First and most important: in a life-threatening emergency, call 103 (ambulance) or 112 (general emergency). Don't try to make your own way to a hospital across the city when an ambulance can come to you. In Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv especially, the emergency medicine infrastructure works — average response time 8-15 minutes in the city centre, 15-30 minutes in residential districts.
Emergency numbers
Ukraine has a standardised emergency number system. All numbers are free from any mobile — Ukrainian SIM, European roaming, even from a locked phone.
112 — the single general emergency number. Connects to a dispatcher who routes the call to the right service (ambulance, police, fire). English-speaking operators answer 112 more often than service-specific numbers. Works 24/7.
101 — fire service (State Emergency Service). Call for fires, building collapse, technological disasters. English-speaking dispatchers sometimes available, not guaranteed.
102 — police (National Police of Ukraine). Call for crime, road accidents without injuries, lost documents. English support uneven; better in major cities.
103 — ambulance. Call for medical emergency — heart attack, stroke, serious injury, poisoning, heavy bleeding. Average response 8-15 minutes in city centres, 15-30 minutes on the periphery, 30-60+ minutes in rural areas.
When calling:
- State your address slowly and clearly (street, building number, floor, apartment).
- Describe symptoms / situation briefly.
- Give your phone number — the dispatcher will call back if the ambulance gets lost.
- Don't hang up before the dispatcher says "the team is on the way".
During an air alert — emergency services information is still relevant; ambulances continue to dispatch, but response times increase.
English-speaking dispatchers
Highest probability of reaching an English-speaking operator is on 112. Dispatchers go through language training but English quality varies; be ready to explain simple facts in simple words.
If you reach a Ukrainian-only dispatcher — use Google Translate (voice mode) or simply speak short sentences:
- "I need ambulance"
- "I am at [address]"
- "My name is [name]"
- "I am [age] years old"
- "I have [pain in chest / can't breathe / heavy bleeding]"
The dispatcher will understand basic English words even with limited fluency. Don't panic; repeat slowly.
Private clinics with English-speaking staff
Major cities have private clinics with confirmed capacity to serve foreign patients in English. They're more expensive than state clinics, but admission is faster, the chance of an English-speaking doctor is higher, and insurance coverage with Ukraine works as standard.
Kyiv:
- Boris — private clinic chain, cardiology, surgery, paediatrics. Administration and most doctors speak English. 24/7 emergency room.
- ISIDA — multi-profile clinic, known for gynaecology and reproductive health. English-speaking staff in the foreign-patients department.
- Dobrobut — clinic chain (4 in Kyiv). General medicine, surgery, paediatrics. 24/7 ER at the Tatarska clinic.
Lviv:
- Medikom — private chain, English-speaking staff, works with international insurance.
- Dobrobut Lviv — branch of the Kyiv chain, opened 2024-2025.
Odesa:
- Into-Sana — Odesa's leading private chain with English-speaking staff. Multi-profile, with an ED.
Dnipro:
- Garvis Medical Center — private clinic with an English-speaking segment for foreign patients.
- Dnipro Medical Institute Clinic — private department at the medical university.
Other cities: In Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Uzhhorod private clinics exist, but English-language capability is uneven. When in doubt, call ahead and ask whether an English-speaking doctor is available.
State hospitals
State hospitals are free for Ukrainian citizens, but a foreigner pays for most services. That doesn't mean you'll be denied emergency care — by Ukrainian law, emergency medical care is provided regardless of citizenship and ability to pay, with billing settled after stabilisation.
Major state hospitals (Oleksandrivska in Kyiv, Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital, Odesa Regional Centre) have experience with foreign patients and basic English communication via administration.
For tourist trips and short business visits a private clinic is usually the better choice — faster, easier paperwork for insurance.
How insurance coverage works on site
If you have a policy with Ukraine coverage (including war risks — see war-risk policy):
1. Call the insurer's emergency line (24/7 number on your policy, in the phone app, or in the email instructions). Before going to a clinic if possible. The emergency line gives instructions — where to go, whether the insurer pays directly, what to document.
2. Insurance often covers care at a network of assistance partners. The Ukrainian assistance market includes Globe Allianz, Coris, EuropAssistance, AP Companies. In a major city the partner network usually has 3-5 private clinics. Your policy will name the specific ones.
3. Direct billing — some insurers pay the clinic directly. You show the policy and ID; the clinic invoices the insurer. The most convenient option.
4. Reimbursement — you pay on site, then submit receipts to the insurer for refund. Keep all receipts, medical reports, prescriptions. Reimbursement typically takes 2-6 weeks.
5. Medical certificate — Ukrainian medical certificates are in Ukrainian. Ask for an English version or a discharge summary in Latin script with ICD-10 codes so your insurer at home can process it.
Important: an insured event must be reported within the first 24-72 hours (exact window in your policy). Late reporting can void the claim.
Pharmacies and over-the-counter medications
Pharmacies are open 24/7 in major cities. Most over-the-counter medications — analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen), antihistamines (loratadine, cetirizine), antacids, basic cold remedies — are available without prescription or documents.
Drug names in Ukraine are mostly brand names or international non-proprietary names (INN). If you know your drug's INN (e.g. ibuprofen, amoxicillin) — the pharmacist will help find an equivalent. Brands differ but the active substance is the same.
Prescription medications require a Ukrainian doctor's prescription. Foreign prescriptions are usually not accepted (especially in state pharmacies). If you take regular medication — bring enough for the trip plus 1-2 weeks buffer.
Insulin, controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, heavy psychotropics) — separate procedure. Bring documents from a doctor in your home country plus a prescription on letterhead. Customs may ask for documents.
Special cases
Mental health. Major cities have private psychiatric and psychotherapy clinics with an English-speaking segment. Hotline 7333 (Emergency Psychological Support Line). For foreigners with PTSD-related symptoms after an incident — some war-risk policies cover 30-90 days of therapy.
Dentistry. Not part of standard travel insurance coverage (except dental trauma). Private dentists in major cities — English-speaking staff often available. Prices below Western European; quality varies — choose by reviews.
Women's health. ISIDA (Kyiv), Into-Sana (Odesa), Medikom (Lviv) — specialised gynaecological clinics with English-speaking staff. Contraceptives are over-the-counter (most oral types); abortive pills require a gynaecologist's prescription.
Paediatrics. Boris, Dobrobut, ISIDA in Kyiv have paediatric departments with English-speaking paediatricians. Ask about an "international patient" profile when booking.
What to do if documents are lost
If you lose your passport or are injured without documents:
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Call your country's embassy. Most embassies are in Kyiv (US — 4 Sikorsky St, UK — 9 Desyatynna St, Canada — 13a Kostelna St, Germany — 25 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St, France — 39 Reytarska St). The embassy will issue a temporary travel document for return home.
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Call the police (102) and file a report on loss — for the certificate which may be needed for insurance and consular service.
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Bank's contact number — block cards if the passport disappeared together with cards.
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Witness contacts — if you were injured in an incident, useful to have contacts of 1-2 witnesses for the insurance description.
Pre-trip medical checklist
- Policy with Ukraine coverage (with war risks — recommended). PDF on phone + printed.
- Supply of regular medications for the trip + 7-14 days buffer.
- Documents for prescription / controlled medications.
- List of your allergies and medical contraindications (in English, on phone).
- Contact person at home (family member, doctor, insurance manager).
- Contact for your country's embassy.
- Screenshot of your medical card if you have a chronic condition.