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‘Devilish’ entertainment: Strip bars and clubs may appear perfectly immoral to the righteous Ukrainian officials, but luckily for their fans they still flourish in Kyiv and in other Ukrainian cities Pavel Terekhov Judging by recent events, Ukraine is quickly turning into a puritan country, where the morals of average citizens are “well-protected” by a government whose own morals are highly questionable.

After the recent bans on pornography, gambling and now the blockbuster movie “Bruno,” Ukrainians can only wonder what non-kosher indulgences will be banned next.

A closer look at Ukraine’s entertainment scene shows there is plenty more that may get banned. So, maybe it’s time to sample those “forbidden” pleasures just one last time before they get banned.


Watch striptease

Watching beautiful ladies bare it all onstage is something most men – and even some women – enjoy from time to time.

Famed Las Vegas strip club Spearmint Rhinoceros inspired the owners of several strip clubs in Kyiv to name their spots after the legendary place. There are three of them called Rhinoceros (Nosorih in Ukrainian) – Spearmint Rhino, Star Rhino and Pink Rhino.

Star Rhinoceros (27 Krivonosa, 490-7117, star.nosorog.com.ua) offers full striptease on two floors. The perfectly glamorous interior is a feast of colors with shiny stars on the walls, disco balls; pink, purple and orange couches; and comfortable arm chairs to enjoy the show. And of course, there are cozy corners to watch a private dance.

Spearmint Rhino (111/113 Chervonoarmiyska, 529-2000, mint.nosorog.com.ua) offers similar services – strip shows, luxury surroundings and outmost attention to a client’s needs. The entrance fee to both clubs is Hr 100 for men and Hr 150 for women.

Pink Rhinoceros is located inside Maximum club (12/37 Dekabrystiv, 563-9662), which also includes a party bar, billiards, bowling and U Kruzhki pub. Two stages show no less than 20 dancers doing full strips. Entrance fees for men are Hr 70 on Monday and Sunday, and Hr 100 for the rest of the week, while for women it’s Hr 250 any day.

Striptease bar at Penthouse restaurant (58 Chervonoarmiyska, 289-4394, penthouse.net.ua) offers such performances as: “Freak Show,” “Sex on the Beach,” “Ukraine Fashion,” “Playboy Bunnies,” “Star Games” “Unisex” and “Pink Dreams” – for any taste and fantasy. Most strip clubs and bars have a so-called “Crazy Menu” which includes a list of services you can get. At the Penthouse those include a “Light erotic massage” (Hr 100 for 5 minutes), a “Lap Dance” (Hr 150) and “Table” Dance” (Hr 200). You can also have a romantic date in a VIP room, enjoy an erotic-sushi ceremony and order a male striptease for your lady companion (Hr 500).

Paradise cabaret is located on the 8th floor of Premier Palace Hotel (5-7/29 Shevchenko/Pushkinska, 537-4532). It boasts an interior in French chic style with red velvet, gold and crystal elements, as well as beautiful exotic dancers giving shows just like those seen in Las Vegas. The club’s centerpiece is a semi-circular stage which allows you to enjoy the show from any part of the room.


Go sex-shopping

It’s hard to believe that while pornography has been banned in Ukraine, the sex shops are still working. Just in case officials decide to remove this paradox, hurry up and do some shopping.

The biggest sex shop chain in Kyiv, Nasoloda (10 Mezhyhirska, Kvadrat on Druzhby Narodiv, 102 Sorokaricchya Zhovtnya, 4 Antonova, www.sex-shop.com.ua) is like an alternative world, offering a large variety of sex toys. One of its biggest stores is located in Podil. It occupies the ground level and the basement with items sorted for your convenience. There is a corner for sadomasochistic leather wear – corsets, collars, gloves, whips and high boots; an underwear section with a great selection of stockings; dresses and sex costumes and stimulators for men and women. Their selection of vibrators and dildos is really impressive. You can find natural looking ones, as well as many odd kinds in a variety of blazing colors made of gel, rubber, glass and even metal. The store is a popular spot with a constant flow of customers. Still, don’t be modest and consult the shop assistant – unless you know exactly what you need.

Another big sex shop is Intim (Hnata Yury, Kvadrat shopping mall, 8-093-453-88-32, www.aaa.in.ua). Its online selection is way bigger, but the store itself is also worth visiting. There you’ll find vibrators from Hr 100, balms, massage oils, stimulating creams, sprays, gels and rousing pills – for both men and women (Hr 100 – Hr 200). There is also latex underwear and sex toy sets – Hr 100-300. Some might be interested in leather spankers and handcuffs, while others will find underwear of lacy and transparent fabrics much more becoming. Especially for erotic games, the store offers sexy costumes of a devil, maid, gangster girl, geisha, Greek goddess, cat woman, waitress, bunny, ballerina, FBI agent, Santa girl and police officer.


Play lottery

While Ukraine’s lottery is not under the immediate threat to be banned, it still doesn’t quite fall in line with the latest “moral” trend, since it is effectively a variation of gambling. Moreover, the people who were properly addicted to gambling at casinos or regular slot machines in the underground passages have now promptly switched to lottery tickets. Of course, the price for a ticket starts at Hr 1, so it seems like you can’t spend too much on it. But as everyone knows – to win big you have to spend big – even on lottery tickets.

The Ukrainian National Lottery (www.lottery.com.ua– the website has an English version) offers four basic kinds of lottery, each with a slightly different gaming system and a pot of cash to win. Its primary kind is Super Lotto with a current jackpot of Hr 9,500,000. To play, you have to pick six numbers out of 52 and cross them out with a dark-colored pen. On each play card, you choose up to six combinations of numbers. The minimal bet is Hr 3. You can also have your ticket participate in up to 10 successive drawings. To win, you have to guess three or more digits. Drawings are held twice a week – on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Lotto Maxima lottery offers bigger chances to win though the jackpot is naturally smaller – Hr 45,000 at present. In this case you’re guessing five digits out of 42. The minimal bet is Hr 2. The drawings are held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Keno daily lottery is considered the one with the biggest winning chances. 20 out of 80 digits are being drawn and you need to guess only half of those. On a lottery card you can bet on 2 to 10 numbers. You can increase your stake by up to 10 times and have your ticket participate in up to 28 successive drawings.

In Lotto Triyka (Lotto Three) daily lottery, each drawing gives you a three-digit winning combination of numbers from 0 to 9. You can bet on up to 10 combinations on each play card and win from Hr 85 to Hr 660.

You can check in your lottery cards in any sale point with UNL or “Hrayte Tut” (Play Here) logo. Post offices sell some lottery tickets as well. You can also play at any of the I-Box pay points, online – www.shans.uaand by mobile phone. You may check your winnings watching the drawing live on UT-1 channel daily at about 10.50 p.m.