Businesses Will Be Able to Continue Operating During Drone Attacks Under the New Rules
Ukraine aims to clearly define when government agencies, local authorities, and businesses will be able to continue operating during Russian drone attacks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the government, the military, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service to develop clear criteria for this. At the same time, there are plans to update the requirements for shelters and expand opportunities for installing modular structures.
Ukraine is preparing new rules for the operation of government agencies, local authorities, and businesses during air attacks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the government and local authorities, together with the military, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service, to determine under what conditions businesses and institutions will be able to operate during a yellow threat level.
Zelenskyy announced this following a meeting with Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi. The meeting focused on updating the response system to air threats in light of changes in Russian military tactics.
What the yellow alert level will mean
Zelenskyy had previously announced plans to introduce two specific threat levels—yellow and red. The yellow level is intended to be applied primarily during attacks by Russian drones. The red alert level will be associated with missile threats, specifically the threat of ballistic strikes, as well as massive attacks. Now the authorities want to determine exactly what activities will be permitted during a yellow alert.
This concerns the ability of government agencies, local governments, businesses, and other critical economic and social facilities to continue operating. “The Government of Ukraine and local governments, together with the military, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, must establish clear criteria to enable the operation of state institutions, local governments, businesses, and other designated economic and social facilities to continue operating during a yellow alert,” Zelenskyy wrote.
In other words, this is not about simply lifting safety rules during drone attacks. On the contrary, the authorities want to define in advance the conditions under which operations can continue without posing excessive risk to people.
What conditions might be established
A specific list of requirements has not yet been made public. It is to be developed by the government, local authorities, the military, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service. Obviously, one of the key issues will be the availability of a shelter or other safe place where employees and visitors can quickly take cover if the situation deteriorates. The specific characteristics of a given facility, its location, and the nature of its operations will also be important.
For example, a factory, store, or office may require one set of rules, while a critical infrastructure facility may require another. That is why the authorities are talking about clear criteria rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. At the same time, even during a yellow alert, people must respond to danger signals. If the situation changes or a higher threat level is declared, the operating rules may differ.
Ukraine will update requirements for shelters
Another area of change involves shelters. According to Zelenskyy, the government, together with local authorities, must update the standards for the placement of shelters in cities, communities, and at infrastructure facilities.
This applies not only to conventional permanent shelters. Special attention will be given to mobile and modular shelters that can be set up in areas where it is not possible to quickly construct a full-scale protective structure. This is especially important for businesses and other facilities that serve large numbers of people. If a business is required to continue operating during a certain threat level, employees and visitors must be able to quickly move to a safe location.
Businesses Are Promised Additional Support
The government also wants to help business owners install modular shelters more quickly. Zelenskyy has instructed the prime minister to prepare additional support measures for businesses. These measures are intended to help companies set up such structures more efficiently and adapt their premises to new safety requirements.
“I have instructed the Prime Minister to prepare additional support measures for businesses that will enable the rapid scaling up of modular shelter installations and ensure that premises are adapted in accordance with updated safety requirements,” the President said. Thus, the government aims not only to change the rules for operating during drone attacks but also to create conditions under which businesses will be able to comply with these rules.
Why Is This Necessary
One of the main problems during prolonged air raid alerts is the shutdown of entire cities and communities. If every drone attack automatically means a complete halt to operations at businesses, institutions, and other facilities, it affects the economy, transportation, trade, and service provision. At the same time, it is impossible to completely ignore the alerts. Russian drones pose a real danger, and the situation during an attack can change rapidly.
That is why the authorities want to categorize different types of threats and establish separate rules for each. In a less dangerous scenario—such as a drone attack—some facilities will be able to operate provided the necessary safety conditions are met. However, if a missile or ballistic threat arises or a massive attack begins, the restrictions may be significantly stricter.
The rules have yet to be developed
At present, the new criteria have not yet been approved. The government, the military, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Service, and local authorities must determine exactly which conditions will allow facilities to operate during a yellow alert. Separately, they must update the requirements for the placement of shelters and determine the possibilities for installing modular structures.
For businesses, this could mean new requirements for their premises, but at the same time, additional opportunities to continue operations during some drone attacks. It is important to note that the proposed changes do not eliminate air raid alerts and do not mean that safety can be neglected during an attack. The goal of the new system is to more accurately determine the level of danger and, depending on it, establish rules for how people and businesses should operate.
Thus, Ukraine is developing a new approach to life during air attacks. A separate “yellow” threat level is planned for drone attacks, under which some government agencies and businesses will be able to operate under specified conditions. However, the final criteria and requirements for shelters have yet to be developed. He wrote about this in a Telegram post following a meeting with Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi.
In Kyiv, officials plan to revise the rules for public transportation during air raid alerts. Specifically, during a yellow threat level, the Syretsko-Pecherska metro line will operate in full, and the number of surface transport vehicles is set to increase significantly. The curfew in the capital will also be shortened.
Ukraine plans to introduce two threat levels during air attacks—yellow and red. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that this should help people better understand exactly what danger has arisen and how to respond to it.
