Ukraine | Culture, Etiquette and Customs

The Basics

Men greeting Men – A relatively firm handshake with the right hand is most common.
Women greeting Women – One kiss on the cheek is common for women who know each other.
Greetings between Men & Women – Men sometimes shake women's hands (but in very official relations, business meetings for example). One kiss on the cheek is common for friends, or acquaintances (mostly young people). A nod of acknowledgment is the most popular.

Ukrainians can be direct, but no rarely means no, and they will usually assume that your “no" doesn’t mean no as well. For example, if they say no when you offer them food, they expect to be offered it again and again, and vice versa.
Many Ukrainians will dance around a subject, especially if it’s a difficult or uncomfortable topic. They may try not to tell you things if they’re afraid they will upset you – even things you think you should know.

Ukrainians tend to stand pretty close to one another during conversations, a bit less than arm’s length is common.
There is not that much touching during conversations, especially a first meetings. Friends and family tend to touch more.

Direct eye contact is the norm and expected. However, it is considered rude to blatantly stare at someone and noticeably avoiding direct eye contact may cause a kind of suspicion.

Flicking your neck with your finger can mean you want a drink or someone is drunk.
People often yell at strangers freely if they feel it is necessary – as in, bus drivers yell at a passenger and the passenger yells back, this is viewed as a normal way of working things out.
It's best to point with your whole hand rather than a single finger.

Ukrainians tend to be late a lot, punctuality isn’t exactly stressed.
Trains tend to run on time, buses do as well, but vans (“marshrutkas”) and such are sort of on their own schedule, could be early, could be late.
People don’t covet their time too much. Meetings can go on for quite a while if the person in charge feels like talking. Similarly, if you’re in a post office or a store, you may wait incredibly long periods of time, even if you’re the only customer there – also, buying train tickets, etc.

Women basically run the show behind the scenes. It is accepted for women to do manual labor into their old age, and to do all the cooking and the cleaning.
Women are not supposed to have a man in their house, not even a friend, or to be at a bar or café (especially drinking) alone. Instead of drinking shots of vodka at a party, women often drink shots of (homemade) wine instead, but it’s not required.
Despite some conservative views of gender roles, the Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, is viewed as intelligent and capable, and never dismissed as a ditz or as being overly ambitious.
Men tend to ask women out, and can be very forward. It’s actually unusual for men and women to be just friends, relations between the two can be quite formal.
Modern Ukrainian women work as much as men and often try to manage all the housekeeping. The expected role of women in everyday life is cooking, arranging table, cleaning after guests (for example, if there's a home-party or a picnic). And they gladly do it. But asking or forcing can be roughly rejected.
If a woman is a guest she would offer her help to clean after a meal, but usually this is politely refused.

Putting your thumb in between your middle and index finger while making a fist is an obscene gesture.
It is a bad manner to sit on the floor, on the ground, on the stairs.
It is forbidden to walk and sit on the grass in many public places, especially where flowers grow.
It is considered bad manners to talk loudly, to talk waving hands, etc.
People in USSR were taught not to talk in public transport and not to act attracting others attention. A person who is loud and noticeable may be met with hostility, especially in small towns.

The drinking age is 18 and rarely enforced. It is common to see preteens, and even younger children, drinking alcoholic drinks.
The legal age for purchasing tobacco is 18. Drinking alcohol, even beer, on streets or in public places is forbidden. Smoking is forbidden in many public places (near entrances to public transport, shopping malls etc.)
All Ukrainian trains are non-smoking which is very uncomfortable for smokers as the most trains are overnight. Ukrainian Police (Militsiya) patrols trains very often. Penalties for smoking or drinking are high money fines. Persons noticed by the Militsiya while smoking or drinking alcohol at inappropriate places can be brought to the police office for “identification”, especially if a person has no documents. The identification can take no more than 3 hours.
All light and hard drugs are forbidden. Even possession of little portions may cause an arrest.

For men: Formal suits are the norm. Dark colors are the way to go.
For women: Standard business attire. Stylish, yet conservative.
Ukrainians value being well dressed and nicely groomed.
Jeans and business casual attire are usually not appropriate but this may vary depending on the industry one is working in.

People tend to use patronymics – the person’s father’s name added on to the end of their name, as in: Irina Mikhailovna, or Dmitro Andreyovitch.
There is no specific protocol surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards, although it is a good idea to have one side of your business card translated into Ukrainian and be sure to highlight any advanced university or college degrees you received.
Russian-speaking Ukrainians use Russian common titles: Gospodin (Mr.) and Gospozha (Mrs.)
Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainians use Polish common titles: Pan (Mr.) and Pani (Mrs.) But they will not be offended if titled not on the preferred language.
Pay attention to job titles. For example many middle and lower employees are called “Manager”. A simple sales person is often called “Sales Manager”, a secretary is called “Office manager” etc.

It is best to arriving on time for a meeting even though you may be kept waiting.
Business meetings tend to be structured but not too formal, beginning and ending with a bit of small talk.
It is best to wait for the host to begin and end the business talk.

Gifts are not usually exchanged at a first meeting.
If invited to a Ukrainian household, it is appropriate to bring flowers (avoid yellow), a nice bottle of imported liquor, or chocolates/pastries.
Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped and do not expect them to be opened right away.

Grading system in schools and some universities is usually from 1 to 12. A lot of universities have excepted the Bologna system and give credits for the course.

The guides describe what people tend to do. The work at culturecrossing.net is about what you do.