Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski announced on Wednesday the establishment of a new air raid siren system in Ukraine, which distinguishes missile attacks from drone attacks, in order to limit disruptions caused by the intensification of Russian bombings, reports France Presse and Agerpres.
In a message posted on social networks, Zelensky indicated that two alert levels, red and yellow, with different sound signals, will be introduced.
“As a general rule, the yellow level will signal a drone attack, while the red level will indicate a missile threat,” he explained. In
every week, the army and the authorities will nevertheless determine what precise “indicators” will trigger a yellow or red alert, explained Zelenski.
According to him, these new measures aim at intensifying, in recent months, the Russian bombings targeting the “exhaustion of the civilian population” and the “disruption of economic activity”.
Ukraine is almost daily confronted with multiple air alerts, night and day, which force numerous administrations and public buildings to temporarily close during the alert.
“The main objective of these changes is to provide individuals and companies in Ukraine with more predictability and a better understanding of how to react in each specific situation,” stated President Zelenski.
He also said that the Ukrainian authorities should “establish clear criteria that allow governmental institutions, local authorities, companies, and other economic and social infrastructures” to continue their activities in case of a “yellow level” threat.
In addition, he stated that one of the subway lines serving the right bank of Kiev will continue to operate “fully” during yellow alerts. Currently, the subway traffic on the right bank is regularly suspended during alerts.
The traffic ban in the Ukrainian capital, in effect between 00:00 and 05:00, will also be reduced, Zelenski announced further, and other cities are encouraged to do this, taking into account the “real needs of individuals in terms of security and the necessity for companies to continue their activities.”