@El Draque - What is your projection for Ukraine for the winter? I am told a lockdown or something is coming in, but that people probably won't comply. And does anyone have any on the ground intel from Armenia?
Looking to winter in Ukraine or Mummy Armenia from October, but getting to Ukraine looks like it might require a connecting flight.
The outlook on Russia seems the best for the region, since they have already shown they aren't going to succumb to outside pressure. The government recommends people get vaccinated, but has mandated people cannot be forced. The only place you will see masks outside of Moscow (where you will still see few) is in the shops of megacorps (and even then maybe not). Some of them have mask requirements on the entrance, but they are not enforced. My confidence is high that it will not fall.
I hear the UAE nothing has changed. Mask are required indoors and out - and you will at best get away with your nose out. Something like 95% vaccinated, which has been pushed by employers. If you are not an employee, you don't need. Also had the benefit of six regions with their own policy. One of which has a vaccine passport. The only way to opt-out is take a test every week. Apparently the emirate RAK has been the most lax. My reading is they do what they need to do to protect the economy, which would be quite sensitive to people leaving. I suspect that a large amount of the super high net work residents are in the 5% unvaxxed. I'd put it at 50/50 staying out of vaccine to enter.
If you are location independent, getting on a language course (with long-term visa) would be a good option. I may consider that next year.