Ukraine

Ukraine is an **active war zone**. The US Travel Advisory is **Level 4: Do Not Travel** — the highest warning level. There is no reason for any Bangladeshi national to travel to Ukraine. This is not a destination — it is a conflict.

THE BANGLADESHI HUMAN COST — MV BANGLAR SAMRIDDHI:

On **March 1, 2022** — five days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion — the **MV Banglar Samriddhi**, a Bangladesh Shipping Corporation cargo vessel, was **struck by a Russian missile** while docked at **Olvia port** in southern Ukraine. Third engineer **Hadisur Rahman, age 29, was killed**. The remaining **28 Bangladeshi crew members** were evacuated overland through **Moldova to Romania** over several days.

Hadisur Rahman is the documented Bangladeshi casualty of the Ukraine war. His death underscores that even non-combatant Bangladeshis in Ukraine face lethal risk from the ongoing conflict.

THE WAR — ONGOING SINCE FEBRUARY 2022:

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on **February 24, 2022**. The war is ongoing with no ceasefire. Fighting is concentrated in eastern and southern Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson oblasts), but missile and drone strikes affect the **entire country including Kyiv**. Critical infrastructure (power grid, water, heating) has been repeatedly targeted.

Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022. Male Ukrainian citizens aged 18-60 are prohibited from leaving the country. International travel into and within Ukraine is extremely restricted and dangerous.

BD NATIONALS PRE-WAR:

Approximately **500-700 Bangladeshis** were in Ukraine before the invasion — primarily **students** (medical and engineering programmes in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa) and some long-term residents. Most were **evacuated in February-March 2022** through the western border crossings to Poland, Romania, and Moldova. The Bangladesh government coordinated evacuation efforts.

ENTRY — VISA REQUIRED (NO eVISA FOR BD):

Ukraine resumed its eVisa system in February 2025 for **45 countries** — Bangladesh is **NOT** among them. BD nationals require a traditional sticker visa from the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi (India — there is no Ukrainian mission in Bangladesh).

**This is moot: there is no reason to apply for a Ukrainian visa. The country is at war.**

Rule 31 methodology: INCLUSION-LIST (45 countries, BD not included).

ECONOMIC CONTEXT:

GDP per capita approximately **$5,389** (2024, World Bank nominal) — about **2 times Bangladesh's level**. The Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) is the currency. The economy has been devastated by the war — infrastructure destruction, population displacement (~6 million refugees abroad, ~4 million internally displaced), and ongoing military expenditure.

BD CONSULAR COVERAGE:

There is no Bangladesh Embassy in Ukraine. The nearest BD mission is the **Embassy of Bangladesh in Warsaw, Poland** (warsaw.mofa.gov.bd, ~780km from Kyiv). The Ambassador in Warsaw is accredited to Ukraine on a non-resident basis.

LANGUAGE:

**Ukrainian** is the official language. Russian is widely spoken, especially in eastern and southern regions. English proficiency is limited outside major cities. Hard barrier for BD nationals.

US TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: **Tier 2** (2025). War-related displacement has increased trafficking vulnerability. No BD-specific findings.

US TRAVEL ADVISORY: **Level 4 — Do Not Travel.** Active armed conflict. Missile strikes across the entire country. Martial law in effect.

The Active Jobs section above shows the current live count for Ukraine.

The Active Jobs section above shows the current live count for Ukraine.

Ukraine's economy has been devastated by the war. GDP per capita approximately $5,389 (2024, World Bank nominal) — about 2 times Bangladesh's level. Pre-war Ukraine had a significant IT sector, agriculture, and manufacturing. The war has destroyed critical infrastructure and displaced millions. There is no labour market accessible to foreign workers from Bangladesh.

Ukraine's GDP per capita is approximately $5,389 (2024, World Bank nominal) — about 2 times Bangladesh's level. The Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) is the currency. The economy is war-devastated. Since Ukraine is an active war zone with no labour pathway for BD nationals, salary ranges are not applicable.

There is no current Bangladeshi community in Ukraine. The pre-war population of approximately 500-700 (mostly students) was largely evacuated in February-March 2022.

**MV Banglar Samriddhi:** On March 1, 2022, this Bangladesh Shipping Corporation vessel was struck by a Russian missile at Olvia port. Third engineer **Hadisur Rahman (29) was killed**. 28 crew evacuated via Moldova to Romania.

BD consular coverage: Embassy of Bangladesh, Warsaw (warsaw.mofa.gov.bd, NR, ~780km from Kyiv).