Ukrainian buses

1. Ukraine is not one of the easiest countries to enter by land, but buses run regularly from as far away as the United Kingdom. A handful of private bus companies operate daily services from Moscow to Kharkiv. National Express runs a regularly scheduled coach service from the UK into Ukraine and other regional cities. Most long-distance coaches arrive at Kyiv first. From there you can catch connecting buses to the smallest cities. The central bus station in Kyiv is located in the city centre.

2. Every Ukrainian town has one or more bus stations where intercity buses come and go. Often — especially in smaller towns — the bus station is right by the train station, but not always. Buses come and go at all hours of the day according to their posted schedules. These include full-size state buses, full-size private buses, and the ubiquitous "marshrutki" (minibuses). Marshrutki are run by private companies and stop wherever passengers request. Marshrutki are the most popular form of public transportation in Ukraine.

3. These minibuses are divided into different shapes and sizes. Nowadays the most common buses are the largest buses (usually yellow), but the smallest minivan type are also very common. The largest buses are far more comfortable for standing. Standing half-bent over someone else's seat can be a painful experience. So, if you are tall, look for minibuses with a high ceiling if it looks like you will have to stand.

4. Passengers pay fare —2 Hryvnia (40 U.S. cents), expect for Sevastopol, where you pay upon exiting. In minibuses, you can take your seat first and pass your money to the driver via other passengers. Fare almost never depends on the distance of your destination. If you wait too long to pay, the driver will yell at the passengers. Sometimes you will get a little ticket stub back from the driver or his fare-collecting assistant, but often this formality is ignored.

5. In buses (the state-owned buses) all stops are automatic and do not need to be requested. In minibuses you will need to call out your stop no less than 100 m away.

6. Bus schedules are not posted anywhere. Buses run with intervals of 3-30 minutes (5-10 is most common). Main streets have multiple bus routes along them, so Ukrainians typically ask passengers by for bus info or ask the driver as they get on the bus if it will take them to such-and-such a street. Most buses run from about 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., but certain buses may run later depending on the demand for a certain route (e.g. to the train station).