Southern Ukraine

Southern Ukraine (Ukrainian: Південна Україна) is the region next to Crimea on the Black Sea coast of Ukraine.

Regions

Kherson Oblast

Mykolaiv Oblast

Odesa Oblast

Cities

• 1 Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (Білгород-Дністровський) – The site of the beautiful seaside castle of Akkerman that was much contested for throughout the history.
• 2 Henichesk – A port city with two beaches
• 3 Izmail (Ізмаї́л)
• 4 Kherson (Херсо́н)
• 5 Mykolaiv (Микола́їв)
• 6 Ochakiv (Очаків)
• 7 Odesa (Одеса) – Also called Pearl of the Black Sea, a must see when in Ukraine and refreshing alternative to busy Kyiv.
• 8 Teplodar (Теплодар)
• 9 Vylkove (Вилкове) – Also called the Venice of Ukraine, features a web of channels in town and access to the Danube Delta.

Other destinations

Przewalski's Horses at the Askania Nova reserve

• 1 Askania-Nova – A nature reserve protecting Europe's largest remaining patch of "virgin" (never-cultivated) steppe grasslands, as well a breeding and reintroduction site for rare animals like Przewalski's Horse and the Turkmenian kulan (or wild ass).
• 2 Oleshky Sands – One of the largest deserts in Europe.
• 3 Lower Dniester National Nature Park — wetlands of the Dniester estuary, from the Moldovan border to the Black Sea.

Talk

Although the official language is Ukrainian, most locals in southern Ukraine speak Russian as their native language.

Stay safe

In 2022, Russia invaded the region as one of the fronts of its invasion of Ukraine. After Russian advances during the spring, fighting became inconclusive with neither side gaining a major strategic advantage. Southern Ukraine remains an active war zone and all travel to the region should be avoided.