The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has approved guidelines for large-scale cultural and entertainment events in the event of a yellow alert for airborne threats. This alert level does not require the automatic cancellation or suspension of an event: the organiser may start or continue the event provided they have ensured access to shelter for all those present.
Briefly about the main points
- The yellow alert level does not automatically require a cultural event to be cancelled.
- The organiser makes a decision once the safety requirements have been met.
- If the alert level is red, the event is either not started or is cancelled.
- It is not advisable to hold outdoor events without quick access to shelters.
- These rules do not override decisions made by military administrations or civil defence requirements.
If the alert level is red, the event is cancelled
The guidelines set out a differentiated procedure depending on the level of air threat. If a red alert is in place before the event begins, the event must not go ahead. If it is declared whilst the event is already underway, the organiser must halt the event, inform people of the nearest shelter and organise their evacuation to it.
Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy — Minister for Culture Tetyana Berezhna She stated that the guidelines should provide organisers with a clear plan of action and give attendees the information they need to decide for themselves whether to stay at the event or seek shelter.
How organisers should prepare the venue and welcome visitors
Before the event begins, organisers are advised to determine shelter and the routes leading to it, check its capacity and ensure unobstructed access to emergency exits. It is also necessary to appoint staff responsible for monitoring the safety situation and keeping those present informed.
It is recommended that the number of visitors be determined in such a way that the shelter can accommodate not only the audience but also staff, performers and other participants. Before the event begins, people should be told where the shelter is located, how to get there and what to do in the event of a yellow or red alert.
It is recommended that this information be posted on the organisers’ websites, on social media and messaging apps, on tickets, information boards, screens and via QR codes.
Specific conditions for open-air events
For concerts, festivals, exhibitions, fairs and other events held in open-air venues, the organiser must assess the capacity of shelters, the distance to them, the throughput capacity of routes and the ability to move people quickly without causing dangerous crowding. If it is not possible to ensure such access, it is not recommended to hold the event under a yellow alert level.
It is advisable to decide whether to postpone, resume or cancel an event, taking into account the security situation, the duration of the interruption, the curfew, public transport services and the possibility of returning home safely.
The recommendations remain in force legal requirements in the field of civil protection and decisions taken by military command, military administrations, state bodies and local authorities in respect of a specific territory.
