I'm currently in Ukraine and accepting guests if you happen to be around:)

I have a degree in international law, so everything related to diplomacy, international relations and matters is of interest for me. Before I used to work at a university in Ukraine teaching English to students of international relations.
I also worked in Ukraine Response in the UK during the war.

I'm ex-AIESEC member.
I'm interested in volunteering activities and social community projects.

In 2019 I left my job in Ukraine, I travelled the world using hitchhiking, camping and couchsurfing around Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, collected memories for lifetime :) that was the best time.

After 2022 I'm moving here and there, partly due to the war, partly because I still try to keep the dream to see the world that was broken by the pandemic and the war. Our lives have changed a lot and I'm grateful to everyone who hosts me on here. Sometimes it saves indeed :)

Due to some experiences I must mention that I'm NOT looking for any romantic experiences here.

As a host I'm not expecting big personalized requests, but I won't host surfers who show no sign of reading my home section. Please in your request mention your plans while you are staying in my place. And use my name (cmon!)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

"For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home..." Bible

For me couchsurfing is a way to meet travellers and interesting folk, host and be hosted, give a bed to those with limited resources, exchange cultures and experiences. My vision of CS has also changed after the war. I'm open to host anyone on CS, not only tourists. I see it as home away from home now. So if you need a home for whatever reason (traveling, exams, job search, exile etc.), you are welcome, if conditions mentioned on my profile are followed. I want to help but I mind safety too.
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When I'm not in Ukraine and if I'm settled enough to have my own space somewhere else, I'll host people whenever possible. I won't change my location on CS. I'd rather offer host to people on public trips or last minute groups. Please read my profile and home section description to see if I may be the right host for you.
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I don't go to night clubs or parties, so I cannot give you opinion on any of such places. I'm unlikely to join you for these activities either. Mostly I prefer calm communication or hanging out together.

I don't smoke/drink.

Sorry but I can't join you to participate in religious practices, functions, ceremonies etc. Don't take it personal please :) Cultural events are ok.

It's not obligatory for me to have same interests with a guest/host as different interests mean possibility to learn something from each other :)

I don't use CS as app to make virtual friends, chat. I'll not reply messages like "hey", "wsup", "hello, nice profile, how are you today?" and similar. Please write exactly what you want: hosting, staying, meeting up, what to visit in the city...

Interests

I like deserts, hiking in the mountains, amateur photography, I'm learning ukulele and can play traditional Ukrainian instrument called bayan. I like music in general, participating in concerts, playing with others.

Interested in oriental lifestyles.

I used to do figure skating.

I like intellectual conversations and games.

Im into scents - various perfumes (not brands :D), aroma oils, incenses, ouds etc. If you are from the Middle East and stay with me I'll appreciate if you can take bakhoor for my collection :)

I'm interested in analysing international relations and politics, world systems and flows.

When I travel I prefer adventure travel. I travelled continents by hitchhiking, didn't even count how many thousands of kilometres done, sleeping in tent under thousands of stars in most unpredictable places, met strangers on the road who touched me with their kindness. Very enriching experience.

• photography
• festivals
• cooking
• hiking
• camping
• history
• hitchhiking
• mountains
• couchsurfing
• trecking
• scents

Music, Movies, and Books

Book of Ecclesiastes
Maktub by Paolo Coelho
Detective stories
Shawshenk redemption
Mr Nobody
Oriental traditional music
Ethnic music

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

💯Leaving my old life and going on the world trip🌍
👍Hitchhiking with gunned cars in eastern Turkey and Pakistan and through USA -Mexico border states🗡️
❌Surviving wild in the heat of Omani summer with covid closed borders and being given a place to stay by random people after a month of living outside🏘️
⚡We were dropped in the middle of a deserted mountain highway between dangerous parts of Chihuahua and Sonora Mexican northern states, with no signs of transport, settlements or people. My friend was actively shaking out raincoat after we got into rain when I noticed a bull from nowhere agitated by corrida style movements and heading towards us. I had to climb a wet tree to hide from the threat; that didn't work and I fell down 🫣. Luckily the bull calmed down and retreated. After a while of despair a car sound was heard. It was driven by a couple of tourists we met in the morning on a waterfall before. They rescued us from one of the most dangerous drug related zones and took aprox 350 km to Hermosillo. I remember only another car and truck passing there for hours. It was one of the most miraculous things of divine care in my life 🎆
🐫Getting lost and finding way back in the dunes of Empty Quarter🙈
🧳Throwing my backpack down from the mountain summit down to be able to descend almost 90% steep slope without any insurance 🏞️
🌒Sleeping at the side of a military base near the Yemeni border and being served by the military personnel as their guest🍴
☝️Visiting post ISIS refugee camp in Iraq☝️
🙏Observing body burning ceremony in Nepal🔥
🌯Being offered food by a wheelchaired man in a hospital where I slept due to total lack of any accomodation in the town🌯
🏕️Camping on a cliff edge in windy night in la Palma, Canarias🏞️
⛰️Once I had to collect and drink dew and berries for a day in the mountains instead of water because my water bottle fell down the hill. Thirst makes human dilute indeed 🗻
⛺Sleeping in a tent with flamingos around in Mexico🏜️
🌄Living in a monastery on a cliff in Montenegro🌄
🌅Seeing bioluminescent waves for the first time in life in Pakistan 🌌
🎒Did 50 km 6 day track in high paramos of Colombian mountains, got into night storm with a non-waterproof tent, didn't get lost in rainy clouds on poorly marked cattle trails🗻
🌀Was woken up by an earthquake in Ecuador🤸
🏔️ Travelled around Ladakh and it's remote parts for 3 weeks entirely by hitchhiking. Unforgettable 👍

I visited danger/war/terrorism stereotyped countries and met some of the best people there. Indeed we still have to learn a lot about humanism.

I'm open to people from any countries, male or female.
I can't change unequal system of the world but I make my own small contribution.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach English/Russian/Ukrainian, practise Spanish
I can cook Ukrainian or oriental food

Zero tolerance to racism, xenophobia, double standards.

I was born and lived in Chornobyl affected zone and my father was a liquidator at Chornobyl. You can ask me about this site if you want to know more.

I have plenty of experience in high altitudes and can share safety tips for that (what to do with high altitude sickness).

When I was travelling I experienced some miraculous examples of kindness, sometimes life saving. My heart will go out to those people every time I host a traveller.

What I Can Share with Hosts

🍲Cooking food (my country's food is non vegetarian)
🔌helping in the house
🧳I can tell you how to travel on 10$ for 2 people for a day: tips for low budget
🗣️practising English, Russian, Spanish
✈️if you are looking for a travelmate - maybe we can travel together

🏠I will also host you in my place wherever I have one. In my absence I can arrange a place with my family
📸I can make you a photosession
🎼If you happen to have a musical instrument bayan or ukulele I can play you music :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ukraine, United Kingdom