Ukraine: Many hitchhikers say it's dangerous to hitchhike in Ukraine. Though, if your Russian is good enough, and you feel like it: just go for it!
When hitchhiking in Ukraine do not be surprised if you are occasionally asked for money from drivers. It is not often, however, but it occurs.
The state of the roads are pretty dire in general, and the biggest problem is the distances involved are usually pretty big (for example Lviv to Kyiv is around 550km. In winter Ukraine can get very cold, for example January 2006 it hit -35 degrees, which makes hitchhiking very dangerous. The cost of train travel is very cheap - usually around 1 euro for every 100 km (for overnight sleeping carriages), so bear it in mind when going from city to city.
(http://travel.wikia.com/wiki)
Hitchhiking in the Ukraine is average. Drivers usually request money when they stop - it's a bit cheaper than public transportation (also cheap). But still it's possible to go by hitchhiking - usually cargo trucks will take you for free - but it's still worth to try stop personal cars as well. Good people are everywhere; you may be picked up in a Lada or a Lexus. (More usually the former.)
The usual hitchhiking gesture (also used to hail taxis and marshrutkas) is to face oncoming traffic and point at the road with a straight right arm held away from the body. Sometimes, for visibility, you may add a downward waving motion of the open right hand.
(http://www.digihitch.com/world/Europe/U
kraine)
Generally, hitchhiking is quite okay in Ukraine, one of the biggest countries in Europe.
The biggest problem you could meet is that the majority of the people don't speak English or other foreign language. Though, if your Ukrainian is good enough, and you feel like it: just go for it! Most of people speak Russian too. Besides, if you speak any of Slavic languages, the connection will be much easier, they are quite similar. Especially Ukrainians understand Polish – it is the closest of Slavic languages excepting Belorussian and Russian. Generally Ukrainians are hospitable and open persons when you have no language barrier. They like to help foreigners besides.
General tips
When hitchhiking in Ukraine do not be surprised if you are occasionally asked for money from drivers. It is not often, however, but it occurs. Of course you can always tell the drivers that you don't have money and that you are hitchhiking. It could be easier for you to put some phrases to your conversations in a car which could let drivers know that you are hitchhiker. Truck-drivers always recognize hitchhikers – in that case Ukraine is not an exception.
The state of the roads are pretty dire in general, and the biggest problem is that the distances involved are usually pretty big (for example Lviv to Kyiv is around 550 km). It is allowed to hitchhike everywhere on the roadside, you just need to find the most lucky place.
Weather
In winter Ukraine can get very cold, for example in January 2006, it hit −35 °C, which makes hitchhiking very dangerous. The cost of train travel is very cheap – usually around one Euro for every 100 km (for overnight sleeping carriages), so bear that in mind when going from city to city. It might be hot in summer (up to +35°C), so don't forget to take a hat with you to protect yourself from lots of sunbathing.
Food
Of course you can get stuck easily on the highway next to a turn-off from the main road because of nightfall. But there is also nice night-traffic of trucks caused by warm weather from May to September. Usually, there are some gas stations near to such places and there some favorite and famous places for stops known by drivers – something like unofficial rest-stations (there are no official but a lot of unofficial ones). You can easily find something to eat and to drink there and at almost all gas-stations there are night-shops. You can eat in some road-restaurants, they may be not expensive for foreigners from countries like the EU states – you can probably have some nice dinner there for $7-10 (2008).
Crimes
Crimes related to hitch-hiking are not common in Ukraine. But a hitchhiker should avoid cars with drunken drivers or passengers. When you are a single girl it's better to find truck or a car with family for your safety. Avoid night-rides with “funny” drivers. It is also necessary to keep your money in a safe place or on credit cards, the same for mobile phones – shit happens everywhere in the world.
(http://hitchwiki.org/en/Ukraine)
Festival in Odessa for the International Hitchhiking Week. On the occasion of the International Hitchhiking Week (first week of August), the European hitchhiker community has decided to organize a big festival in Odessa, Ukraine : The “project 789”.
On August 7th, 2009, hitchhikers from all over Europe (and the world) will meet up in Odessa, Ukraine after many days on the road for most.
All of them are hitchhiking. In facts, every year, thousands of people hitchhike all over the world. People from all backgrounds, a very diverse society indeed. In many countries, hitchhiking is still an "official" way of transportation. The hitchhiker community wants to show that sharing your car and exchanging stories with a hitchhiker can turn out to be a fantastic human experience in an increasingly individualistic world.
The aim of the festival is to spread awareness about hitchhiking. To give it a better image, to promote it as a way of transportation. To show that it is social and fun; and that it does indeed work. Even in an age of motorways and low-cost airlines. Moreover, in a background of global warming and economical crisis, hitchhiking is a sustainable solution. So, in order to reach a wide audience, the festival will be an official event, organized hand in hand with the local community and authority.
The hitchhiking community is very active. It maintains a permanent presence on the road and the web. Through global platforms like hitchwiki.org, digihitch.com or hitchbase.com; and a myriad of language specific platforms.
The festival will take place in Odessa, Ukraine, but the adventure will start on your doorstep! Ukraine is a very central country in Europe, in equal reach of the Ural mountains, the Atlantic coast, the Mediterranean beaches and the Nordic fjords. Odessa is a major and multicultural city on the shore of the Black sea. Last but not least, Ukraine is outside of Schengen space and has tolerant border policies that welcomes all European and most world citizen.
In Odessa, workshops and punctual events will be held. Many artists are joining in so you can expect an explosion of performances and talents. People that hitchhike a lot often learn useful and unusual skills. And they are willing to teach them. As much as possible the participants will reach out into the streets of the city through performances and activities.
Last year (08/08/08), for the first official hitchhiking week, the festival was hosted in Paris, right in front of the Eiffel tower (Champs de Mars). It gathered 150 hitchhikers from all around Europe and the world. Fabrice Renucci and Martin Boserup co-produced and co-directed "Paris 888", a feature documentary about four hitchhikers traveling to the 888 project from Saint James of Compostela, Turkey, Copenhagen and Barcelona.
For more information about the "789 Project", please visit: www.the789project.eu For hitchhiking information and tips, please visit: http://hitchwiki.org
789 – The road is mine!
restless