Ukraine to Introduce Yellow and Red Air Alert Levels

September 3 ------ Ukraine will introduce yellow and red air alert levels, with yellow generally warning of drone raids and red signaling missiles, ballistic or large-scale attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

According to a statement posted by Zelensky, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi briefed him on measures being prepared in response to Russia’s changing attack tactics, particularly its use of drones to disrupt civilian life and economic activity. “People must understand absolutely clearly what exactly they need to respond to and how,” Zelensky said.

What will the yellow and red air alerts mean?

Yellow alerts will be generally issued during drone raids, while red alerts will indicate missile threats, including the risk of ballistic strikes, as well as large-scale attacks. The General Staff and Ukraine’s Air Force, together with the Ukrainian government, defense ministry, interior ministry, and state emergency services, will determine which threats qualify for each level. The criteria will be reviewed weekly.

Different siren sounds are also being prepared for the two threat levels, allowing residents to identify the danger from the warning signal. Ukraine has already stopped sounding the siren a second time to mark the end of an air alert. Sirens are now activated only when an alert begins, while information about the all-clear is provided through other warning channels.

Zelensky also ordered officials to introduce more precise geographic targeting of alerts, so warnings and restrictions apply only to areas facing an actual threat. “The main goal of these changes is to give people and businesses in Ukraine more predictability and an understanding of how to respond in each specific case,” he said. However, Zelensky did not announce when the two-level system or the new siren sounds would take effect.

Yellow alerts

The government, military, local authorities, interior ministry, and state emergency services will also establish criteria allowing public institutions, businesses, and certain economic and social facilities to continue operating during yellow alerts. Rules for schools and kindergartens will remain unchanged, Zelensky said.

The government and local authorities will update requirements for the placement of shelters in cities, communities, and infrastructure facilities, including mobile shelters. Koretskyi was instructed to prepare additional business support measures to expand the installation of modular shelters and help companies adapt their premises to the updated safety requirements.

Kyiv transport and curfew rules

Kyiv’s Syretsko-Pecherska, or Green, metro line will operate in full during yellow alerts. City authorities were also instructed to substantially increase the number of surface public transport vehicles to compensate for service interruptions on the Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska, or Red, line during alerts. Additional surface transport is expected to duplicate the metro route between Lisova and Dnipro stations. Authorities will also shorten Kyiv’s curfew, although Zelensky did not specify the new hours or when the change would begin. Other Ukrainian cities will be encouraged to review their curfews based on security conditions and the needs of residents and businesses.

The government is set to provide additional financial assistance to medical facilities to maintain services, while officials will conduct weekly reviews of alert procedures and other protective measures.

Source: kyivpost.com