This travel company wants tourists to visit Ukraine right now

(CNN) — Visiting Ukraine right now to experience what’s it like living in the middle of a war, see its bombed cities, feel the danger and meet its fighters isn’t likely to be on anyone’s travel wish list.

But six months after Russia invaded the country, unleashing a wave of death and destruction, one organization is inviting tourists to come.

Online platform Visit Ukraine.Today last month launched guided day tours of the so-called “Brave Cities” that have defied and continue to resist Russian invaders, offering travelers a look at how the country is living amid conflict.

Despite international alerts warning against travel to Ukraine, the company says it’s so far sold 150 tickets, while its website offering information on safely traveling to and from Ukraine is receiving 1.5 million hits a month, up 50% on pre-invasion numbers.

It says anyone signing up for the tours can expect walks among bomb debris, ruined buildings, cathedrals and stadiums, as well as burned out military hardware, plus the regular wail of air raid sirens. Landmines are also a risk.

While it might seem like a ghoulish way to spend a vacation, Visit Ukraine’s founder and CEO Anton Taranenko tells CNN Travel it’s not the same as “dark tourism” that sees visitors flock to other sites of death, disaster and destruction around the world.

Taranenko says the tours represent a chance for Ukraine to highlight its citizens’ spirit of defiance as well as showing the outside world that life goes on, even in a war.

‘Living life no matter what’

Visit Ukraine.Today is encouraging foreign travelers to make a trip to Ukraine.

Visit Ukraine

“It’s not only about the bombs, what’s happening today in Ukraine is also about how people are learning to co-live with the war, help each other,” he says. “There’s real change, a new street spirit.

“Maybe across the street from where a bomb recently struck you’ll see friends eating nice traditional food at a re-opened bistro.

“We are happy for some moments, there are not just the bad and sad things as seen on TV. Life goes on and there’s hope that soon all this will be over.

“Children are growing up, we try to live life as much as possible no matter what.”

The US Department of State currently has a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” warning against Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. It urges all US citizens to leave the country immediately and warns that, following the suspension of operations at its Kyiv Embassy, no consular assistance can be offered.

Similar alerts have been issued by other countries. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office warns there is a “real risk to life” due to attacks on cities and regions.

Nevertheless, Taranenko is urging people to visit. “If you want to see our destroyed cities and brave people fighting, please come now,” he says.

But, he adds, visitors must be aware that nowhere in Ukraine is 100% safe, although having a guide will help mitigate the danger.

“We regularly check the situation so we can monitor the different levels of safety,” he says, pointing out that many Ukrainians have now returned to areas they initially fled, particularly the capital Kyiv, due to the invasion.

“Ukraine is rising again, people are…