Travelling to Kiev, Ukraine any advice

Any advice for a fist time American traveller to Kiev, Ukraine in late December, can you walk when it is below freezing (-5F)? Kiev is a safe city to visit for Americans correct? Any insight much appreciated.

No problem walking in -5c. I cycled 25km in -5c to work yesterday. Won't kill you. Same answer applies in -20c.
Its just a question of having the right clothes: boots with good grip, coat, hat, scarf, gloves. You will see Ukrainian women walking on icy pavements in 10cm high heels, but that technique is hard to master so I recommend stout boots for foreigners.

-5F is -15C and is ok to be outside. All of Europe including Kyiv is on cold spell now but in reality it rarely gets down to -5F in Kyiv these days.

Can you walk in America when it's -5F?

#3, for some US the answer is no. I spent a winter in Minneapolis, where it gets down to -20c. However, all the houses have inbuilt garages, so do all the offices and sohpping centres. Everything in town is connected by heated underground tunnels and walkways. It may be -20c outside but its quite possible to live for weeks on end, go to work, do your shopping, see your friends and family while never setting foot outside.

I did set foot outside and was told by colleagues I would literally freeze to death. Which turned out to be nonsense of course, as I'm still alive.

OP asked another question about safety. Kiev is much safer than many US cities from the point of view of armed robberies etc. No real danger handing around down town any time of day or night. However, the standard of driving is variable and some of the vehicles on the road aren't roadworthy. So you probably have a greater risk of road accidents than back home, whether as a passenger or a pedestrian. Better not to drink the tap water. Other winter hazards include slips and falls on icy pavements or being skewered by icicles falling off tall buildings.

Kiev is safe generally speaking. We've had reports on various scams ("Did you lose a wallet?") here, but some of that depends on how you are dressed (ie. traveling with a gigantic backpack says "I am a foreigner!" as loud as possible) and where you go.

Kiev does have unbelievably fierce winter winds that can cut through you like a knife. Be sure to wear clothes as warm and insulated as possible.

I just thought that Ukraine is having presidential elections on January 17, and it's likely there will be a second round two weeks after that, with crowds of observers and journalists covering the event, most out of Kyiv. So accommodation will be hard to come by in late December through January and likely two weeks of February.

Kiev is a safe city to visit for Americans correct?

as opposed to for Canadians? or for Dutchmen? do you think people would ask your nationality before they decide to mug you?

In any case, I'm sure it's much safe than many American cities.

You will see Ukrainian women walking on icy pavements in 10cm high heels,

And you might even get to see the famously spirited FEMEN girls walking around/protesting in a good deal less...))

Kiev is a safe city to visit for Americans correct?

As safe as anywhere else...just apply common sense...

Kiev is a beautiful city, with lots of culture and nightlife - I can't imagine that you will have any problems there. There is a reliable and fast metro so you won't have to walk everywhere in the cold.

That said, I'm always a bit more careful when in Eastern Europe because you can't always rely on the cops to help you if things go wrong!!

Have fun!

Cheers, Sarah.