passing border with car

[johamatt]

I am about to visit Ukraine, Smila. Purpose of my visit is to deliver a firetruck I got from Swedish municipality. I know they are very critical when entering with car. You have to leave Ukraine with same vehicle you entering.

Now, I am leaving by airplane.

How is the smartest way of entering the custom at the border? Should I have registration plates on the car? Should I have the mayor to write a letter of explanations. Should I have Swedish registration plates and show my return ticket. Many questions. Last time it took me three hours to pass the border to Poland. I want to be prepared and have all things clear before leaving. What is your advice forum members?

[Slawko]

I am wondering what fate befell the fellow and is he still waiting at border? I feel badly for him as he surely wants to do the right thing and has a good heart ( donating fire truck). I hope he isn not flying back in russian made airplane.

[johamatt]

It has been 10 months since I delivered one small Chevrolet firetruck and an M-B 280 ambulance to city of Smila.

And yes, it was an ordeal to pass the border. They shuffled me to one desk after another. Not knowing anything. Thanks to vice mayors of Smila it only took four hours. They did a great job. First drive to Dorohusk in the morning. Waited for us to midnight, and then drove back, without sleeping.

It was not that difficult to do the paper work in Sweden. I had to register myself as owner before leaving Sweden. Then contact vehicle administration agency to file an export document. I did not needed to have departure documents with me. I took the Swedish registration plates with me and returned them to to vaa. The mayor did write a nice note to custom officers. "please help this Swedish men he does not know any Russian or Ukraine". But it turned out that they decided to meet us at the border. Which was good.

The whole trip from Gdansk to Smila took us 32 hours. When we came to Smila it was a big commotion. Mayor came to meet us, TV was there etc.

We had four big bags with toys for the children department at the hospital and we gave them to children there with happy smiles.

It is good to receive gifts but it is greater to give. If I can I will do this again.