The official language is Ukrainian. Russian is often the colloquial language, especially in Kyiv, eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Gagauz (a Turkic language), Slovak, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian and other minority languages are also spoken regionally.
Idioms
anosto] open = відкрито [vidkrito] restaurant = ресторан [restoran] Saturday = Субота [Subota] six = шість [shisty] sixty = шiстьдесят [sistʹdesat] seven = сім [sim] seventy = сімдесять [simedesatʹ] Sunday = сімдесять [simeddesatʹ] Menu = меню [menu] Do you speak German/English? = ви говорите українською / англійською [vi govorite ukrainsʹkou / anglijsʹkou] toilet = Туалет [Tualet] four = чотири [tshotiri] forty = сорок [sorok] How much does it cost? = Скільки коштує ? [Skilyki koshtuє ?] wine = вино [vino] How are you? = як справи [ak spravi] ten = десять [desyaty] twenty = двадцять [dvadcatʹ] two = два [dva] [Skilyki koshtuє ?] wine = вино [vino] How are you? = як справи [ak spravi] ten = десять [desyaty] twenty = двадцять [dvadcatʹ] two = два [dva] [Skilyki koshtuє ?] wine = вино [vino] How are you? = як справи [ak spravi] ten = десять [desyaty] twenty = двадцять [dvadcatʹ] two = два [dva]
If a public holiday falls on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday can also be free. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Monday is usually also released.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be imported duty-free into Ukraine (persons over 18 years of age): 200 g of cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco products; 1L spirits, 2L wine and 5L beer; Items for personal use (e.g. clothing); Travel provisions (original packaging) 1 pack per type of goods for personal use; original packaging 2 kg per type of goods. Upon entry, a customs declaration must be filled out, which must be presented upon departure. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Export Restrictions
A permit is required for the export of items that were created before 1960 (stamps before 1991).
Prohibited Exports
The export of state-registered cultural goods is prohibited. Cultural goods are objects that have an artistic, historical, ethnographic or scientific significance. More information is available from the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.
Contact addresses
Embassy of Ukraine
Consulates General in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/M., Hamburg and Munich. Honorary Consulate in Mainz.
Mon-Thu 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00, Fri 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-16.45.
Business
Business etiquette
Suit or suit is appropriate. Business cards are common. Some large Kyiv hotels provide interpreting services.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00/18.00. Long lunch breaks of at least one and a half hours are the norm.
Business contacts
Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations House of German Economy, Breite Strasse 29, 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 206 16 71 16. Website: www.ost-ausschuss.de WKO – Vienna Chamber of Commerce Strasse der Wiener Wirtschaft 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 51 45 00. Website: www.wko.at Joint Chamber of Commerce (JCC) c/o DPS Communications GmbH Kasernenstrasse 11, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland Tel. + 41 (0)44 226 90 61. Website: www.jointchambers.ch German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry vul. Pushkinska 34, 01004 Kyiv, Ukraine Tel. +38 (0)44 377 52 00, +38 (0)44 377 52 44. Website: ukraine.ahk.
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 00380 and the city code of Kyiv is 044. There are public telephones, most of which are operated with telephone cards. Cards are available in post offices and kiosks. If you want to call abroad from the Ukraine, you dial 81049 for Germany, 81043 for Austria and 81041 for Switzerland, after each 8 you have to wait for a dial tone.
Mobile phone
2G (GSM 900/1800), 3G and 4G. Cellular carriers include MTC and Kyivstar, among others. The Ukrainian mobile network is almost nationwide, but sometimes patchy in rural areas. Buying a Ukrainian SIM card is usually worthwhile.
Internet
Main provider: Lanet. Free and public WiFi hotspots can be found in most cities in numerous hotels, train stations, bus stations, some public transport, cafes, restaurants, libraries and public places.
Post office
Mail to Western Europe takes six to eight days. Post office opening hours: Usually 08.00-17.00. The main post office in Kyiv (Khrestchatyk 22) is open 24 hours a day.
Radio
Numerous German-language radio stations can be received over the Internet in Ukraine.
