I spent a few days in SW Ukraine towards the end of Junel, the intention was to ride the Carpathian route to Moldova , but electrical gremlins made a change to the plans !
Regulator on my XT1200 failed just South of Lviv ( where I was heading next day )..4 days later I picked up a replacement, only for the stator to burn out around 2 hours later, but luckily I had decided to head South instead of East, so just limped into Romania.
The people were amazing, with everyone trying to help. I made contact with a local mechanic and he really went out of his way to source a replacement.
I was staying in a cabin beside a hotel and they were also incredibly helpful, they blocked out the booking so I was free to stay there as long as was necessary, and it was cheap, great food, nice local beer and wine..nothing to dislike.
When the war kicked off, rich folks in the East relocated West and South West, then bought up all the available land and properties..so now it is absolutely booming there !
New hotels, luxury wooden cabins and spas are under construction in every available spot.
There's a relaxed cafe and restaurant culture, luxury goods to buy in supermarkets and grocery stores, designer clothes shopping etc, certainly doesn't feel like a country at war in the Western regions.
A noticeable shortage of younger men around, but it seems that if you are ' an essential worker ' ( hospitality, construction etc ) life continues , but with a slightly different normal !
No issues with getting in or out, moto insurance being a slight hurdle.
Go
ps. I did manage to travel through Moldova and Transnistria, albeit by a different route, and a few weeks later, so perhaps there is still some unfinished business for next year
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