In this guide we will only talk about the free channels which are available these two satellites:
Hotbird 13E and Astra 19.2E.

Here is the list of the Russian (and of other Russian speaking countries) channels with the settings for to catch them if you are not able to get them automatically.

Frequences and parameters for free to air decoders.
This list was updated 06/02/11

Satellite Hotbird 13E

Russian speaking channels

- 1TVRUS (Первый канал)

Freq. TP: 12597
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 0167
PID Audio: 0108
PCR PID: 0167

- Music Box Russia

Freq. TP: 11642
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 1301
PID Audio: 1302
PCR PID: 1301

- RBC TV (РБК ТВ)

Freq. TP: 12520
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 0603
PID Audio: 0604
PCR PID: 0603

- CNL Russia

Freq. TP: 10815
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 2012
PID Audio: 3012
PCR PID: 2012

- K+ (Kazakhstan)

Freq. TP: 11623
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 0261
PID Audio: 0271
PCR PID: 0261

- R1

Freq. TP: 11117
Symbol rate: 27492
Pol.: V
PID Video: 6601
PID Audio: 6611
PCR PID: 6601

- Vesti (Вести)

Freq. TP: 11034
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 1020
PID Audio: 1030
PCR PID: 1020

- RTR Planeta (РТР-Планета)

Freq. TP: 11034
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 820
PID Audio: 830
PCR PID: 820

- Smile of a Children (Улыбка ребёнка)

Freq. TP: 11566
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 8013
PID Audio: 8113
PCR PID: 8013

- TBN Russia (ТБН)

Freq. TP: 11566
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 8007
PID Audio: 8107
PCR PID: 8007

- Music one RU TV

Freq. TP: 11013
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 2014
PID Audio: 3014
PCR PID: 2014

- Sarafan

Freq. TP: 11034
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 320
PID Audio: 330
PCR PID: 320

- PALI Televison

Freq. TP: 11604
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 3710
PID Audio: 3720
PCR PID: 3710

NEW – Shanson

Freq. TP: 11034
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 320
PID Audio: 330
PCR PID: 320

NEW – Soyuz TV

Freq. TP: 10815
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 2013
PID Audio: 3013
PCR PID: 2013

NEW – TV ARM ru

Freq. TP: 12322
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 58
PID Audio: 59
PCR PID: 58

NEW – Strana TV

Freq. TP: 11034
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 320
PID Audio: 330
PCR PID: 320

Canali Russi in altre lingue

NEW – RT DOC (RTД)
(English language)

Freq. TP: 12015
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 527
PID Audio: 5664
PCR PID: 143

- Russia Today
(English language)

Freq. TP: 11319.50
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 1029
PID Audio: 1229
PCR PID: 1029

- Rusiya Al-Yaum
(Arabic language)

Freq. TP: 11319.50
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 1032
PID Audio: 1232
PCR PID: 1032

NEW – World Fashion Channel
(English language)

Freq. TP: 12322
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 72
PID Audio: 71
PCR PID: 72

Canali multilingua

- RTG Russian Travel Guide
(Russian and English language, depend on the PID Audio)

Freq. TP: 12380
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 3333
PID Audio: 3344 (Russo) 3343 (Inglese)
PCR PID: 3333

- Euronews
(Russian language)

Freq. TP: 12597
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: V
PID Video: 2221
PID Audio: 2237
PCR PID: 2221

Satellite Astra 19.2E

- Euronews
(Russian language)

Freq. TP: 12226.50
Symbol rate: 27500
Pol.: H
PID Video: 2432
PID Audio: 2439
PCR PID: 2432

- Russia Today
(English language)

Freq. TP: 115380
Symbol rate: 22000
Pol.: V
PID Video: 604
PID Audio: 624
PCR PID: 604

There are of course also other satellites such as:

- Express am1 40E: Very good for to get Russian channels.
- Sirius 4.8E and Amos 4W: They both offer several Ukrainian channels.

These satellites are not so easy to get, at least form Italy.

Notes

More info on sat-tv:
http://www.lyngsat.com
http://it.kingofsat.net

They are composed by wagon of first and second class with only sitting places divided in compartment of 6 places (we tried only the first class).

Stolychnyi ekspres Kyiv – Kharkiv

Locomotiv Siemens. Train Kyiv – Kharkiv

Locomotiv stolychnyi ekspres

Train Kyiv – Kharkiv

Stolychnyi ekspres, waiting at the Kyiv’s station

Wagon of the train Kyiv – Kharkiv

Stolychnyi ekspres Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Train Kiev – Dnipropetrovsk

Stolichniy-express to Dnipropetrovsk

Inside wagons

First class wagons are quite clean and offer a good comfort.

Corridor train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Corridor first class wagon, stolychnyi ekspres

The are equipped with very nice reclining seats and in the middle of the compartment there is also a small table.

Compartment of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

As in the “renewed” wagons, there is a control panel (lights, radio, wc status and AC plug).

The control panel inside the compartment

In each compartment there are 2 monitors where is possible to watch movies in Russian language.

One of the monitors, train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Toilets of the train

There are 2 WC for each wagon and, at least in the first class, they look even better that the ones available on the renewed sleeping cars. They look very clean and have also a dispenser of hygienic paper covering for WC.

Toilet of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

WC of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Price of the tickets

First class tickets are quite expensive if compared with the elekrickas’ ones. Anyway it is possible to feel the difference.
The first class during our trip was almost empty.

One way ticket for the route Kyiv – Kharkiv
1 class: 176.17 UAH
2 class: 104.43 UAH

Videos of Ukrainian trains

Train “Zakarpattia” departing from Kiev:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k7Z4mN5Clg

Freight train in Donetsk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPAFR4myPk

Other kind of Ukrainian trains

Elektrichka (Электричка) or Elektropoezd
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/elektricka

Overnight trains
http://www.ukrlandia.com.ua/treni-ucraini

Train timetable

http://www.uz.gov.ua (site in Russian and Ukrainian)

NEW Rules

Since October 14th, the rules for to call within Ukraine and from Ukraine to abroad changed.
In this way the new syntax is more similar to the one of western European countries.

To call a different oblast, you don’t need anymore to dial 8 before the area code. The same happen if you want to call a mobile phone.
For to call abroad simply dial 0 before the country code at the place of the old 8 10.

Another change concern the area code of the Kiev oblast. The prefix change from 044 t0 045.
The city of Kiev stay with the old 044.

Local calls

Dial the number without area code.
ex.: if you are in Kiev and you want to call within the city, dial the number without 044.

Calls outside the city

Dial: (area code) number.
ex.: for to call Donetsk: 062 followed by the number.

International calls

Dial: 0 and wait for the beep then dial (country code) (area code)  number.
ex.: for to call Milan: 0 03902 followed by the number.

Mobile phone (within Ukraine)

Dial: full number starting from the 0 and not from the 8.

es.: if the number is 8093… simply dial 093.

Call costs

Lets see how much costs to call from a land line phone in Ukraine, the following rates are the ones of Ukrtelecom.

Local calls

A particular number of minutes is included in the account, you pay a fixed amount of money every month and you get several free minutes of conversation. When you pass the number of free minutes, you will have to pay few Kopiykas for each minute of conversation.

ex. of rate:

19,73 Hryvnia for a max of 200 min/month.
Between 200 and 840 minutes you have to pay 5,4 Kopiykas/minute.
After this limit you will pay for each extra minute 3,78 Kopiykas.

So if you want make a call within the city from your hotel or a rented flat, it should be free. For us it was exactly in this way. (anyway ask before to call)

Read:
http://en.ukrtelecom.ua/services/customers/local_telephony/installation/rates

Calls outside the city

There are two different rates, one for the calls placed inside the oblast’ and another one for all the other ones no matter how far is the tow you want to call.

Rates

Calls within the oblast’

-working days
8-18: 0,48 Hryvnia
18-23: 0,29 Hryvnia
23-8: 0,24 Hryvnia

-Saturday, Sunday and holidays
0,18 Hryvnia (all day long)

Outside the oblast’

-working days
8-18: 0,60 Hryvnia
18-23: 0,42 Hryvnia
23-8: 0,36 Hryvnia

-Saturday, Sunday and holidays
0,34 Hryvnia (all day long)

Read:

http://www.ukrtelecom.ua/services/customers/phone_regional/tariff

International calls

The rate vary according to the country you want to call and by the daytime of your call
The countries are devided in 7 areas. All prices are in USD.

Rates for to call the USA and Canada
area 4, North America

8-18: 0,36 USD
18-8 and holidays: 0,29 USD

Rates for to call Great Britain
area 6, western and central Europe, Oceania, Africa, Asia etc…
(almost the most expensive area)

8-18: 0,60 USD
18-8 and holidays: 0,48 USD

The same rates apply also for to call mobile subscribers.

Read:
http://en.ukrtelecom.ua/services/customers/international_telephony/rates

The train depart usually in the late afternoon ad arrive at destination the next morning. This happen on routes as Kiev – Donetsk, Kiev – Ivano – Frankovsk. On other routes as Donetsk – Lvov, the trip last even more than 1 day.

The locomotives

Some are electrical and other are Diesel. We are not expert so we just public some photos of them.

Electrical Ukrainian locomotive

Ukrainian locomotive

Old Ukrainian locomotive

The sleeping cars

The carriages are characterized by their typical light blue color with yellow stripe. There anyway wagons with different colors as the one of the train Uzgorod – Kiev.

Several trains also have a specific name ex. Donbass  for the Donetsk – Kiev, Dnipro for the Dnepropetrovsk – Kiev etc…

Sleeping car  “Donbass” Donetsk – Kiev

Train “Azov”, Mariupol – Kiev

Train “Zakarpattia”, Uzgorod – Kiev

The name and the destination are written on a plate on both sides of the wagon.

“Donbass”, Donetsk-Kiev

“Prikarpattia”, Ivano-Frankisvsk – Kyiv

Apart from the “traditional” wagons, there are also renewed carriages which especially inside are much better than the previous ones.

Renewed wagon, train “Donbass”

Renewed wagon of the train Lviv – Kyiv

A part of the normal sleeping cars exist also a restaurant wagon.

Restaurant wagon, train “Donbass”

Interior of the sleeping cars

Mainly the wagons are possible to be divided in these 3 typologies:

-First class: Lyuks (Люкс) compartments with only 2 beds  (and extra comforts)

-Second class: Kupe (Купе) compartment with 4 beds, 2 up and 2 down

-Third class: Platskart (Плацкарт) there is not division in compartments. You have more than 3 neighbors…

In some trains exist also a forth class Zahal’nyi (Загальний), where there are only sits and not beds.

A big difference consist in the age of the carriage and if the wagon was renewed or not.

Kupe class “traditional” wagons

These wagons can be quite good (even if not renewed) as the ones of the “Donbass” (see photo) or to be rather old as the ones of the Donetsk – Sevastopol or the ones of  the “Prikarpattia”.

In general, the standard comfort are:

-  “Clean” bed linen (at least they are given in a sealed package)

- Radio and lights for the whole compartment

- A personal light next to every bed.

- Clotheshorses

- Boxes where to put the luggage (over the door and under the two down beds)

- Power plugs, usually only inside and next to the toilet (often they don’t work)

- Heating system and conditioned air (not always working property and sometimes not even available)

There are 2 toilets for every wagon.

Entrance wagon Kupe, “Prikarpattia”

Train Donbass, Donetsk – Kiev

Entrance of the corridor, train “Donbass”

Corridor wagon Donetsk – Kiev

Compartment Kupe, train Donetsk – Kiev

Stair to the upper bed, train Donetsk – Kiev

Upper bed with mattress

Control panel, train “Donbass”

Train Lviv – Donetsk

Corridor of the wagon, train Lviv – Donetsk

Upper bed with bed linen

Train Donestk – Sevastopol

Small table, train Donetsk – Sevastopol

Upper bed with light, train Donetsk – Sevastopol

Between all these trains the most comfortable was the “Donbass”. The worst was the Sevastopol also because when we tried it was winter and the radiators were extremely hot and the air inside the compartment was very heavy.

Renewed wagons

These carriages are completely renewed. They look clean and modern. In general they don’t have anything to envy to the western ones.

Inside the compartments there is a special control panel which also tell if the WC are busy or not. On it there is also a power plug every useful for to reach PC or mobile phones.

The toilets are much, much better than the previous ones.

Train Donbass, Donetsk – Kiev

Entrance train “Donbass”, renewed wagon

Corridor renewed wagon, train “Donbass”

Compartment, train Donetsk – Kiev

Upper bed, train “Donbass”

Kupe, “Donbass” Donetsk – Kiev

Luggage box

Control panel of the compartment

Train “Lviv”, Lviv – Kyiv

Renewed wagon train “Lviv”

Compartment train “Lviv”

Bed and mattress, train  Lviv – Kyiv

The toilets

They are usually not hygienic and essential. Especially before the arrival (so after the night) they are dirty and the floor is often wet.

Much better are the ones of the renewed wagons.

“Normal” wagons

Toilet, train “Donbass”

Sink, Ukrainian train

WC train Lviv – Donetsk

Renewed wagons

Sink, train “Donbass”

WC, train Donetsk – Kiev

Tickets:

The prices of the tickets change according to the distance, the class and the kind of the wagon. The renewed wagons cost a bit more (but the difference of price is truly worthy).

Example:

Kyiv-Lviv

First class: about 500 uah (100 usd)

Second class: about 125 uah (25 usd)

Third class: about 80 uah (16 usd)

The best one is the Kupe (quality/price).

The first class can costs even more than to take the plane.

Remember to book as soon as you can or you risk to don’t find any ticket left.

Keep your ticket in a place where you can easily reach it. The woman of the carriage will ask it two times:
1 before you to come inside her wagon
2 when the train depart and in this occasion she will not give it back (when you are close to your destination, you can ask her to give it back to you).

Notes:

-As rule, the down beds are considered to be the best, since you can also sit there and not only to lie down… and for this reason are also the first that are sold out.
Grannies and grandpa will aspect you to give them such place even if you own a ticket for such place.

-Before to lay down on your bed, you need to “make the bed”
you will find there a kind of mattress, a pillow, several “clean” shits and an heavy blanket.
Prior to your arrival, you have to put everything as it was before and give all those “clean” shits to the woman of the train.

For to know how to read Ukrainian tickets:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/train-tickets-ukraine

Videos of Ukrainian trains

Train “Zakarpattia” departing from Kiev:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k7Z4mN5Clg

Other types of Ukrainian trains

Elektrichka (Электричка) o Elektropoezd:

http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/elektricka

Freight train in Donetsk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPAFR4myPk

Ukrainian train timetable

http://www.uz.gov.ua (only in Russian and Ukrainian)

They are multiple unit trains and they don’t have sleeping cars but normal passengers cars of first and second class.

As always a significant difference is the age of the train. There are new Elektrichka called “comfort” and old ones that of comfortable have really very few…

Usually the newest Elektrichka are operative on the main lines as Dnipropetrovsk – Donetsk, and the other ones are more popular on less important routes.

Here are several photos of different Elektrichka (modern ones).

Elektrichka Dnipropetrovsk – Donetsk

An elektrichka at the Dnipropetrovsk’s railway station

Elektrichka’s wagons

Elektrichka Dnepropetrovsk – Donetsk

Elektrichka Kiev – Khmnelnitskiy

Elektrichka Kiev – Khmnelnitskiy

The elektrichka waiting in Kiev

Elektrichka alla stazione di Kiev (Vydubichi) local service

Elektrichka at Vydubichi (Kiev)

Elektrichka at Vydubichi (Kiev)

Inside the wagons

The quality of wagons ad of the seats depend not only on the class but also on the kind of Elektrichka. You can find carriages with comfortable seats + small table and tv (if it works) and other ones with simple wooden seats.

Elektrichka Kiev – Khmnelnitskiy (inside the first class)

First class elektrichka Kiev – Khmnelnitskiy

Elektrichka, first class (notice TV)

Elektrichka Dnepropetrovsk – Donetsk (First class)

Elektrichka’s wagon

Elektrichka’s seats. Dnepropetrovsk – Donetsk

Having traveled on all these trains, we can say the elektrichka Kiev – Khmnelnitskiy was more comfortable than the one between Dnipropetrovsk – Donetsk even if from outside the second one looks better.

Toilets

The toilets of the Elektichka are not better than the ones of the overnight trains.
They only offer a simple faucet and a turkish WC and they are not even available on all carriages.

The WC of an elektrichka

Price of the tickets

They are quite cheap even if you chose the first class.
For the route Dnipropetrovsk – Donetsk we paid just 29 Hryvnia head (less than 2 euro).

At least for in the first class, you can’t sit where you want. Your place is booked when you buy the ticket.

Train timetable

http://www.uz.gov.ua (site in Russian and Ukrainian)

It is not a complex thing, the terminal A is just at few meters from the main terminal (B).

Just outside the terminal B, there is a signboard showing the direction for to reach the other two terminals (A and C).

Signboard showing the direction to reach the Borispol’s terminals

Turn to the right (as described on the signboard) and follow the white stripes on the ground for to reach the terminal A.

Way to the terminal A of Kiev Borispol

Along the way to the terminal A, you can find several sits which are a very good place where to have rest when the weather is good.

From terminal B to terminal A of Borispol airport

Walking along the white stripes, you will see a large signboard with written “Терминал А”, we are already very close to our destination.

Next to the terminal A of Kyiv Boryspil

Few steps and we are arrived, the building in front of you is the terminal A.

The terminal A of Kiev Borispol

Video of the “tour” Terminal B to Terminal A

You can see the video guide on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vQ0DC_7QA4

Have a nice flight:)

For further information

Kyiv Boryspil official website:
http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua

Guide to the Terminal B of Kiev Borispol:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/borispol-terminal-b

Guide to the Terminal A of Kyiv Boryspil:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/boryspil-terminal-a

How to reach the Borispol airport:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/polit-boryspol

Boryspil airport terminal B

This is for sure the largest and modernest terminal of Ukraine. From here arrive and depart all the main national and most of all international airlines: Lufthansa, Delta, Airfrance, British airways, Alitalia etc.

Inside the terminal: Public area

Once inside the terminal B, you will find a large waiting room where you can wait for the check-ins checking time the situation of you flight on the monitors.

Inside the terminal B

The waiting room is often crowded and it is not easy to find a free sit.

At few steps from the entrance you can find a bar, it is not the only one in the building, you can find some other ones before and also after the check-ins.

The bar next to the entrance of the terminal B

Se ne avete bisogno, potete chiedere informazioni ai vari sportelli delle compagnie aeree che operano su questo aeroporto…

Alitalia and Delta’s offices at Boryspil

Or if you prefer you can take advantage of the multilingual information points (Easy Kiosk) available in Borispol.

Information point at Borispol airport

Multilingual touch screen

Inside the public area of the airport (the area before the check-ins) you can also find some ATM and other machines for to recharge the credit of your mobile phone (read post).

Arrivals

On the left, shoulder to the entrance, you will see the arrivals’ area. Here is the exit door of the baggage claim area.

Arrivals at the Borispol airport

This is the strategical area where taxi drivers wait for the coming passengers. Jjust say “net spasibo” (no thank you) if you don’t want a taxi. They will not push you too much.

Next to this area, you can also find some shops (MTS, Kyivstar) a newsstand and the Budget’s office (car rental).

The office of this car rental company is also the place where Turtess (an Ukrainian tour operator) give tickets to the departing passengers. So you might find no few people waiting outside it… (ask what they are waiting for, before to make the queue).

Departures

Walking in the opposite direction of the arrivals’ area, you will find several offices of different airlines companies, a small shop of souvenirs and on the left (next to the monitors) some stairs which bring to the toilets.

To the check-ins

Keeping going in this direction you will arrive in the area just before the entrance to the check-ins (restricted area). Here in general there are not few people waiting for the check-in time.

L’area prima dei check-ins a Boryspil

You can enter in the restricted area only when the check-in for your flight starts. You need to show your ticket for to enter in this area.

Green and Red corridor at Borispol

Once inside you need to chose if to go straight to the check-ins (Green corridor) or if to stop and declare something (read post) at the custom control (Red corridor), you can find some custom declaration form right in this area.

By experience we can say that in Borispol, when you depart, unless you will not stop to declare something , nobody will ask you anything.  Anyway everything is possible.

If you have filed out a custom declaration at your arrival in Ukraine, it maybe asked now.

Check-ins’ area at Kiev Borispol

Restricted area: Departures

After the check-in, take the escalators and go upstairs with your boarding card.

Once upstairs, you will have probable to pass first the security check and only after it the passport control which is some meter after it.

At the passport control, you need to show your passport and to give the side of the immigration card you got at your arrival in Ukraine.

Done even this, you are free to wait your flight in the waiting room.

The waiting room is divided in two areas:

- A smaller waiting room next to the gates from B7 to B11.

- A much larger one next to the gates from B1 to B6.

In the first waiting rooms you will find several sits, a bar, WC and most of all a large and very nice Duty Free.

Waiting room in Kiev Borispol (Gates B9-B11)

Duty free Kiev Borispol

The next and larger waiting room is possible to reach taking the stairs under the panel (Gates B1 – B6). You can come and go back from a waiting room to the other one without any restriction.

To the new waiting room

Just after the stairs, on the left, there is a nice souvenirs shop, selling typical Ukrainian stuff.

Souvenirs shop in Borispol

In this room you will find some bar an another Duty Free of smaller dimensions at the end of the room.

If you want to have just some rest, you can for sure find a place where to sit.

Sala d’imbarco di Kyiv Boryspil

WC are available in both waiting rooms.

Restricted area: Arrivals

Once outside your plane, you will be brought to a large room where you will have to pass the passport control.

The queue are divided according to the nationality. Some are just for Ukrainian citizens, other ones for all foreigners and one more is only for the crew.

Often all these division are not respected so in you queue you can find in front of you several people holding Ukrainian passports…

The most important thing, is not to lose time filling out the immigration card (read post) the soonest possible. In general they give it directly on the plane. If not you can find many of them right in this room.

Remember to fill out both sides of the immigration card (Arrival and Departure).

The officer, will put a stamp on your passport and on both sides of the immigration card. He will give your passport back together with the Departure side of the immigration card which you need to keep until your departure.

Now you can finally catch you luggage at the baggage claim area. In this room you can also find WC, customs declaration forms and most of all very nice and totally free maps of Kiev (they are free because they are full of advertising).

With you luggage, go to the customs control. Here you need again to chose if to take the “Green Corridor” or the “Red Corridor”. If you need to declare something, remember to fill our the customs declaration (read post).

Here the situation differ from the one at the departure. Control are more frequent and even if you take the “Green Corridor”, they can ask you to open the bag.

After this last check, you can finally go out to the public area of the airport where taxi drivers are waiting for you.

For further information

Kyiv Boryspil official website:
http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua

Guide to the Terminal A of Kyiv Boryspil:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/boryspil-terminal-a

How to reach the Borispol airport:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/polit-boryspol

In this post we will discover what are the buses called Polit Полит and why, from our point of view, are the best way to reach Kiev.

What are Polit Полит buses?

Polit are buses which connect the Boryspil airport with Kiev.
They are not all identical but there are buses of different brand and dimensions.
Some are large buses and other are just mashrutke.

Two large buses polit…

another polit bus, this time yellow

…a polit bus of smaller dimensions…

…another one even smaller and older…

…a Polit – Mashrutka, waiting outside the Kiev railway station

How to recognize them

It is possible to recognize them from the plate with the number “322” and the direction of the Bus (Boryspil).

Notice the number 322 on the plate

Where they go and where they depart

They connect the Kiev Boryspil airport with the Kiev railway station.

The raid last 50 minutes with only one intermediate stop before the airport

These buses depart from the parking just in front of the terminal B (on the left of the parking)

Buses parking area

In Kiev are possible to be found right outside the main railway station (new side).

From here depart buses to the airport

This is the signboard of Polit buses at the Kiev railway station

Once at the railway station, you can get to the metro “Vokzal Вокзал” and from there reach your final destination. The metro station is next to the old side of the railway station.

Price

A one way ticket cost 25 Hryvnia about 2 euro/person. There is not difference of price if you take a large bus or a small one.

A ticket for the route Kiev – Borispol

You can buy the tickets directly on the bus, the driver will collect the money and give the tickets before
the bus will depart.

Inside the bus

These buses are in general quite comfortable with obvious differences between new and old buses.

Inside a Polit bus (blu)

Inside another polit bus (the black bus)

A detail of the sits

Polit timetable

Orario degli autobus Polit

During the day they depart every 15 – 20 min. In the night they depart every 50 min.

Autobus VS Taxi and similar

From our point of view, there is not any reason to prefer a taxi at a bus (if you are not in a great hurry)

Buses may take some extra minute but the price difference is evident. Taxi cost much more and the price change according to the driver which sometimes just drive his own car and has not taximeter. With buses you know the price from the very beginning and this price doesn’t became 10 times more if you are foreigner.

If you want to take anyway a taxi, ask the price before to say yes.

Apart of buses and taxi, are also popular those transfers offered by hotels, travel agencies and so on…
Here you may get a driver that speak your language but the price is usually higher than the one of normal taxis.

In the end if you don’t need to run, save money and travel safely inside a polit.

Here we will talk about the procedure required for the Italian citizens. For other countries can be different.

This procedure is also required for to get the visa from the embassy.

1 You must bring the wedding certificate to the RAGZ of your city.

Donetsk RAGZ (close to the ZUM)

At the RAGZ you will be asked to fill out some document and then to pay (through bank which is not inside the RAGZ, you can find one at the ZUM)

Once you have done all this they will put a stamp on your wedding certificate.

Required time: few hours.

When to come: in the morning.

Price: about 50 Hryvnia

2

Now go to Kiev and bring the certificate to the Consular Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs for to the legalization.

The department is different from the one where you brought the Nulla osta.
This time it is located in Рыльский пер. Ryl’skiy per., next to the Cathedral of Saint Sofia.

Entrance of the department.

In this office you need once again to fill out different documents and to pay in the same way as before. There is a bank next to the department.

In general there are many people, but not all them are there for the same thing. Ask before to make the queue.

This office work expecially for Italy and some other countries ask for to know to which office to go.

Required time: you have your certificate back the same day in the afternoon.

Timetable: bring the certificate from 9 to 12 and get it back from 16 to 17.

Prezzo: about 50 Hryvnia

3 Once your certificate is ready, you can bring it for the translation. This operation has to be done by a translator accreditated by the Italian Embassy. Ask the list of them directly at the embassy (you can send an email).

Required time: Depend on the translator, in general about 1 day.

Price: 50 Hryvnia

In the next post we will talk about the transcription of the wedding in Italy and how to get the visa from the Italian embassy.

Wedding procedures

1 For the list of documents given by the Italian Embassy in Kiev (in Italian) visit:
http://www.ukrlandia.com.ua/matrimonio-in-ucraina

2 How to get the Nulla osta from the embassy:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/get-nulla-osta-wedding

3 What to do once you have gotten your nulla osta:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/after-nulla-osta-ukraine

4 For to know which documents bring to the ZAGS:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/wedding-documents-zags

5 Fill out the wedding request form at the ZAGS (translated in English):
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/wedding-applicance-ukraine

6 The wedding day
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/wedding-day

From here you can find flights to all the main other Ukrainian cities which, in general, don’t have good international connections

The terminal A is non as good as the close Terminal B but anyway it offers all the main services.

What you see once inside the terminal

There are not many sits but this should be not a big problem as there are not so many people as in the terminal B. The main reason is that local people don’t use plane for internal transfers but prefer to travel by train or by bus.

The check in area is at the end of the room. On the monitors over the desks, you can read the name of the plane, the aircompany and the destination.

People waiting for the check in

The check in begin about 1 hour, 1 hour and half before the departure. You can check your flight status on the monitors or just by waiting the check in call which is also in English.

Once you have the boarding card, go to the boarding room which is after the security control.

To the boarding room

The security control is just after the door under the pannel gates A1 -A4.

Once passed the security check, you have just to wait for the boarding time and then finally take your plane.

Attention!

The gates are not so “modern” they are simple doors which give right outside the terminal where the bus for the plane come to take the passengers.

The 4 gates are one next to the other and so if more than one plane is doing the boarding can happen that outside you will find not 1 bus but even 3 buses!

Be carefull to take the correct bus for no to end to a different plane. Read the destination on the side of the bus before to take it.

Have a nice flight!