Business demands permission to work during air raids: petition registered with the Cabinet of Ministers

Ukrainian entrepreneurs call on the Cabinet of Ministers to review the rules for business operations during air raids. An appeal has been registered on the government’s electronic petitions portal with a demand to cancel the mandatory suspension of enterprises during danger and allow owners to independently make decisions on continuing work.

The corresponding petition No. 41/011171-26еп was registered on October 23, 2026.

The authors of the appeal propose to change the approach to organizing the work of enterprises during air raids, in particular for small and medium-sized businesses.

Why entrepreneurs oppose the mandatory suspension of work

The petition refers to the rules established by the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1092 of September 3, 2026, as amended by Resolution No. 1128.

As the authors of the appeal note, the relevant provisions provide for the mandatory suspension of enterprises during the red level of threat.

At the same time, during the yellow level of danger, continuation of activities is allowed only if there is a shelter or a specially equipped safe space.

According to the initiators of the petition, such requirements create significant difficulties for small and medium-sized businesses.

In particular, many entrepreneurs do not have their own premises suitable for arranging shelters, or sufficient financial resources to create them.

At the same time, even enterprises that have shelters, in accordance with the rules described in the petition, cannot continue their work during the red level of danger.

The authors of the appeal emphasize that due to prolonged air alarms, forced breaks in work can become systematic.

What consequences do entrepreneurs predict for the economy

The initiators of the petition believe that the mandatory cessation of activities during alarms negatively affects the financial condition of enterprises.

Among the possible consequences, they name:

Loss of income due to forced downtime.

Spoilage of goods and disruption of order fulfillment.

Reduction of jobs.

Closure of enterprises.
Reduction of tax revenues to the state budget.
Reduction of revenues from the payment of the single social contribution.

According to the authors of the appeal, long-term restrictions may have a particularly negative impact on catering establishments, trade and service enterprises.

What changes do they propose to introduce

Instead of mandatory cessation of work, entrepreneurs propose to introduce a model of personal responsibility of the business owner.

Under this approach, the entrepreneur will make the decision to continue operating during an air raid.

At the same time, he will have to ensure that visitors are informed about the danger and determine the procedure for employees.

In particular, the authors of the petition propose:

1. Allow entrepreneurs to independently decide whether to continue working during an air raid.

2. Guarantee employees the right to refuse to perform work during danger.

3. Provide visitors with the opportunity to independently decide whether to stay in the establishment after receiving information about the threat.

4. Require business owners to inform staff and clients about the air raid warning and the procedure for action in case of danger.

5. Provide prompt notification of threats through the “Diya” application and other available channels.

Separately, the authors of the appeal propose to temporarily suspend the controversial requirements for small and medium-sized businesses until a final decision is made.

Are there any fines for working during the alert?

The issue of the liability of enterprises for continuing to work during the air raid warning remains an important aspect of the discussion.

As “Informator” notes, no separate legislative sanction is provided directly for the fact of the enterprise’s work during the air raid warning signal.

At the same time, liability may arise for violation of labor protection requirements, safety rules, or failure to comply with legal regulations of authorized bodies.

In particular, this concerns the requirements of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the State Labor Service of Ukraine.

Thus, the question of possible sanctions depends on the nature of the specific violation and the regulatory requirements that apply to the relevant enterprise.

When will the Cabinet consider the petition

Electronic appeal No. 41/011171-26еп registered on October 23, 2026.

As of October 28, the collection of signatures was ongoing. The authors of the petition call on the government to review the current restrictions and take into account the economic consequences of the forced cessation of the work of enterprises.

At the same time, registration of the petition does not mean automatic cancellation or change of government resolutions.

A separate decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is required to review the relevant rules.

So, at the moment we are talking about the initiative of entrepreneurs, and not about approved changes to the procedure for business operations during air raids.

At the same time, the proposed model provides for the preservation of the right of employees to safety and the ability to independently refuse to work in conditions of threat.