War as an Exotic: Foreigners are Offered Tours to Front-Line Donbas

In the world for fans of the thrill of danger, the practice of tours in the zone of military conflicts and the place of former active fighting has long been widespread. Things that for local residents of the front-line regions is a common reality, foreigners see like a real exotic. Recently, tour operators have decided to make money on those who want to see the effects of the war in Donbas with their own eyes.

So, on the most popular travel site in the world, it is possible to order the tour «Donbass Tour: War Experience», which route runs through Kramatorsk and Slovyansk of the Donetsk region, «Vchasno» NA reports.

For 10 675 UAH (or $ 395) foreigners are offered to «discover Ukraine’s military history and explore the richness of the former frontline zone of Ukranian-Russian war».

According to the organizers, for the amount requested, foreign citizens will be able to:

• See destroyed and ruined buildings, hospitals and schools
• Talk to locals who eye-witnessed bombings
• Take a picture wearing helmet and bulletproof vest
• Visit active bomb shelters
• Pass through Ukrainian military checkpoints
• Explore local craft market where it is possible to buy a ceramic Kalasnikov gun and grenades.

«During your tour you would pass through Ukranian army checkpoints where armed soldiers will check your documents. After crossing the checkpoint you would explore horrible war consequences — buildings which were destroyed or severely damaged by weapons and explosive devices. After your guide will show you demolished schools and ruined hospitals, which were still working during the war you would have an exclusive opportunity to talk with locals who eye-witnessed bombing in their hometown», the organizers describe the part of the tour.

The site says that foreigners will be greeted with a guide at the railway station in Kyiv, after which they will go to the Donetsk region. Duration of the tour — 1 day.

During the trip, they promise to provide foreign citizens with drinking water, helmets and body armor, traditional Ukrainian meals, and stay at the Kramatorsk Hotel. An illustration to the tour is a photo of a destroyed psychiatric hospital in the village of Semenivka, located under the Slavic.

Note that the contact number for all questions regarding «travel» is the number of the American operator.

Journalists of the «Vchasno» NA turned to questions about the legality of such tours in the front-line zone to the press center of the Joint Forces Operation headquarters and the State Border Guard Service. In both departments noted that for the first time heard about such tours and can’t assess their admissibility. It was also reported that foreign citizens can cross checkpoints in Donbas in accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine.