Ukraine: Sporadic bomb threats likely to continue across Ukraine through early 2022

Event

Sporadic, anonymous bomb threats will likely continue to prompt short-notice, short-term evacuations and disruptions at transport hubs and public places across Ukraine through early 2022. Telephoned and emailed threats are regularly made against airports, railway stations, educational establishments, government facilities, courts of law, critical infrastructure, shopping malls, and other public sites.

Although authorities have not discovered bombs in connection with the threats as yet, they will take each incident seriously out of an abundance of caution and as a standard operating procedure. Precautionary security force reactions - including localized evacuations, search operations, and road closures - will likely cause temporary no-notice business and public transport disruptions until the wave of bomb threats subsides.

While the sources of the threats are unconfirmed, many observers attribute them to Russia-based actors, and it is possible that spikes in such activity are more likely during periods of high Ukraine-Russia tensions.

Advice

Plan accordingly for short-notice transport and business disruptions. Heed the instructions of security personnel if any incident occurs near you. Following any security incident, confirm the status of flights and rail services; do not check out of accommodations until onward travel is confirmed. Report any suspicious activity or objects to authorities. Remain courteous and cooperative if approached and questioned by law enforcement officers.