How to Ship from the US to Ukraine: Complete 2026 Guide

Shipping to Ukraine from the United States has always required more attention to detail than shipping to Western Europe, and the geopolitical situation since 2022 has added another layer of complexity. Services have largely resumed to most of the country, but the experience varies depending on which part of Ukraine you are sending to and which carrier you use.

This guide covers what actually works right now, what the costs look like, and what you need to know about customs to get packages through without delays.

Current Shipping Reality

The most important thing to understand about shipping to Ukraine in 2026 is that service availability depends heavily on geography within the country. Western and central Ukraine — including Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and most major cities — have reliable shipping service from international carriers. Eastern regions near active conflict zones have restricted or suspended service, and carriers update their coverage maps frequently.

Before shipping to any Ukrainian address, check your carrier's service availability tool for that specific postal code. DHL, FedEx, and UPS all maintain updated lists of serviceable areas. USPS resumed service to most of Ukraine but still has restrictions on certain regions.

Delivery times are longer and less predictable than pre-2022. A package that would have taken five days via express might now take seven to ten, partly because of additional security screening and partly because of logistics infrastructure that is still being rebuilt in some areas.

Key Facts

Ukraine is approximately 5,600 miles from the US East Coast. The country uses the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) as its currency and operates on Eastern European Time (UTC+2), shifting to UTC+3 during summer. Ukrainian is the primary language, and while English is increasingly common in business contexts, customs documentation should be in Ukrainian or English.

Ukraine is not an EU member state, though it holds EU candidate status. This means it has its own customs regime rather than following EU rules. The import duty threshold is EUR 150 — goods valued below this are exempt from duties but still subject to VAT at 20 percent.

Carrier Options and Realistic Costs

Express Shipping: 3 to 7 Business Days

DHL Express is generally the most reliable carrier for express shipments to Ukraine. Their European ground network connects efficiently to Ukraine through Poland, and they have maintained the most consistent service throughout the disruptions of recent years. Transit times run three to five business days to Kyiv and western cities, potentially longer to other areas.

FedEx International Priority and UPS Worldwide Express also serve Ukraine, with similar timelines of four to seven business days. USPS Priority Mail Express International takes five to seven business days and costs considerably less, though tracking visibility within Ukraine is limited.

Express shipping rates for a one-pound package range from 55 to 85 dollars depending on the carrier and your account pricing. DHL and FedEx tend to be at the higher end but offer more reliable door-to-door delivery. UPS rates are competitive but their Ukrainian coverage is narrower than DHL's.

Standard Shipping: 10 to 21 Business Days

USPS Priority Mail International is the most popular standard option, with rates between 38 and 55 dollars for a one-pound package. Transit times of 10 to 21 business days reflect both international transit and the variability of domestic delivery within Ukraine.

FedEx International Economy and UPS Worldwide Saver offer standard-speed service at 45 to 65 dollars with better tracking than USPS. The price premium buys you more visibility into where your package is at each stage.

Economy Shipping: 21 to 45 Business Days

USPS First-Class Package International Service starts at 14 to 20 dollars for light packages and delivers in 21 to 45 business days. This is a viable option for low-value items where the recipient is patient, but be prepared for limited tracking once the package enters Ukraine and occasional shipments that take the full 45 days.

DHL eCommerce offers economy service at similar price points with somewhat better reliability, though transit times are comparable.

Customs and Import Requirements

Ukraine has its own customs authority separate from the EU, which means the process differs from shipping to EU countries. Every commercial shipment requires a customs declaration with the sender and recipient details, a description of contents in English and ideally Ukrainian, the declared value in US dollars, the quantity of each item, and the HS tariff code.

For packages valued under EUR 150, no import duty is charged but 20 percent VAT applies. Above EUR 150, both duties and VAT apply. Duty rates vary by product category — electronics typically attract duties of 5 to 10 percent, clothing 10 to 20 percent, and consumer goods generally 5 to 15 percent.

One important detail: Ukraine has been modernizing its customs procedures and now offers electronic customs clearance for many shipments sent through major carriers like DHL and FedEx. This means your recipient does not always need to visit a customs office in person — the carrier handles clearance and collects any duties and taxes on delivery.

However, USPS shipments still go through Ukrposhta (the national postal service) for customs clearance, which can be slower and sometimes requires the recipient to pick up the package from a post office and pay duties in person.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

Standard international prohibitions apply: no firearms, explosives, narcotics, or hazardous materials. Ukraine also restricts imports of certain food products, seeds, and plants without phytosanitary certificates.

Given the security situation, batteries and electronics face additional scrutiny at customs. Clearly declare all electronic items and include technical specifications where possible to speed up clearance.

Sending humanitarian goods or donations has its own procedures and duty exemptions, but these require coordination with registered Ukrainian nonprofits and proper documentation. Regular commercial shipments do not qualify for humanitarian exemptions.

Practical Tips for Better Delivery

If you are shipping to Ukraine regularly, a few strategies will improve your success rate. First, get the recipient's phone number on the customs form. Ukrainian delivery services, including Ukrposhta and Nova Poshta (a major private carrier that partners with DHL), rely heavily on phone contact for delivery scheduling. A package without a phone number may sit in a depot while the carrier tries to locate the recipient.

Second, use transliterated Ukrainian addresses rather than Russian transliterations. Ukrainian postal workers increasingly use the Ukrainian-language versions of place names, and mismatched transliterations can cause confusion, especially in cities where the Russian and Ukrainian names differ significantly.

Third, insure your shipments. Package handling infrastructure in Ukraine is improving but is not yet at Western European standards, and the longer transit times increase the window for something to go wrong. The 100 dollars of included insurance on most carrier services is often not enough for valuable items.

Platforms like atoship can help you compare carrier rates and transit times for Ukrainian shipments, generate compliant customs documentation, and track packages across carriers — reducing the logistical complexity of shipping to a destination that requires more attention than most.