How to act during air raids and shelling: instructions for foreigners

Unfortunately, air raids and missile attacks have been a reality in Ukraine for almost 3 years now. This means that foreigners, who, unlike Ukrainians, are not adapted to such situations, can find themselves in a dangerous situation. Find out how to behave in an air raid situation to protect your life as much as possible

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Air-alarms.in.ua reports that in 2024, the air raid alarm sounded more than 20,000 times. At the same time, according to Radio Liberty, Russia has fired more than 12,000 shells of various types during the same period. There is currently no completely safe place in Ukraine, but there are a number of rules that will help you save your life. This will be especially important for foreigners, as, unfortunately, most Ukrainians have these skills down to a science. Read more about how to act during an air raid or rocket attack in this article.

How do I know if there is a threat?

To find out in which region of Ukraine there is a missile threat at the moment, install the Air Alert app on your smartphone (you can download it from the App Store or Google Play).

When a potential threat arises in one of the regions, the region turns red on the map. At the same time, an alert is also issued in neighbouring areas, as a missile or other projectile can often be unpredictable. Being notified of a potential danger gives you more time to get to a shelter and stay safe.

What should I do in case of an air raid alert and a threat of shelling?

If you hear an air raid warning

Rule 1. Go to a shelter immediately. This can be a basement, bomb shelter, subway or other safe place provided for such situations. If there is no shelter nearby, go to the nearest building with strong walls and no windows.

Read how to find an interactive map of shelters in Diia here.

Rule 2: Stay in the shelter until the air raid warning is cancelled. Even if you hear explosions in the distance or don't hear them at all, you should not leave the shelter until the official air raid warning is given.

Rule 3: Take an ‘alarm suitcase’ with you. This should be a pre-prepared kit with the most necessary things: documents, water, food, medicine, flashlight, battery-operated radio, etc.

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If you come under rocket fire

On the street:

Rule 1. Immediately lie down on the ground, if possible, find a depression or shelter (ditch, pit, etc.). All shells explode at a height of at least 30 cm above the ground.

Rule 2: Cover your head with your hands to protect yourself from debris and shock waves.

Rule 3. Do not move - stay where you are until the shelling is over.

Remember! Insurance covering war risks can compensate for injuries caused by rocket fire.

At home:

Rule 1: Get away from windows - they can break and injure you.

Rule 2: Find a safe place. It can be a room without windows, a bathroom or a corridor.

Rule 3. Sit on the floor - this will reduce the likelihood of injury from debris.

Earlier, we told you that Odesa engineers have developed a unique app called ‘Fluger’ that warns of air threats in real time.

In the car:

Rule 1. Stop, but do not turn off the engine.

Rule 2: Find a shelter: a ditch, pit or other depression.

Rule 3: Get out of the car, lie down on the ground and cover your head with your hands.

Please note! In the event of a rocket attack, the driver may become confused, which will cause an accident. The ideal solution to the problem of compensating the other party to the accident is to take out a Mini Hull insurance policy, so you won't have to worry about unnecessary expenses.

Tips to save your life

1. Stay calm - panic can lead to erroneous actions.

2. Listen to official messages - follow the information from the authorities and rescue services.

3. Help those in need.

Do not ignore the importance of insurance when planning a trip to Ukraine. Insurance with war risk coverage provides reimbursement for expenses caused by air raids, terrorist attacks, rocket attacks and other war hazards.

Buy a policy with war risk coverage and feel confident when travelling to Ukraine!

Just a reminder! Earlier we told you how public transport in Ukraine works during air alerts.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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