How is it like to be a tourist in Kiev as a so called "westerner"?

I can speak a little bit Russian, but only the very basic. I've always wanted to go to Ukraine (Kyiv), but I get the impression from other people that it's corrupt, difficult to get around, and generally a lot of risks and potential problems, and it makes me sceptical, because it makes it sound so stressful. However, I hope some of you out there might have been there and can tell me how it's REALLY like :-)