From 4 December 2026, businesses in Ukraine will not be able to continue operating during a yellow-level air raid alert unless the workforce consents. To operate whilst a drone threat is present, a site must be equipped with a shelter, another protective structure or a suitably equipped safe area for staff and visitors.
Briefly about the main points
- The transitional period for businesses without shelter ends on 4 December.
- The consent of the workforce will not replace safety measures.
- A separate bomb shelter is not the only acceptable solution.
- A windowless room requires careful planning and fitting out.
- Signs indicating that security measures are in place are required at the sites.
What will cease after the transition period
The requirements were set by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1092, which came into force on 4 September 2026. Amendments were made to it Resolution No. 1128. For businesses without temporary or permanent shelter, the government has allowed three months to prepare their premises.
At that time, work could continue during a yellow alert with the agreement of the workforce. Once the transitional period has ended, this arrangement will no longer apply without the necessary safeguards for workers. Special rules, set out in additional government decisions, may apply to certain categories of businesses.
What security measures are permitted under the rules?
A business may operate as normal under the yellow alert level if it has a civil defence shelter, a temporary or permanent shelter, a dual-purpose facility or a properly equipped safe space.
For. small and medium-sized enterprises A safe space within a building could be an alternative to constructing a separate bomb shelters. At the same time, an internal room without windows does not automatically acquire this status.
According to Resolution No. 1128, this space is intended to protect people from the effects of conventional weapons and a specified maximum excess blast pressure. Decisions regarding its design must be based on relevant calculations and the building’s specifications, rather than solely on an order from a manager.
How businesses should keep staff and visitors informed
At the entrance to the building or on its external wall, the organisation must display a sign measuring 100 × 60 centimetres. It must state whether the premises are equipped with a shelter, provide a safe space, or are not equipped with a shelter.
Management must also establish procedures for staff to follow in the event of an air-raid alert and ensure that employees and visitors are informed of the danger in a timely manner. The signage alone does not replace the requirements for a shelter.
To which signal do the requirements apply, and what should be checked?
The yellow alert level indicates a drone threat: businesses may continue to operate provided they meet the specified conditions. The red alert level is declared in the event of a missile, missile-and-drone or large-scale drone threat, and stricter measures are in place for this level. The yellow-level alert lasts 30 seconds, whilst the red-level alert lasts one minute.
The Ministry of Economy recommends that business owners check that their premises comply with the requirements, identify a suitable safety solution, organise an alert system and put up the necessary signs. Special rules apply to healthcare facilities and continuous care processes, as set out in particular in Resolution No. 1158.
