Owners of small and microbusinesses in Ukraine have called on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, through an electronic petition, to review the new requirements for equipping shelters. The appeal was created on the government website on October 22. Entrepreneurs explain that small shops, coffee shops, beauty salons and other businesses lack the money and technical capacity to comply with the rules. According to petition.kmu.gov.ua.
The appeal concerns Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1092 of September 4, 2026, which addresses public protection and response to the threat of air attacks. Under the requirements being discussed by entrepreneurs, businesses must provide an official shelter or safe space from December 4, 2026.
The situation could be especially difficult for small and microbusinesses. Many owners of salons, small shops, coffee shops and studios operate in rented premises. They cannot carry out construction work or alter building structures themselves, while the additional cost of providing a shelter could impose an unbearable financial burden.
On social media, entrepreneurs are discussing how to comply with the requirements in practice and doubt they will meet the deadline. Mariana Pryvalova drew attention to the problem of rented premises:
“What are beauty salons, small shops or coffee shops that rent their premises supposed to do? Build or dig shelters?” wrote Mariana Pryvalova.
Entrepreneur Anna Zahorulko described the financial means of a small business with irony:
“They said to build a shelter, so we’re building one. Out of boxes. Because that’s about all a small business can afford,” wrote Anna Zahorulko.
According to her, entrepreneurs are already having to work through power outages, pay taxes and rent, and cover their employees’ salaries. At the same time, Zahorulko stressed that people’s safety is the top priority. In her view, the state should provide financial support and practical mechanisms for meeting the new requirements.
The petition’s authors warn that if these obligations are imposed without the necessary support, some small businesses may have to close. This would result in job losses and reduced tax revenues for local budgets.
In their appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the entrepreneurs propose:
- Reviewing the requirements for small and microbusinesses, taking into account the size of the premises, the number of employees and visitors, the floor and the building’s characteristics.
- Extending the transition period for businesses that cannot meet the new rules by the specified date.
- Allowing businesses to use the nearest suitable shelters where permitted by law and where the required level of protection can be ensured.
- Establishing uniform, clear technical criteria for equipping safe spaces.
- Introducing state or local financial assistance programs, expense compensation and targeted grants.
- Developing a separate procedure for tenants who are not entitled to make major alterations to their premises themselves.
- Not imposing penalties where compliance is objectively impossible for technical or legal reasons, provided that available safety measures are followed.
- Holding consultations with entrepreneurs, civil protection experts and the public.
The petition’s initiators emphasize that they are not opposed to protecting employees and visitors. They insist that the rules be realistic, take businesses’ financial and technical capabilities and the specific nature of different types of businesses into account, and be accompanied by organizational and financial assistance. They expect the government to review the disputed provisions and strike a balance between people’s safety and the survival of small businesses during the war.
The electronic petition can be read on the government website:
Previously, we reported:
- Up to UAH 200,000 for businesses: support program announced in Mykolaiv region
- Balabanivka without a future: after the school, the kindergarten was taken away too
- Mykolaiv deputies call on authorities not to raise taxes for businesses
- Where are those basements? Mykolaiv residents outraged by Kim’s calls to shelter from “Shaheds” in basements
- All shelters to be added to Diia, with an interactive map of their locations also to be created
