Ocean Atlas · Europe and Mediterranean

Europe and Mediterranean

Ukraine

Black Sea coast with its own dolphins and porpoises, hit hard by the war. Shared as a story only, with no trips.

Common dolphin, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Richard Heinen on Unsplash

On pause, travel not recommended

On pause, travel not recommended. A government travel advisory says not to travel here, so we do not offer trips. Sources: Ukraine travel advice, UK FCDO; Evidencing a recovery plan for Black Sea dolphins and porpoises, CEOBS.

Why: The UK advises against all travel to Crimea and most of Ukraine, including the whole Black Sea coast. We follow government travel advice, we will look again when it changes. This is story only, and we do not go.

We share this country as a story and do not offer trips. This is not a judgement of the people or the ocean here. It only means that today we could not find a visit that meets our animal-welfare and safety standards. Places change, so we look again every year.

⚠️ Official travel advice is a separate question, and it differs by passport. EU citizens or US citizens may be advised against travelling there, so please check your own government’s website before you plan.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 5 Oct 2026. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Crimea and to all other regions except some western ones, where it advises against all but essential travel. Its page was updated on 2 Oct 2026. The US State Department rates Ukraine at Level 4, do not travel (28 Aug 2026). Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, Ukraine · US State Department travel advisory, Ukraine Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

Dolphins

Why Ukraine

Ukraine's Black Sea coast is home to the same three small whale subspecies as its neighbours. Scientists say the war has been very hard on them, though the real numbers are contested because most bodies sink. Governments advise against travel to the coast, so Ocean Calling is only researching it for now and offers no trips.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

When to go

Timing changes a lot from place to place. See each place below.

Official travel advice or our ethics check means we do not send guests here.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

On pause, travel not recommended

We follow government travel advice. We will look again when it changes.

This is not a judgement of the people or the ocean here. It only means that today we could not find a visit that meets our animal-welfare and safety standards. Places change, so we look again every year. Checked 30 Sep 2026.

Sources for this check

The story

Where in Ukraine

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park

On pause, travel not recommended

A protected lagoon coast on the Black Sea where dolphins have stranded in high numbers.

Animals

Animals recorded in Ukraine

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals

Pod of common dolphins surfacing in calm blue sea

Common dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Common bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bed

Common bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Harbour porpoise rolling at the surface off Berry Head, Devon

Harbour porpoisePhocoena phocoenaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Moon jellyfish in a harbour in Zeeland, Netherlands

Moon jellyfishAurelia aurita and other Aurelia speciesSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasNot Evaluated

Long-snouted seahorseHippocampus guttulatusSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened

White-tailed eagle in flight low over calm water with a fish in its talons, near Raftsund, Lofoten, Norway

White-tailed eagleHaliaeetus albicillaSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast Concern

Great cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black back

Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

European shag sitting on its nest of dry grass, dark green-tinged plumage and yellow gape

European shagGulosus aristotelisSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Two pygmy cormorants perched on a bare branch

Pygmy cormorantMicrocarbo pygmaeusSeen in 26 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Yelkouan shearwater lifting off the sea surface with wings raised

Yelkouan shearwaterPuffinus yelkouanSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Common stingray resting on a bed of seagrass, with its eye and body edge in view

Common stingrayDasyatis pastinacaSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

Ask Rocío Back to the Ocean Atlas

For partners

Based in Ukraine?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Ukraine. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

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