In Mykolaiv, officials asked the government not to shut down businesses due to a lack of shelters

In Mykolaiv, officials have asked the government to review the requirements for businesses during air raid alerts, fearing a mass closure of enterprises. The City Council is requesting that businesses that lack the technical capacity to set up shelters be allowed to remain open.

Members of the Mykolaiv City Council endorsed a corresponding appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada during a session on November 6. The appeal was prompted by new requirements for businesses during air raid alerts, with a transition period for compliance ending on December 4, 2026.

City Council member Fedir Panchenko initiated the appeal. He drew his colleagues’ attention to the fact that a significant portion of local business owners will be unable to meet the conditions set by the government. According to his assessment, the introduction of the new rules without further amendments could result in the closure of approximately 90% of Mykolaiv’s businesses.

The council member emphasized that business owners are effectively facing the threat of closure, as not all of them have the technical and financial capacity to equip their facilities in accordance with the established requirements. Therefore, the city council decided to appeal to the central government to find a mechanism that would allow such businesses to continue operating even after the transition period ends.

In particular, the council members propose revising government regulations to allow businesses that are objectively unable to set up their own protective structures to continue operating. In their view, the current restrictions could negatively impact the city’s business community.

During the vote, all deputies present supported the initiative: the resolution received 33 votes in favor.

Анна Літман