Tom Watling

Prime Minister of Ukraine Sergii Koretskyi reported on the preparation of response measures to Russia’s changing tactics in its attacks on Ukraine – specifically, its use of drones to wear down civilian life in our cities and disrupt normal economic activity across our country. First, the systems for alerting the public about existing threats will be revised. People need to understand very clearly what exactly they are supposed to react to and how. Two levels will be introduced to indicate specific threats – yellow and red. The General Staff and the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the Government, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, will determine each week which threat indicators will trigger a yellow or red alert level. As a general rule, a yellow level will indicate a drone raid, while a red level will indicate a missile threat, including the threat of ballistic or large-scale attacks. The sounds used to signal air raid alerts will also be changed according to whether the threat level is yellow or red. The air raid siren to signal “all-clear” has already been discontinued – the siren is now sounded only when an air raid alert is announced. Work is underway to introduce clearer sound signals for air raid alerts, differentiated according to the level of threat. The main goal of these changes is to give people and businesses in Ukraine more predictability and a better understanding of how to react in each specific situation. I have also instructed officials to develop clearer geographic differentiation of air raid alerts – so that alerts are issued, and reactions are required, specifically in the areas where there is objectively a threat. Second, the Government of Ukraine and local authorities, together with the military, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, must establish clear criteria that will allow government institutions, local authorities, businesses, and other designated economic and social facilities to continue operating during a yellow-level threat. The Government of Ukraine, together with local authorities, will update the standards for the placement of shelters in cities and communities, as well as at infrastructure facilities, including mobile shelters for the protection of people. I have instructed the Prime Minister to prepare additional support measures for businesses that will allow the rapid expansion of modular shelter deployment and ensure that premises can be equipped in line with the updated safety requirements. Third, the operating procedures for public transport in Kyiv during air raid alerts will be reviewed. In particular, during a yellow-level threat, the Syretsko–Pecherska metro line will operate in full. Kyiv has been instructed to significantly increase the number of surface public transport vehicles to compensate for suspensions during air raid alerts on the Sviatoshynsko–Brovarska metro line and to provide a surface transport alternative along the corresponding metro route between the Lisova and Dnipro stations. Curfew hours in Kyiv will also be reduced. Authorities in other cities will be invited to review their curfew hours, taking into account people’s actual security needs and the need for businesses to keep operating. Fourth, we have determined that the rules governing the education sector, including schools and kindergartens, will remain unchanged. It is important that the education process is organized in the interests of children and parents. The Cabinet of Ministers will provide additional financial support measures for medical institutions to maintain an adequate level of operation across Ukraine’s state and municipal healthcare sectors. Fifth, a weekly process is being introduced to audit the existing threat-response procedures, review the relevant measures, and hold consultations between the Government of Ukraine, local authorities, and businesses. The necessary military and security agencies, as well as state-owned companies, will be involved in this work. At every level across our country, protective measures to save lives must be updated on time in line with the specific realities in our cities and communities and the need to ensure that the economy continues to function and that social activity is maintained in our cities and communities. Thank you to everyone who is helping! Glory to Ukraine!