Although the Internet is relatively free in Ukraine, you will still want to use a VPN. For what it matters, it has little to do with Ukraine and everything to do with the world we live in today — with the likes of Google and Facebook, as well as various government agencies, looking to create our digital profiles. And this happens whether we like it, let alone approve it, or not.
With a VPN, you get another layer of protection, which will guard you against Big Tech and anyone else looking to get ahold of your personal information. Also, a good VPN will unlock content from all around the globe for you, letting you — for instance — access services such as US Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu and so on.
You’ll also get to bypass other restrictions that may be imposed in your workplace, your school, university and so on. For instance, your ISP may be throttling your Internet (limiting its speed) when you’re using BitTorrent — with a VPN, they won’t know what you’re doing online so they won’t be able to do anything about it.
And that’s just a start as VPN has more to offer. Here are the Best VPNs for Ukraine:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network includes more than 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- It's super fast!
- Works with Netflix, BBC and others
- Easy to use apps, browser extensions
- You can try it for free!
- Some advanced features are not configurable
- Not the best for high-censorship countries
Summary
Furthermore, thanks to the availability of browser extensions - Hotspot Shield is also one of our top choices for Chrome and Firefox VPNs.
Your privacy is equally well protected, with the software only collecting some anonymized that help continually improve its service.
There is one caveat though - it won't work in high-censorship countries like China. If you don't need that in the first place, we highly recommend Hotspot Shield.
As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
Pros
Cons
- Reliable download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
- Low number of servers in Africa and Australia
Summary
You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.
Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.
The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
Cons
- One the best VPNs for torrenting
- Works well with Netflix
- Simple setup on all popular devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
- Doesn't work in China
Summary
Its desktop apps are not among the prettiest ones, but they get the job done. The important thing is that installation is easy and straightforward, and that no logs are kept by the company.
When it comes to pricing, IPVanish is somewhere in the middle — it's not the most affordable option but also not the most expensive one. As noted, it will be most appreciated by heavy BitTorrent users, and — related — Kodi fans.
Internet censorship in Ukraine
In December 2010, the OpenNet Initiative found little or no evidence of Internet filtering in all four areas (political, social, conflict/security, and Internet tools) for which they test.
Similarly, the Freedom on the Net report covering the period May 2012 through April 2013 found the Internet in Ukraine to be “largely unhindered” and rated the Internet in the country as “Free” with an overall score of 28 on a scale from 0 (most free) to 100 (least free). The report noted that “there is no practice of institutionalized blocking or filtering, or a regulatory framework for censorship of content online.”
However, it added “there have been attempts at creating legislation which could censor or limit content” and would “present indirect threats to freedom of information online.”
Nevertheless, access to Internet content in Ukraine remains largely unfettered, with the country’s relatively liberal legislation governing the Internet and access to information.
The main law that “deals” with the content on the Internet, the Law on Protection of Public Morals, prohibits the production and circulation of pornography; dissemination of products that propagandize war or spread national and religious intolerance; humiliation or insult to an individual or nation on the grounds of nationality, religion, or ignorance; and the propagation of “drug addiction, toxicology, alcoholism, smoking and other bad habits.”
But, and it’s a big “but,” law enforcement bodies are known to monitor the Internet, at times without appropriate legal authority. There have been occasional agitations of interference by law enforcement agencies with prominent bloggers and online publications.
Despite the constitution and laws providing for freedom of speech and press, the government does not always respect these rights in practice. Also, the ongoing crisis in Ukraine has resulted in a major threat to press freedom in recent months. A May report from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) found approximately 300 instances of violent attacks on the media in Ukraine since November 2013.
Amid tensions with Russia, Kiev is not tolerating any other points of view in the press. A crackdown on what authorities describe as “pro-separatist” points of view has triggered dismay among Western human rights monitors. For example, the September 11, 2014 shutdown of the independent Kiev-based Vesti newspaper by the Ukrainian Security Service for “violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity” brought swift condemnation from the international Committee to Protect Journalists and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Yes, you need a VPN for Ukraine
Whether you’re a resident or just a visitor to the country, you should run a VPN on all your devices. And it has little to do with Ukraine – we think people from all around the world should use a VPN. It’s just the world we live in.
For Ukraine, you’ll want a VPN in order to access geo-restricted content such as US Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu and so on. Or you may just need an American IP address. Or one in Germany, France, etc. With a VPN, you get to choose your virtual location.
Also, a VPN will protect you while connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots, encrypting all data traveling between your devices and the rest of the Internet.
Ultimately, with a VPN – you get anonymity on the Internet, with no agency or tech giant being able to watch your digital footsteps. Unfortunately, this is a sort of luxury these days.
To sum it up, you’ll want a VPN that lets you do many things, including:
- Accessing content that could otherwise be restricted in your physical location.
- Preventing tracking and minimizing your digital footprint so that no one can track you online (at least not that easily).
- Avoiding throttling from your ISP – which is known to happen when you’re torrenting or accessing video streaming services.
- Bypassing firewalls in a workplace, university, school and so on.
- Bypassing censorship in places like China, North Korea, countries in the Middle East, and even Turkey and Russia.
- Securely connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots – with a VPN encrypting all the traffic coming to and from your devices.
The bottom line is – get a VPN that fits all your needs. The top contenders include the following:
