For more than a year now, many Ukrainian citizens have been forced to seek temporary protection and make their way in European countries. Find out what Ukrainians miss the most and what they would change in European countries

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Europe has never seen so many Ukrainian citizens on its territory. Today, more than 8 million Ukrainian refugees are registered in EU countries. And if earlier they were laborers and tourists, now Ukrainians are forced to integrate into everyday European life. What do IDPs lack most of all, and where is Ukraine ahead of Western countries? Let's find out together.

Food: What foods do Ukrainians miss in Europe?

Most of all, Ukrainians miss a wide range of home-cooked meat and various sausages. Although there is a wide selection of different meat products in European stores, their taste is significantly different from what we are used to in Ukraine. For example, Ukrainians can't make the usual Olivier because tasty cooked sausage is almost impossible to find.

Sweets, including candy, came in second place. According to European standards, they are all sold in boxes or other special packaging. Therefore, it is impossible to buy 100 grams of each type to try.

Also, Ukrainians lack cheap home-grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs, because crops grown in the rich and fertile Ukrainian soil have a different, more intense flavor. And, unfortunately, high-quality farm vegetables and fruits in Europe are much more expensive.

Healthcare: what problems do Ukrainians face?

Despite the fact that Ukrainians can use medical facilities on an equal footing with Europeans, everyone is concerned about one problem: queues to see narrowly specialized specialists. In many European countries, you have to wait weeks, and sometimes months, to get an appointment with a specialist.

Another problem is the cost of medical services. Tests and simple outpatient procedures sometimes cost a fortune. Therefore, the ability to make an appointment with a private or public specialist doctor at any time and have the necessary tests done right away is a privilege that all Ukrainians who have been forced to leave for Europe miss.

It is important to note that health insurance greatly simplifies the process of going to the hospital, both in case of a routine visit in case of illness or injury and in case of emergency hospitalization. Therefore, we recommend that you take care of a reliable insurance policy in advance if you are planning a trip to Europe.

Online banking and other services: what have Ukrainians in Europe failed to adapt to?

Ukraine is very focused on digitalizing most public services, so convenient applications are something Ukrainians have long been accustomed to. That is why the inability to get a certificate or statement online, the lack of an option to quickly transfer funds from one account to another, the need to visit a banking institution for any trivial matter are things that Ukrainians cannot accept.

And the complexity of opening a bank account and reissuing a card cannot even be compared to the fact that in Ukraine, you can issue a plastic card in a bank branch in 5 minutes and a virtual card in 1 minute on your own smartphone.

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Round-the-clock shops and other establishments: what are Ukrainians used to?

Another feature that Ukrainians are still getting used to is that shops and pharmacies are mostly open only until 20:00, and it is almost impossible to find a business that is open on Sunday. 

In Ukraine, people are used to the fact that they can buy all the things they need at any time of the day or night. Of course, nowadays, the work of establishments is limited by curfews, but in peacetime there were no restrictions. Even on public holidays, all stores operate normally.

Service and delivery: what is the main drawback?

Ukrainians can receive their order from any online store or a parcel from a loved one in another part of the country in less than a day, and martial law did not affect these terms. As for the delivery of groceries from a store or food from a restaurant, it takes 30–60 minutes. Unfortunately, Europe has not yet caught up with Ukraine in this regard.

However, some European countries have shown positive dynamics, and Ukrainians are happy to use, for example, Polish "Glovo" or German "Gorillas".

It should be noted that Ukrainians do not express direct complaints or dissatisfaction, but the opportunity to compare European life with Ukrainian life gives a lot to think about. After all, in some areas, Ukraine is significantly ahead of Europe, but there are many criteria by which it loses. These include salaries, living standards, roads and social security.

We remind you! The last year has been indicative and proved to the world that the boundaries of what is possible can melt before our eyes. To learn more about how international support and Ukraine itself has changed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, please follow this link.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.