Despite numerous petitions from residents of the capital, the Kyiv City Military Administration (KMVA) does not plan to open underground metro stations during air alerts. As KMVA spokesman Mykhailo Shamanov stated on the air of "Hromadsky Radio", this decision is related to the risk to people's lives and health due to the possible fall of fragments of downed missiles and drones.
Mykhailo Shamanov explained that during the work of the air defense forces in the capital, downed missiles and drones can leave behind debris that falls to the ground. They do not dissolve in the air and pose a potential threat to people. That is why those sections of the metro, which are located on the surface, are closed at the time of alarms.
"When air defense forces are working in the capital, fragments of downed objects can fall to the ground. This is dangerous, so we are forced to block those metro stations that are located on the surface. People's safety is our priority," said the spokesperson of the KMVA.
Despite numerous appeals from citizens and petitions regarding the opening of underground metro stations during alarms, KMVA does not change its position. According to Shamanov, despite the inconvenience for residents and guests of the capital, people's health and safety remain in the first place.
"I understand that it is uncomfortable for people. We are all living outside our comfort zone for the third year already, but the life and health of Ukrainians is a priority. We can't take any risks by opening metro stations that are on the surface," he added.
Why is this important?
The decision to close underground metro stations in Kyiv is made because of the risks for passengers, especially during the active phase of missile attacks by Russian forces. Despite the improvement of air defense, it is impossible to completely protect the city from falling debris. Therefore, the administration emphasizes the need to maintain strict security measures.
The city authorities urge citizens to continue to observe safety measures during air alerts and to use underground metro stations as shelters. The safety of citizens remains a priority even in the difficult conditions of a protracted war.
We will remind that since November 17, electricity blackout schedules were introduced in Ukraine due to massive strikes on the energy infrastructure. This also affected the functioning of city transport, which also needs adaptation to new conditions.
