For decades, many foreigners perceived the post-Soviet space as a single entity — the "remnants of Russia." However, the full-scale war has forced the world to realize that these are entirely different countries with unique cultures and mindsets. British travel blogger, host of the YouTube channel Bald and Bankrupt, has visited all 15 former Soviet republics over the years of his travels. Based on hundreds of encounters and personal experience, he compiled his own ranking of countries, evaluating them based on atmosphere, visa difficulties, and daily life.
Turkmenistan: a country with closed doors
Turkmenistan ended up at the very bottom of the list. The blogger called it the most difficult country to visit. Traveling there is fraught with a strict visa system, mandatory guide accompaniment, and a factual lack of freedom of movement. The author also noted problems with the internet, the state of the roads, and night curfews that limit movement around the country.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan: distances and monotony
According to the blogger, Kazakhstan became the least familiar country due to a lack of time to explore it. He cited huge distances and long transfers as the main drawbacks. "You have to travel by train for days, looking at grasshoppers and camels," the Brit complained, adding that the cities seem uninteresting to him and the taxi experience was unpleasant.
Azerbaijan received a more restrained rating. The author noted pleasant people and a comfortable Baku, but considered the country not diverse enough for a long trip. "When you have been in Baku for a few days, you have already seen almost everything Azerbaijan has to offer," the traveler summarized.
The Baltics: safety and "hooligans"
The blogger described Estonia as a beautiful, safe, and technologically advanced country, but too calm for those seeking adventure. Tallinn is called a perfectly preserved medieval city where there is no chance of meeting hooligans or corrupt police officers.
The author compared Latvia to Estonia, but with a darker shade: "Latvia is Estonia's brother in Adidas." Implying petty street crime, he still noted the "hooligan" atmosphere and contrasts between cities and neglected areas.
Georgia and Armenia: food, mountains, and service
On paper, Georgia looks like an ideal country for adventure: incredible landscapes, snow-capped mountains, subtropical beaches, and the best food in the former USSR. However, popularity among tourists worked against it: the author lowered the rating due to rude service and negative personal experiences.
Armenia, which intrigued the blogger for a long time with its visa complexity and history, ultimately provided a positive experience. He was impressed by the mountains and Soviet architecture.
Russia: love and trauma
Russia holds huge personal significance for the Brit. It was there that he went on his first independent trip as a teenager in the early 90s. He lived for two months in an apartment on Mira Avenue, exploring the remnants of the empire by day and partying in the legendary "Hungry Duck" club. These trips changed his life.
However, due to numerous negative incidents — two robberies in the provinces, forced public apologies, and an arrest in Siberia — Russia took only fifth place in his list. Despite personal friendships and strong emotions, dangerous situations did not allow the country to rise higher.
Ukraine: a special place in the heart
Ukraine occupies a unique place in the rating. The blogger first visited the country in September 1993 and has been there about 30 times since — more often than in any other post-Soviet republic. He emphasizes the uniqueness of Ukrainian culture, cuisine, and people, particularly noting the "legendary grandmothers".
"Ukrainians are the right combination of Slavic indifference and hospitality, and they made filming in the country a real pleasure for me," the author shared. For him, Ukraine became a symbol of uniqueness and hospitality that cannot be found anywhere else.