A VPN works by encrypting all traffic to and from your device. By using a VPN, you can keep government surveillance agencies at bay and almost cut the possibility of your digital footprint being tracked. Additionally, a VPN may provide access to geo-restricted content that is often unavailable in Ukraine, such as the US edition of Netflix.
The VPN companies on this list provide a diverse selection of server locations. This implies that you may get a Ukrainian IP address even if you are presently located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Canada, India, China, Hong Kong, France, Norway, or Japan.
Best VPN for Ukraine
There are several VPN companies available, but do not lump them all together. They differ regarding customer service, encryption standards, and upload and download speeds.
To be suggested as the top VPN for Ukraine, the service must adhere to the following criteria:
- Has a large global network of servers, with additional points for sites in Ukraine.
- Is well-known for effortlessly unblocking geo-restricted streaming services.
- Provides a prompt and dependable service with less downtime.
- Utilizes strong encryption settings to keep your whereabouts private.
- Allows for numerous concurrent connections.
- Provides superior customer service.
NordVPN
NordVPN, located in Panama, has meticulously cultivated a privacy-focused image within the company over more than a decade. The corporation maintains over 5,000 servers in several countries, with about 10+ of them located in Ukraine.
The high speeds of NordVPN make it excellent for streaming. You may choose a server for this purpose or for other purposes, such as double VPN and torrenting. We tried the service with geo-restricted media sites, including US Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, and ESPN, and it effortlessly unblocks them.
This provider has your privacy and security covered. NordVPN’s policy of not retaining user data means that your personal information will never be exposed. Simultaneously, it adheres to stringent security requirements, including 256-bit encryption, the OpenVPN protocol, a kill switch, and DNS leak prevention.
Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS applications are available. The basic package supports concurrent connections on multiple devices.
Is it necessary to use a free VPN in Ukraine?
For a variety of reasons, we do not recommend that our readers use a free VPN. These services often have insufficient encryption, sluggish speeds, and download limits.
Providers of free VPN services are not recognized as charities. Businesses are in the business of profiting; after all, they must cover employee wages, office expenditures, and other overheads. Thus, although you may believe you’re receiving a high-quality product for free, the fact is that you’re almost certainly going to be the focus of their monetization attempts. Certain providers will watch and harvest your data to sell it to advertising, while others may just bombard you with intrusive adverts.
Due to their inferior service standards, free VPNs are an inadequate solution for data-intensive activities such as video streaming and online gaming. Additionally, they often lack the finances necessary to spend on circumventing geo-restriction measures imposed by streaming providers and banking institutions.
Why is it necessary for me to use a VPN in Ukraine?
Ukraine’s internet environment is rapidly deteriorating, to the point of totalitarianism and pervasive state censorship.
The country’s internet freedoms drastically deteriorated last year, as the government permitted the arrest of online bloggers and endorsed the takedown of social networking applications and politically inflammatory content. It’s self-evident that the limited environment needs the usage of a VPN to safely and securely access the web.
Indeed, the internet advocacy organization Freedom House reports that internet freedoms have deteriorated in Ukraine since 2016, after the government’s broad banning of Russian online platforms and the unexplained assassination of independent online journalist Pavel Sheremet.
President Petro Poroshenko personally ordered the shutdown of numerous popular internet platforms, including the domestic darling VKontakte, because they “posed a threat to national security.” Additionally, authorities continuously inspected websites perceived to be anti-Ukrainian and directed local internet service providers to block access to them.
Additionally, the government’s harsh narrative led to the arrests of many social media users suspected of professing anti-nationalist sentiments. Some users faced up to five years in prison, while the worst punishment was handed out to a blogger in the Luhansk People’s Republic, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The assassination of journalist Pavel Sheremet was judged a retaliation strike in response to his extensive coverage of the Ukraine crisis at the time. Other journalists covering the battle zone have been targeted by hackers, with some having their personal information leaked to the public.
Despite these considerable obstacles, Freedom House says that Ukraine’s civil society has a sizable online presence and that the government must protect internet freedoms as a basic human right.
Can I torrent files securely in Ukraine?
Ukraine has a shady reputation for enabling sites that broadcast pirated content to establish operations there and for promoting peer-to-peer torrenting site activities. This, however, may soon come to an end.
The United States, one of Ukraine’s greatest contributors and a significant trade partner, has slammed the government for failing to do more to defend copyright holders’ rights. The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) is urging the United States government to remove Ukraine from its list of preferential trade partners.
According to the IIPA, “weak digital enforcement [in Ukraine] has resulted in an exponential increase in the number of illegal peer-to-peer hosting sites,” and “some internet pirates have purposefully relocated their servers and operations to Ukraine to take advantage of the country’s current lawlessness.” The organization observes that authorities are reluctant to comply with removal demands, even when compelled to do so by courts. As a result, it feels the US should be more aggressive in pressuring the administration.
As a result, using torrents in Ukraine may become more difficult and/or criminal in the near future. To guarantee your safety, it’s important to use a VPN to conceal your location.
DISCLAIMER: PrivacyExplore does not advocate the use of a VPN to illegally view content. Please research your local laws before embarking on this trek. If you have any concerns, it is recommended that you consult a lawyer in your country of residency.
Suggestions for using a VPN in Ukraine
Before we start, we strongly advise you to choose a provider that is a good fit for you. The mini-reviews included on this page, as well as the extensive user reviews after each, serve as useful references.
Once you’ve weighed the advantages and disadvantages and made a choice, all that remains is for you to join up using your credit card information. Certain providers will also use PayPal or Bitcoin, but it’s preferable to inquire directly with customer support. Once your payment has been finalized, you will receive an email from your VPN provider with your login details. Proceed to download the appropriate applications straight from the app store or the provider’s website for your device. Never put your reliance on a third-party hosting platform.
In Ukraine, it is possible to access Netflix libraries.
If you’re traveling or residing in Ukraine for a lengthy amount of time, you’ll almost certainly want to access your Netflix account. Without a VPN, you will, however, be limited to the Netflix Ukraine collection. It makes no difference whether you register or pay for the service in Canada or the United States; Netflix will simply verify your current IP address and provide suitable content. To reclaim access to the American Netflix catalog, you must first download and log into a suitable VPN, connect to a server in the United States, and then attempt to stream your favorite episodes.
You may be wondering why this is the case. This is because Netflix is required to safeguard the copyright agreements it has made with big producers. If it is discovered that the corporation is pushing content globally, it will be liable for millions of dollars in punitive penalties. However, not all VPNs are compatible with Netflix; if you attempt to log in using an incompatible VPN, you will almost certainly see a proxy error notice. In each of the mini-reviews above, we’ve highlighted the ones that function. If you have any questions, it’s always prudent to contact customer service.
When traveling, watching Ukrainian television and using financial services are not permitted.
There is a sizable Ukrainian diaspora residing outside the nation, and many of them are interested in remaining connected with domestic programs, following the Ukrainian Premier League, and using online financial services such as PrivatBank and OschadBank. Acquiring a Ukrainian IP address is a necessary condition for this.
Ukrainian television networks such as STB, 5 Kanal, TVi, Mega, and 2+2 provide both free-to-stream and subscription-based services. Certain channels have IP addresses from anywhere around the globe, while others demand a local Ukrainian IP address in addition to a registered account.
Banking and financial organizations are unlikely to geo-restrict services, but if they detect a spike in requests from an unfamiliar IP address, network security may go into high gear. Because they may presume a hacking or fraudulent effort, it is typically recommended to attempt to log in using an IP address from your own country to avoid raising any red lights.