03 Nov 2021 | 09:54 AM UTC
Ukraine: Protest denouncing vaccinations and COVID-19 restrictions ongoing in downtown Kyiv Nov. 3
Activists protesting at Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov. 3 against COVID-19 measures. Increased security, localized disruptions likely.
Event
A protest denouncing COVID-19 vaccinations and related restrictions is ongoing in downtown Kyiv on the morning of Nov. 3. Several hundred activists have gathered outside the Verkhovna Rada on Mykhaila Hrushevskoho Street. Activists are also blocking roads elsewhere in the government quarter including Kriposnyi Lane, Moskovska Street, Lypska Street, Instytutska Street, and Liuteranska Street. Significant traffic disruptions have been reported.
Police have deployed to monitor the event. Related security measures could prompt additional localized disruptions until the event has dispersed. The activists have gathered in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions prohibiting large gatherings and mandating facemasks in public spaces. Mass arrests may occur if the police consider any protester to have violated COVID-19 protocols. While low-level scuffles are possible, significant violence is not anticipated.
Advice
Avoid all protest actions as a precaution. Exercise caution near all protest sites. Monitor local media for protest activity, as organizers may not announce plans in advance. Confirm the availability of transport and allow additional time to reach destinations. Plan for increased security and localized transport disruptions near demonstration sites. Follow the instructions of security officials.
