How to Access Blocked Content in Ukraine and Poland Without Getting Caught

Have you ever felt like the internet is judging you based on where you live? Maybe you finally found that movie you’ve been dying to watch – the one all your friends keep talking about. You hit play, only to be greeted with, “This content is not available in your region.” Or maybe you tried joining a game server that your friend in Germany is on. And again – restricted.

If you’re in Ukraine or Poland, you’ve probably been in one of these frustrating situations. It’s annoying. Why should borders decide what you can and can’t access online?

Fortunately, there’s a way around it, and no, it’s not as complicated as you might think. Keep reading to find out.

Looking at the digital walls in Ukraine

You can’t see them. You probably don’t even notice them until they get in your way. But digital walls do exist, and for most people, the frustration begins the moment they realize they can’t access their favorite content online.

Here are some of the restrictions that users in Ukraine have to deal with every day:

• Government-imposed restrictions

VK was one of the most popular social media platforms for Ukrainians before it was axed in 2017, thanks to sanctions by the Ukrainian government against Russian internet companies. Yandex was an ecosystem of tools many people relied on for search, emails, maps, and even music. Sure, Google is great, but there’s something about using a service tailored to Eastern Europe that just feels right.

Other banned sites include Mail.ru and Odnoklassniki. Of course, these bans weren’t random – they were driven by national security concerns. But when all you want is to listen to music or connect with friends, it feels like you’ve been caught in the crossfire.

• Geo-restrictions on content

You log into Netflix Ukraine and search for that U.S. show that everyone has been endlessly raving about, but it’s nowhere to be found. Heard about that explosive new show on Hulu? Don’t get too excited – Hulu doesn’t even operate in Ukraine.

These are just a few examples. Geo-restrictions are very real in Ukraine. A website that’s fully accessible in France could be completely blocked in Ukraine, sometimes for reasons that make little sense.

• Gaming restrictions

Any Mortal Kombat 11 fans in the house? Warner Bros. canceled access to the game because certain skins and backgrounds include Soviet-era imagery, a violation of Ukraine’s decommunization laws.

Sure, the reasons behind these bans are complex. But it doesn’t change how it feels, like gamers are the ones paying the price.

How does Poland fare in terms of restrictions?

If you think Ukraine has it bad, Polish internet users aren’t exactly getting VIP treatment online, either. While the reasons might be different, the end result feels the same: blocked content, limited access, and a lot of frustration along the way. Let’s talk about what’s keeping Polish internet users locked out:

• Content licensing restrictions

At first glance, Netflix Poland looks the same as Netflix U.S., So you’d expect the libraries to be the same as well. But once you start browsing, things start to feel different. That hit show that went viral on TikTok? Nowhere to be found.

And it’s not just Netflix. Licensing restrictions can affect all kinds of content, like games, TV shows, books, sports, and more. When you hit such walls, it feels like the internet is punishing you based on where you live.

• Local network filters

You’re on a lunch break at work. Like many of us, you don’t want to eat your lunch in silence. So, you open YouTube or log into Instagram to see what’s up. But the Wi-Fi has social media blocked.

This scenario is all too common in institutional networks like schools, universities, offices, and libraries. Sure, the main reason is to keep people focused. But you need your breaks, and it doesn’t help when the internet treats you like a kid who needs constant supervision.

• Streaming blackouts and gaming geo-blocks

Whether you are trying to stream a live game or play one on your console, restrictions can leave you fighting the urge to smash your device in half. We’ve all been there – hyped and ready, only to be hit with, “This content is not available in your region.”

You’re paying for the service and buying games, yet you’re still getting locked out of content because of your location. Meanwhile, your friends abroad have full access, making you feel like the kid who got left outside the party.

No matter where you are, whether it’s in Ukraine or Poland, these restrictions aren’t personal – but they sure do feel that way when you’re staring at yet another “Content unavailable” screen.

Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for this. There’s a way to break free from these restrictions and enjoy a borderless internet.

Proxies: The solution to your internet restriction problem

You hit play on that geo-restricted show, and now it actually works. You try joining that game server, and voilà, you’re in. No more restrictions on what you can and can’t do online.

Sounds like magic? Well, it’s not. That’s the power of proxies. When you reroute your internet connection through a proxy server, you no longer have to deal with those annoying content restriction messages.

How do proxies work?

It’s kind of like a relay race. Normally, when you try to visit a website like Netflix or a gaming server, your data runs straight from your device to the website. Fast and efficient.

There’s one problem with this direct sprint, though. The website can see exactly where you’re running from, thanks to your IP address. And if it spots you’re from Ukraine or Poland, it might stop you at the finish line with a “Content Not Available” sign.

Proxies change the rules of the game – in a good way. Think of them as your relay teammate. So, instead of your data running the whole race and hitting that geo-block wall, it hands the baton to the proxy server partway through. The proxy, positioned in a different country like the U.S. or the U.K., runs the final leg of the race and gets to the finish line.

To the website, the request looks like it came from the proxy, not you. So that streaming service or gaming server thinks you’re in the U.S., not Ukraine or Poland. The result? You get to cross the finish line, and the site grants you access to the content you want.

Are proxies safe to use?

But are they safe? Will you get into trouble for using a proxy server?

It’s a fair question. At the end of the day, no one wants to get caught or compromise their privacy while trying to bypass restrictions. And while proxies can be totally safe, it all comes down to where you get them and what kind you use.

It’s like free Wi-Fi at a sketchy café. Sure, it connects you to the internet, but you don’t know who else is lurking on the network. Free proxies are kind of like that. They might work and even help you bypass restrictions, but they come with risks, like hackers, malware, and data leaks.

And since they’re free, guess what the product is? You. Some providers will log your data and sell it to third parties. Using a reputable and paid proxy like MarsProxies is the way to go because they usually come with encryption, better security, and privacy.

Why residential proxies are the best option

While there are many types of proxy servers, residential proxies are the best for bypassing restrictions because they use IP addresses from real devices. Streaming sites, gaming servers, and other platforms are far less likely to detect them. That’s what makes them perfect for safely accessing geo-restricted content.

Final words

So go ahead, stream that show, join that server, access all the content you want, and stop letting borders decide what you can and can’t access, thanks to the power of proxy servers.