In Ukraine only the national currency – hryvnia is in official circulation. Many prestigious shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and airline representative offices in Ukraine accept credit cards. You can cash money in Kyiv and throughout the oblast centers of Ukraine by using a network of ATMs.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

According to the Ukrainian Law you can exchange foreign currency to national currency – hryvnia in banks or currency exchange booths, situated in specially designed areas. The exchange booths usually work from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., but there are some that work round the clock. NEVER change currency elsewhere. Keep your wallet in a safe place.

ELECTRICITY

The voltage in the electric mains in Ukraine is 220 V. You may need a special adapter for electric devices brought from abroad.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

We hope you will not need a doctor’s help. But if you suddenly feel you need it, you have several options for that:

• if you have an insurance policy, which you were required to buy for entry to Ukraine, you can use the free-of-charge services of emergency aid – telephone 03; 
• use your medical insurance policy – in Kyiv there are representative offices of many foreign establishments; 
• use the paid services of private medical clinics.

Telephones of medical establishments:

• State emergency aid (ambulance): 03;
• Private clinic Medicom: 234-0303;
• Private clinic Boris: 219-4550.

UKRAINIAN CUISINE

Here is a brief description of some national Ukrainian dishes.

Vareniki
It looks like big ravioli, containing various kind of stuffing. For example: potato, cabbage, cottage cheese, potato and mushrooms (nourishing and not bad for health), just mushrooms, cherry or other berries (cooked mainly in summer and adored by children), boiled and grinded meat, liver or something else (depending on the cook’s fantasy).

Ukrainian Tomato Soup (Borshch)
It can be called a real gastronomic symphony combining many bright taste accents. It is cooked basing on meat bouillon (most often veal bouillon). It is obligatory bits of meat in Borshch, prepared beet, cabbage, potato, onion and carrot. Real Ukrainian Borshch is customary flavored with fried lard, but in modern cuisine this rule is not always followed. You may be served with “Pampushki”. They are small size unleavened yeast pastry buns – chubby and roll-like, they replace usual bred very well.

Uzvar
And now it is turn of drinks. Uzvar is cooked of dried fruits, which are boiled on a small fire for a long time adding some honey. It is delicious and undoubtedly healthy.

Kvas
Taste it! Kvas is a soft drink and there are many kinds of this splendid, known from antiquity and health-giving drink. It usually has a sour-sweet taste and contains some natural carbonate. Kvas is cooked at home as well as manufacturing conditions. It stimulates digestion.