Ukraine · UA

Siverskyi Donets River

The Siverskyi Donets is the great river of eastern Ukraine — a 1,053-kilometre waterway whose meandering course carves through chalk hills, pine forests, and open feather-grass steppe. Called one of the most picturesque rivers on the East European Plain, it draws travelers with its quiet bends, floodplain woodlands, and the dramatic chalk cliffs that rise above its banks in the Sviati Hory (Holy Hills) area. Before the full-scale invasion of 2022, kayak expeditions along its middle reaches were among Ukraine's most beloved summer traditions. Today, much of the river's middle and lower course lies along or near active front lines in eastern Ukraine, making travel to the area extremely dangerous. Mines and unexploded ordnance contaminate the banks. This guide documents the river as a landmark of natural and cultural significance while acknowledging the severe current access limitations.