Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a handful of companies are encouraging tourists to visit Ukraine and see for themselves what life is like in a war zone.
This type of travel, known as war tourism, is a controversial topic of debate in the country.
Some view it as insensitive to the millions of victims of the war, now approaching the 18-month mark, while others see it as a valuable opportunity to remember history and draw lessons from it.
War attracts a certain type of tourist as Ukraine has discovered. Apart from safety issues, the legal and ethical ramifications are complex. The posts are from many different people but usually begin the same way: “I am looking to volunteer in Ukraine …” The queries are from medical professionals, former soldiers, truck drivers, college students and countless others. Some have weapons; many don’t. All have the same goal: to get to Ukraine and join the war.
One video on the “volunteers for Ukraine” subreddit forum is of a school janitor from Montana now helping evacuate women and children from battle zones.
Another is a mother-of-two and nurse from Los Angeles helping the wounded on the frontlines. One older woman dropped everything in the US and now helps save animals caught up in the chaos.
The idea of visiting a warzone may seem crazy but since Russia invaded Ukraine 12 months ago, there has emerged a group determined to get firsthand experience of the battlefields.
Tourism to Ukraine was just starting to recover from the devastation of COVID-19 when Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion.
The bulk of the fighting has taken place in the country’s east. Farther west, despite regular missile attacks on the capital Kyiv and other cities, tourism is still encouraged, despite the risks.
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