UK general visitor visas for UA citizens - Advice?

Assuming that getting a UK visa is like getting a US visa, your paying everything won't help and in fact, might hurt his chances.

The visa applicant must prove that they have strong ties to their country and will be likely to return to their country. This means things like having a job to which to return, owning property, presenting a letter from employer indicating that leave has been approved, having children and a spouse that remain behind, etc.

A student whose airfare and expenses are being paid by a third party wouldn't in my view support his returning.

I can think of one possible exception - if his schooling is such that he is close to completing his degree, then perhaps that would suggest strong ties that he would return to complete his studies.

Ruth

As Everbrite mentioned, embassies want proof of strong ties to the country of origin, which could be any documents he can provide about his high income, married status, property in Ukraine, money in Ukrainian bank account, etc.

This is going to be veeeeeeery difficult.

The embassy in Kiev assume that Ukrainians come to the UK to work on the black market and will overstay their visa. People most likely do this are unmarried visitors in their 20s with few family or property ties back home, who have not travelled (and returned) before. Unfortunately, your friend falls into most of these categories. There's also a nasty catch in Ukraine where so many people work in the informal sector without proper employment contracts, that even Ukrainians with a steady job and decent income find they can't prove this to the embassy's satisfaction.

The rules appear to be more relaxed for people visiting on organised tourist trips via a travel agent. The embassy appears to be more understanding for visits to one-off events, eg if you're getting married.

Even so, I wouldn't put your chances of successful visa application at more than 20%.

Thanks to Ruth, Slav and Andrew for your replies. I think

"This is going to be veeeeeeery difficult."

sums it up neatly. Ho hum...

Mercure

Message for Oleg & Kostya:

Greetings. You need to apply your combined brain power to the above visa challenge.....

Mercure (ista)

To get UK visa you have to prove in UK Embassy that your income is higher than average income of UK citizen. Show them your VISA card, print from bank of your card movements for the last 6 months and reference from tax inspection about your yearly income and visa is guaranteed.

If you have not got money – stay at home and do not waste your time and nervous for UK Embassy.

I've recently send someone an inventation letter , which the person took to the UK consulate and the visa was granted without any problem.
the letter should contain your name and address, you should include your latest payslip and bankaccount statement. You should write informally and also say you are willing to support the invitee when needed.
And yes it helps if the invited person can show s/he owns property is working/studying etc.