Ukraine Will Introduce Two Threat Levels For Air Raid Alerts
- 2.09.2026, 17:11
Yellow and red.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday, September 2, that Ukraine will update its threat alert systems and introduce two threat levels—yellow and red.
The Ukrainian head of state reported on Telegram that he had heard a report from Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi on preparations to respond to a change in Russian attack tactics—the use of drones to wear down life in Ukrainian cities and the economy.
“First: the systems for alerting the public about imminent threats will be updated. People must understand very clearly what exactly they need to do and how to respond. Two levels for indicating specific threats will be introduced—yellow and red,” Zelenskyy stated.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Air Force, the government, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service will determine each week which threats correspond to the yellow and red alert levels. According to the president, the yellow level indicates a drone attack, while the red level indicates a missile threat, ballistic missile threat, and massive attacks.
Ukraine will also change the air raid warning signals to correspond to the yellow or red threat levels. The president noted that the practice of sounding the siren a second time when the alert is lifted has already been canceled—the siren will now sound only while the alert is in effect.
According to Zelenskyy, clearer and more distinguishable air raid warning signals, tailored to the threat level, are being developed.
“The main goal of these changes is to give people and businesses in Ukraine more predictability and a better understanding of how to respond in each specific situation. I have also instructed officials to develop a clearer geographic differentiation of alerts so that the alert is sounded and a response is initiated precisely in the part of the area where there is an objective threat,” said the head of state.
The President also stated that the government, local authorities, the military, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Emergency Service must establish clear criteria so that government agencies, local governments, and businesses can operate during a yellow threat level.
Zelensky instructed the prime minister to prepare additional measures to support businesses that will allow for the rapid scaling up of the deployment of modular shelters.