The short version
Ukraine's airspace stays closed to civilian passenger flights in 2026 — a measure in force since February 2022 that has not changed. So anyone planning a trip enters the country only through land border crossings, and once inside must account for a curfew that varies from one region to the next.
If you were counting on flying into Kyiv or Lviv, that option simply isn't available, and no airline operates such flights legally. Below is the route that actually works, in place of the one that doesn't.
Why the skies are closed and what it means in practice
Civilian aviation over Ukraine has been suspended by government decision because of the security situation. The airports in Boryspil, Lviv, Odesa and elsewhere neither receive nor dispatch passenger flights. Any offer of "plane tickets to Kyiv" is either a repackaged overland transfer or an outright scam.
What this changes for the traveler:
- You fly into a neighboring country (most often Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia or Hungary) and then continue by train, bus or car.
- Travel time from the border to the major cities is significant: budget several hours even without queues.
- Border queues are unpredictable. Crossing on foot is sometimes faster than by car.
The working entry route, step by step
Step 1. Fly to a hub near Ukraine. The most popular airports are Warsaw, Rzeszów, Chișinău, Bucharest and Kraków. Rzeszów is the closest to the Ukrainian border on the Polish side.
Step 2. Reach a border crossing. From Poland these are mainly Medyka–Shehyni, Krakovets and Hrushiv; from Moldova, Palanca and others; from Romania, Siret; from Slovakia, Uzhhorod (Vyšné Nemecké). For the current list of open crossings and their congestion, check the official resource of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Step 3. Cross the border. Citizens of many countries enter visa-free for up to 90 days; visa requirements depend on your nationality — verify them on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine before you travel.
Step 4. Continue deeper into the country. The most reliable option is Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways): trains run on schedule even during air raid alerts, and tickets can be bought online. Bus operators are also running.
Step 5. Plan your arrival around the curfew (see the next section) so you don't find yourself on the road during restricted hours.
Curfews: why they differ
There is no single nationwide curfew time in Ukraine. Curfews are set by regional military administrations, and each region has its own. In most relatively calm regions it runs roughly from midnight to 5 a.m., but in front-line regions it can start much earlier — say, at 10 p.m. or even sooner — and in some communities it may apply around the clock.
During curfew hours, moving through streets and roads without a special permit is prohibited. This applies to pedestrians and vehicles alike. A violation means detention until the circumstances are cleared up.
The key rule for travelers: don't rely on old articles and forums. Restriction hours change, and what held true last month may already have been updated.
Where to check the current restriction hours
Before departure, and again on arriving in each new region, check:
- The official website or official channels of the regional military administration for the region you're heading to. This is where the current curfew hours and any changes are published.
- The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine — for the status of crossings and queues.
- The official air raid alert app and the regional military administrations' official Telegram channels — to know about alerts in real time.
- Your hotel or host — staff usually know the local schedule and shelter rules precisely.
Don't depend on a single source: cross-check the official times with the regional military administration the day before you move.
Small practical things that genuinely work
- Cash plus card. Card payments are widespread, but on the road and in smaller towns, cash in hryvnia is a lifesaver.
- A local SIM or eSIM. Mobile coverage is stable, but keep a power bank in case of power outages.
- Offline maps and train timetables — download them in advance.
- Documents. Always carry your passport — checks are possible, especially closer to curfew time.
- Planning your day. Finish all travel with time to spare before restrictions begin, not right up to the wire.
Insurance: why it's not just a formality
Ordinary travel policies almost always exclude risks linked to combat operations. For a trip to Ukraine, then, it's worth arranging specialized cover that specifically accounts for war-related risks. On the market such policies run from a few euros a day — you'll see the exact price for your dates once you get a quote.
Pay attention to the territorial exclusions: coverage typically does not extend to four categories of zones:
- combat zones as designated by state acts;
- temporarily occupied territories;
- a 50-kilometer buffer around both of the above;
- areas under a special-access regime.
That means the policy is valid across most of the country where civilians actually travel, but it doesn't cover the most dangerous areas. Plan your route to stay within the covered area, and always verify the status of any specific location against official sources.
In brief: what to do before your trip
- Don't look for flights into Ukraine — there aren't any. Fly to a neighboring hub.
- Choose a land crossing and check that it's operating on the State Border Guard Service's site.
- Look up the curfew for each region on the relevant military administration's site — and do it again the day before you move.
- Plan your journeys so you're never on the road during restricted hours.
- Arrange insurance with war-risk coverage and factor in the four exclusion zones.