Eastern regions (conflict zone; check advisories)

⚠️ SAFETY WARNING: Due to active ground combat, artillery bombardment, and widespread destruction, government agencies (including CA, USA, UK, AU, IE, and NZ) advise travelers to avoid all travel to Eastern Ukraine. This area is an active war zone with significant portions under occupation or subject to intense fighting. Families are strongly urged to consult their own government's official travel advisory before considering a trip, as circumstances and risk assessments vary.

The Eastern regions of Ukraine are defined by the vast, open steppe and the heavy industrial infrastructure of the Donbas basin. Geographically, this is a land of wide horizons, where the flat plains are occasionally broken by the ridges of the Donets range and the winding course of the Seversky Donets River. The climate is continental, with hot, dry summers and biting cold winters. The landscape is a patchwork of sunflower fields, coal mines, and large urban centres that grew rapidly during the industrialization of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Kharkiv, the largest city in the east and a former capital, is known for its constructivist architecture and massive public squares, including Freedom Square, one of the largest in Europe. The city has traditionally been a hub of science and education, filled with universities and parks such as Gorky Park, which was renovated into a modern family leisure destination with rides and gardens before the war. The region also holds unique natural wonders, such as the chalk hills of the Holy Mountains National Park, where a historic monastery is built directly into the white cliffs overlooking the river.

Culturally, the east is a complex mosaic of industrial pride and deep-rooted traditions. The salt mines of Soledar, with their massive underground chambers, were once a unique tourist attraction where families could descend hundreds of meters underground to see sculptures carved from salt and even play football in the cavernous halls. While the conflict has devastated much of this infrastructure, the region's identity remains tied to its resilient population, its vast landscapes, and the stark beauty of the steppe at sunset.