 mm+ telephoto — raises suspicion, especially if you shoot toward a border zone, airports, ports, critical infrastructure. The lens is legal to own but draws SBU attention.
- Camera with an IR sensor (e.g. converted Sony A7S, FLIR cameras) — specialised equipment, potentially for thermal imaging. Declare at the border; expect a delay for verification.
- 360° camera (Insta360, Ricoh Theta) — standard, but avoid recording in sensitive locations; such cameras unobtrusively record everything around.
At the border the customs officer is likely to inspect your camera and long lens in an open case. Don't hide them or pack them in unusual locations — that draws more suspicion than the equipment itself.
Satellite devices
Satellite phones (Iridium, Inmarsat), personal locator beacons (PLB), Garmin inReach Mini, Starlink terminals — a special category.
Iridium / Inmarsat satphone — requires a permit from the State Service of Special Communications for import and use. Without a permit — confiscation at the border. Not issued to tourists. Journalists and NGOs — separate procedure.
Garmin inReach Mini / SPOT — a satellite two-way pager in compass form. Not a phone (SMS-only format). No permit needed; declare at the border. Some border guards aren't familiar with the device and may delay for inspection.
Starlink mini / dish — a special category. Civilian Starlink terminals on Ukrainian territory require SBU registration. There are many terminals in country (volunteer organisations, media, business), but a private tourist will not be granted permission for their own terminal. Don't bring it.
What to declare at the border
General rule: civilian electronics for personal use are not declared:
- 1 laptop, 1 tablet, 1 smartphone (2 is fine for a backup).
- 1 camera + up to 2 lenses (standard).
- 1 GoPro / action camera.
- 1 portable battery (powerbank).
- Electronic accessories (headphones, watch, smart ring).
Declared (red corridor):
- A drone of any type.
- A satphone (Iridium, Inmarsat).
- A 400+ mm telephoto in a specialised sport/military configuration.
- A thermal-imaging camera or an IR-converted camera.
- More than 1 camera + more than 3 lenses (looks like commercial import).
- Spy gear — concealed cameras, voice recorders disguised as objects, GPS beacons designed to hide.
At declaration a standard customs form is filled in; type, serial number and indicative value are noted. The customs officer can seal the device or request additional documents (qualification, accreditation).
On exit, equipment declared on entry must be shown in the same configuration. Loss of a declared device without a police report on theft requires extra explanation at customs.
Journalist accreditation
If you are a journalist / documentarian with a working need for specialised equipment (drone, telephoto lens, satphone), the only legal route is accreditation from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
The process:
- Your editorial team applies through the Ukrainian embassy in your country or via the Ministry of Defence representative office.
- A package is submitted: journalist IDs, portfolio, shooting plan, locations, equipment list, contact people.
- The Ministry of Defence issues a press card (usually 30–180 days). It can include permission for a specific front-line location or only safe zones.
- The press card lists equipment restrictions — you cannot automatically launch a drone, even with accreditation, unless that is in a separate authorisation.
Without official accreditation, do not bring specialised equipment, since even with good intent the border service will read it as an attempt at unauthorised import.