Ukraine is a safe country in general. Kiev and other big cities of Ukraine are usually safer than the smaller towns. The city center is safer than the outskirts. In general, just use your common sense, like you would while traveling to any other country or even inside your home country.

However you have to be aware that openly-gay behavior still could lead to unpleasant consequences because Ukrainians (including policemen) express high level of homophobia.

Do not wear motley men’s clothes, atypical for the Kiev streets. If you already arrived Ukraine in such clothes, it is recommended for your own safety to buy something less technicolor (Central department store of Kiev TSUM with reasonable prices is located on the main street).

Staying in Ukraine never act like “Beauty Queen”, as even small feminine gesture or motion could provoke aggressive reaction – you’ll end up in the hospital with beaten face. Always keep your voice as much masculine as you can.

Avoid making acquaintances with guys in the street. Nowadays young Ukrainians see homosexuality even there where it is not present! There are two possible developments – either you’ll be beaten immediately, or they will play with you for a while to bring you to the nearest secluded courtyard to rob you.

Keep your valuables at the safe place, better somewhere in your inner pockets. Having a security belt while traveling might be wise. Also keep the photocopies of your documents (passport, driver’s license) in a safe place just in case if the original would be lost or stolen.

Some English-language media printed in Kiev (newspapers, magazines, booklets in Kiev-Borispol airport) advertise escort services including male escorts. Use it at your own risk. Remember that prostitution (both male and female) is officially prohibited in Ukraine. Local police department responsible for sexual crimes places such advertisements to harass and to blackmail clients of prostitutes.

The escort scenario looks like that: first you’ll get an escort boy in your bed (in hotel room or rented apartment) and in 10-15 minutes you’ll get even more boys but in police uniforms.

After such unforgettable pleasure the criminal proceedings begins and you may easily spend two months in notorious Kiev investigation custody known as “Lukyanivska Prison” if you refuse to pay the bride of US$2000 immediately in bed to manage the problem (they charge US$1000 for every month you could spend in jail).

Additionally, never flash a lot of cash at the public places and try not to walk alone late at night. Since Soviet time-period when Ukraine (as the part of the USSR) was isolated from the rest of the world, many older Ukrainians are deeply convinced that all Westerners are millionaires. Do not provoke them to test your fortune.

Don’t open the door in your rented apartment if you are not expecting anybody, especially if earlier you’ve had visit of “very nice and cultured guys” you’ve brought from the cafe or gay bar.

As for Kiev gay venues visiting two gay bars located on the main street of Kreshchatik are safe. Both bars have high prices and crowded by rich Ukrainian “silver daddies” and their “gay for pay” sons. Gay bar on Prorizna Street is not safe but it is cheap and popular with local transvestites.

Do not visit gay discotheque alone. Kiev has only one gay disco, and it was shown on Ukrainian TV thousands times as very notorious place. That’s why it attracts many criminals from all over Ukraine. Young criminals (who usually look quite attractive and masculine) make acquaintance with gay people inside disco, follow them to their place, rob and kill gay people in their flats.

Loud example: On March 29, 2009 son of Ukrainian tycoon was murdered in his apartment in city center. He brought killer from the gay discotheque. The security video-cams in that luxury house recorded appearance of killer. Kiev police did its best to find a murder.

For instance, every single apartment in city center was monitored those days. Local policemen showed the photo of murder to every person living in the center, visiting them. The captured from video photos of killer together with HQ-identikit were put on very big board in Kiev. All visitors of gay discotheque were brought to police office for interrogation. Those are only the steps of police that we know…

The murder was NOT found, he is NOT found yet. Even the huge money invested in that investigation by Ukrainian tycoon brought NO RESULTS.

More detailed you may read about this case (in Russian) here.
Below is video about police investigations inside Kiev gay discotheque (in Ukrainian with subtitles in Russian):

 

 

If you happen to be a victim of a crime, it’s necessary to immediately contact the nearest consulate and report the crime to the local police. Police emergency phone number is 102 (nation-wide).