A Ukraine VPN is an essential tool if you're based in, or heading to the country, any time soon. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) service encrypts all data leaving your device, so no one can see what it is. It even spoofs your IP address to make you appear as if you're browsing from almost anywhere in the world. This lets you access otherwise censored content while protecting your anonymity.
Besides enjoying a safer open internet, the best Ukraine VPNs are also a means for travelers to stream their favorite TV shows when abroad. Luckily, the best VPN services can be of use here.
Our top 3 picks for the best Ukraine VPNs:
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The best Ukraine VPN: Proton VPN
ProtonVPN stands at the top of our Ukraine VPN rankings, combining exceptional speed, robust privacy tools, and a truly global network that's ideal for users in and around Ukraine. Its footprint now spans 126 countries, more than any VPN aside from NordVPN, which means you'll find plenty of nearby servers for low-latency connections.
It performs well too, achieving well over 950 Mbps download speeds using WireGuard in our latest testing. OpenVPN speeds weren't quite so impressive, managing only 240 Mbps. That said, both of these results are more than enough for anyone looking to stream, game, or download securely.
ProtonVPN's reputation for privacy is well-known. It regularly reaffirms this with third-party audits, most recently in September 2025. For those in Ukraine looking to guard their data or bypass local restrictions, Proton's Secure Core servers route traffic through privacy-friendly jurisdictions like Switzerland before exiting to the wider internet, adding extra protection against surveillance or compromised endpoints.
ProtonVPN's apps are straightforward and responsive across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The map-based interface makes selecting servers intuitive, and advanced features like split tunneling and customizable profiles let you fine-tune your experience.
Connecting to nearby servers, including those in Poland, Romania, and other close regions for Ukraine-based users, was consistently quick in our tests, and setup took just minutes on each device we tried.
Proton still lacks 24/7 live chat support, unlike ExpressVPN, Nord, and Surfshark. Having said that, Proton committed to donating 10% of its revenue from new subscriptions to relief efforts in Ukraine, while pledging support to journalists within the country.
The best Ukraine VPN for streaming: NordVPN
NordVPN shows a serious commitment to its users' data, and its wealth of features makes it perhaps the most secure VPN around. We especially love its Double VPN option, which reroutes your traffic through two VPN servers for extra security. It also offers Onion over VPN and a regularly audited zero-log policy. Plus, anyone can use its Meshnet technology free of charge. Â
Nord boasts solid network coverage, too. It has over 14 servers in Ukraine alone, for a total of 7,000+ worldwide, including some P2P-optimized for safe torrenting and obfuscated servers for extra reliability.
In terms of performance, Nord delivered some brilliant results during our last round of testing. For starters, its WireGuard-based protocol NordLynx recorded improved speeds peaking over 950 Mbps. The provider also reaffirmed itself as the best streaming VPN out there, unblocking countless Netflix libraries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, and even Japan) as well as all the other major platforms. Â
NordVPN's apps are streamlined and work well across Windows, macOS, Android, and even browsers via its dedicated extensions. Installation is straightforward, connections are quick, and its Quick Connect tool reliably links users to optimal servers, including multiple options across Europe for low-latency use in Ukraine.
Features like split tunneling, an automatic kill switch, and Meshnet make it flexible for power users, while its location spoofing in browser extensions helps conceal your true whereabouts when using services that rely on geolocation.
Its optional Threat Protection Pro feature remains one of the best security add-ons we've tested, blocking 79% of malware and 87% of phishing attempts in our latest round of testing. However, this advanced protection is excluded from the Basic VPN plan, meaning you'll need to upgrade to Plus or Complete to access the full version.
Standard subscribers still get DNS-based filtering, which handled a modest 24% of malware and 34% of phishing threats during our tests, offering a baseline layer of protection. Even so, for those prioritizing privacy in Ukraine, NordVPN's consistent audits and additional tools like Meshnet file sharing and encrypted DNS make it a strong contender.
The best cheap Ukraine VPN: Surfshark
Surfshark might be the best cheap VPN out there, but it is certainly not low on quality. For starters, its easy-to-use apps come packed with security features. These include some classics - like DNS leak protection, kill switch, split tunneling, and AES-256 encryption, to additional options powered by its Nexus technology.
It boasts over 4,500 servers spread across 100 countries, Ukraine included. Surfshark comes with a few dedicated anti-censorship options as well, like its obfuscation tech (called Camouflage mode) and a No Borders feature, which connects you to the servers performing the best under network disruptions by default.
Surfshark offers some pretty impressive unlocking skills, too. We managed to unblock everything we tried, including Netflix across Australia, Japan, Canada, the UK, and the US, major platforms like Amazon Prime and Disney+, and local stations like ITV, Channel 4, BBC iPlayer, or 10 Play and 9Now in Australia.
Even better, the provider did so with some pretty amazing speeds. It's currently our fastest VPNÂ when connected to the WireGuard protocol with a peak of 950Mbps. However, its speeds were below average with OpenVPN.
Surfshark is also perfect if you want to secure all your family members with just one subscription, as it allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Its apps work smoothly across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and popular browsers. Installation was simple on every platform we tested, and features like split tunneling, MultiHop (double VPN), and unlimited simultaneous connections make it flexible for households or frequent travelers.
Other Ukraine VPNs we've tested and recommend
ExpressVPN remains one of the most polished and privacy-focused VPNs for users in Ukraine, delivering premium speeds, reliable streaming, and a refined app experience. Its 105-country network covers major regions across Europe and Asia, ensuring plenty of nearby servers for stable performance.
It comes packed with security features like AES-256 encryption, its in-house developed and open-sourced Lightway protocol, a reliable kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and more. Are you a journalist or activist currently working in Ukraine? You can claim access to its service free of charge.Â
ExpressVPN's appeal lies heavily in its privacy safeguards. Its 18th independent KPMG audit, released in 2024, reaffirmed its strict no-logs policy and validated the integrity of its TrustedServer technology. The provider also publishes a twice-yearly transparency report, detailing official data requests and underscoring its commitment to user privacy.
A previous Windows split tunneling issue has been fixed, with functionality restored and verified by third parties. While ExpressVPN didn't block phishing or malware sites in our latest tests, this feature is a secondary extra rather than a core service, and its extensive blocklist of older threats still offers some passive defense.
Express is also great at unblocking–whether that's some foreign streaming catalogs or any other type of online restrictions. And, despite some issues with Netflix, we actually managed to unlock all the other streaming platforms we tried during our last round of testing.Â
ExpressVPN's apps are among the most intuitive in the industry, offering smooth installations across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and browser extensions. Its Quick Connect feature consistently linked us to the fastest nearby servers, while customizable tools like split tunneling and protocol selection cater to both new and advanced users. Lightway's dynamic MTU adjustments also improved performance on different networks, which is particularly useful for Ukrainian users.
Our newest testing round revealed ExpressVPN reaching 898 Mbps peak speeds using its proprietary Lightway protocol, keeping it competitive for streaming, gaming, and secure browsing.
Whether you're a newbie or an expert, Private Internet Access (PIA) might be just the right service for you thanks to its highly customizable apps across many operating systems and tons of features.
Above all, our absolute favorite is its MACE system - a built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker that would surely come handy to cope with the rising rate of cybercrimes in Ukraine. Plus, it's one of the few Linux VPNs with a dedicated GUI (app).
With a network coverage that none of its competitors can match up - over 10,000 servers located across 84 countries worldwide–Pia offers servers physically located in Ukraine, too. You can also get your very own dedicated IP to get extra VPN usability if you're willing to pay an additional fee.Â
We saw some improvements in its unblocking capabilities last time we checked, thanks to a recently added Smart DNS feature. This means that PIA does now unlock most streaming platforms, such as Disney Plus, Prime Video and some Netflix catalogs (the US, UK and Canada ones, specifically). And while this time it managed to unblock BBC iPlayer, it failed to do so with 10Play.Â
PIA's speeds were better this time, too, rising from 320Mbps to 510Mbps with WireGuard and from 320Mbps to 440Mbps with OpenVPN. We are also happy to see that the provider finally carried on an independent audit on its no-logs claims, while a more detailed security audit is underway. Even better, its pricing recently dropped making it now cheaper than Surfshark.Â
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the go-to option for users in Ukraine who want a reliable VPN at a low cost without sacrificing essential features. It offers a 91-country network with an impressive 152 locations, including servers in all 50 US states, which is a level of coverage that gives travelers and streamers more flexibility than most rivals.
In our latest round of testing, PIA reached 436 Mbps peak speeds, which is more than enough for HD streaming and general use, even if it lags behind the top-tier performers.
PIA has a long-standing reputation for transparency, backed by a recent Deloitte audit confirming that its systems and configurations uphold its strict no-logs policy. Its apps support strong encryption and include customizable settings such as advanced split tunneling and automation, letting users tailor the VPN to their needs.
Among PIA's various features, our absolute favorite is its MACE system - a built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker. While protection proved limited (blocking only 2% of threats in our most recent tests), this feature is best seen as a free extra, with most users pairing the VPN with dedicated antivirus or browser security tools.
PIA's latest app updates have made it far more user-friendly. Its redesigned Android app adds dark mode, the ability to sort servers by speed, and automation options to automatically connect when joining unsecured Wi-Fi networks, which are features that make it practical for everyday use in Ukraine. Alongside this, it's one of the few Linux VPNs with a dedicated GUI (app).
Installation was straightforward across every platform we tested, and connection times were quick, with nearby servers in Europe delivering stable, low-latency performance.
Despite its lower price point, PIA handled streaming well in our tests, unblocking Netflix across all tested regions (Australia, Canada, Japan, UK, and US), along with other major and local streaming platforms: Amazon Prime, Disney+, Channel 4, ITV, BBC iPlayer, 9Now, and 10 Play.
How to choose
How to choose the best Ukraine VPN
When it comes to picking a VPN, you should bear in mind that some features will differ according to your specific needs (whether that's better streaming, torrenting, gaming or more). On top of this, there are hundreds of VPNs (if not thousands) available on the market, and over the past 15 years, TechRadar has conducted hundreds of reviews for the good, the bad, and the ugly in VPNs. When it comes to choosing the best VPNs we looked at the following criteria: Â Â Â
Boosting privacy and security should be your #1 priority with a VPN. Strong security features and encryption protocols are then the first things to look out for. Reliable tools like a kill switch, leak protection and encryption customization are a must here. Among all the VPN protocols, WireGuard is now the best on the market for both speed and security. OpenVPN is still a valuable alternative, though.Â
The next step is making sure of being protected by a watertight no-logs privacy policy–independently audited services are always recommended. A no-logs VPN should never retain any identifying information about you. That's advantageous as even if governments request your data, the provider won't be able to share any details about your sessions as these records never existed to begin with.Â
Another factor to consider is the server coverage of your VPN in Ukraine. As a rule of thumb, more options mean a better chance of getting fast and reliable connections. We suggest looking for a strong network located in and around the country, together with servers in key countries like the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China.
Last but not least, VPN apps should be straightforward and user-friendly while offering speedy customer service support. Also, be sure to check the number of simultaneous connections supported, as it’s always a bonus to be able to use multiple desktop PCs and mobile devices with your VPN.
Ukraine VPNs: FAQs
Is a VPN necessary in Ukraine?
While not mandatory, using a VPN in Ukraine is highly recommended for anyone concerned about privacy, security, or unrestricted internet access. VPNs encrypt your data, shielding your browsing from hackers, ISPs, and potential surveillance, which is a particularly valuable safeguard when using public Wi-Fi or during periods of increased cyber activity.
A VPN also helps bypass geo-blocks, allowing Ukrainians to access international streaming libraries or region-restricted websites without issue. Even though many services remain freely accessible, VPNs offer peace of mind by ensuring your traffic is protected and your location is concealed.
Additionally, a VPN can also help maintain secure connections across borders, where network conditions or restrictions may differ. Choosing a service with strong speeds, a wide network, and verified no-logs policies ensures your connection remains fast, private, and reliable.
Are VPNs legal in Ukraine?
Yes, VPNs are legal to use in Ukraine. There are no national laws prohibiting VPN services, and they are widely used by individuals and businesses to protect online privacy, bypass regional content restrictions, and secure public Wi-Fi connections. For many Ukrainians, VPNs have become a key tool for maintaining safe access to the wider internet, particularly during times of heightened cybersecurity concerns.
However, while using a VPN is legal, it does not grant immunity from local laws. Activities that are illegal without a VPN (such as spreading malware, hacking, or engaging in fraud) remain illegal when connected to one. Choosing a trustworthy provider with proven privacy credentials, such as audited no-logs policies and strong encryption, ensures your VPN use remains both legal and secure.
Is Facebook banned in Ukraine?
Facebook is not banned in Ukraine. Unlike in some neighboring countries where certain social media platforms face restrictions, Ukrainians can freely access Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta-owned services without using a VPN. However, some platforms and websites based in Russia remain blocked due to ongoing regional conflicts and security concerns.
Many users still rely on VPNs to enhance their security while using social platforms, particularly when connecting through public Wi-Fi or during periods of elevated cyber threats. A VPN can encrypt your traffic to prevent third parties from tracking or intercepting your communications. While Facebook itself remains fully accessible, pairing it with a reliable VPN adds an extra layer of privacy and helps avoid potential throttling or surveillance by networks.
