Around 20% of food service establishments in Kyiv may temporarily suspend operations in winter

Risk of closure for establishments in the capital

Restaurant expert Olha Nasanova noted that around 20% of public catering establishments in Kyiv may be forced to temporarily cease operations in winter. The main cause is the updated regulations regarding business operations during air raid alerts.

In accordance with the rules established by the government, by 4 December, entrepreneurs are obliged to ensure the availability of a shelter or safe space to be entitled to operate under a yellow threat level. In some cases, organising access to the nearest shelter is permitted. However, for many owners, equipping their own protective premises turns out to be a task that is too costly or technically complex. This is why the business community is preparing collective appeals to the authorities requesting a review of the current regulations.

Who will be most affected

The establishments most at risk of closure are those located in buildings without basements or other premises that can be adapted for protection. According to Olha Nasanova, particular difficulties will arise for restaurants with full-service dining, where guests stay on the premises for a prolonged period.

Contrasting situation in other cities

While Kyiv faces a potential reduction in its network of establishments, a different dynamic is observed in Lviv. There, restaurant footfall has increased by approximately 20% or more. The expert explains this growth by the influx of guests from Kyiv and Dnipro.

In the capital, however, the average footfall indicator has decreased by 25–30%. Nasanova believes that the new requirements may further complicate the operation of the restaurant business in winter.

Other security incidents in Kyiv

Previously, incidents were reported in the Obolon district of the capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko informed about two cases of missile impacts: one hit a restaurant building, while the debris from another fell in the courtyard of a residential building. Details regarding possible casualties and the scale of damage are currently being clarified.