Travel company promotes tours of Ukraine, tourists can see the war zone

• The tourism site, Visit Ukraine, is visiting war-torn cities in Ukraine.
• The site says visitors can see cached buildings, bomb debris and decommissioned military equipment.
• Ukraine is currently under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory due to the war with Russia.

A travel company is inviting tourists to visit Ukraine and see what it’s like to live in the midst of war.

Last month, the online site Visit Ukraine launched guest-guided tours, including through Kyiv, Bucha, Irpin and Kharkiv — all cities directly affected by Russian forces.

Ukraine CEO Anton Taranenko told Insider that the company has had several dozen tours since the site was updated and has more than 200 bookings. Most of the demand came from Ukrainians who were displaced during the war or moved to other countries earlier. Although more than a dozen Americans have also booked tours, he said.

Ukraine is currently under a high travel advisory due to the conflict with Russia. The United States Department of State urged all American citizens to leave the country immediately and warned that it would not be able to help Americans in Ukraine.

The tourist site has not received any official approval from the Ukrainian government. While not recommended, it is still technically possible to enter Ukraine at many points in Europe.

‘Brave Cities’

The site says people who sign up for the “Brave City” tour can see shell-covered buildings, bomb debris and destroyed military equipment. Travelers may still face the threat of active landmines and air raids.

Taranenko said Kyiv is a very safe city to visit as many people have resumed their normal activities, but added that it is “not 100% safe”.

Taranenko told Insider that he does not consider the visit any more dangerous today than the millions of tourists who visited Chernobyl before the war.

Tours of Ukraine are normally led by a guide of about 10 people and last 3-4 hours. The guides act as translators and lookouts, providing detailed instructions on how to avoid mines and information on where to go if an air raid siren sounds.

Ultimately, Taranenko says, the tourist’s safety depends on how willing he is to follow his direction. Failure to follow instructions can result in death at Bucha, where bombs may explode at any time.

“For example, when we take people to Chernobyl, the guide tells them: ‘Listen, don’t go this way or that way, because then you will be exposed to more radiation,'” Taranenko said. But people still do what they want.

The chief executive said the visit was a matter of reconnecting with their country for many, but “dark tourism” for others.

“Some like that a little dangerous,” Taranenko said. “There are always types like this, you want to see it in real life.”

‘It’s not just what you see on TV.’

On its website, the company seems to lean on this narrative.

In a list of reasons to visit via Bucha and Irpin, the site says visitors can see the results of “the massive civilian massacres that took place during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”

The site offers other tours including “nature” and “family tours”. Meanwhile, other areas, including Maripol and Mykolayiv, are completely off-limits to tourists because they are under Russian control or under constant attack from Russian forces.

Finally, Taranenko station is to show the brave spirit of the Ukrainian people. He said the proceeds from the tour, which costs 50 euros per person, will support war refugees.

“We show the brave and strong people living in Ukraine. You can feel the atmosphere,” he said. “It’s not what you see on TV. We are people who live our lives hoping that the war will end soon.”

“If tourists come to Ukraine and enjoy our wonderful city and tell their friends about it, maybe they will understand our pride in our country, our independence,” Taranko added.