Russia announced it will test its emergency warning systems on Oct. 2, with the government reassuring citizens to “don’t panic, be calm.” The scheduled test involves sirens sounding for one minute at 10:30 a.m. local time, along with loudspeakers and emergency broadcasts on TV and radio. This initiative, introduced in 2020, gains importance amidst Russia’s full-scale invasion, leading sirens to now sound for real due to Ukrainian drone and missile strikes. In Ukraine, air raid alerts are a part of daily life, with more than 40,000 sirens having been activated since the conflict began. Cities like Kharkiv, heavily targeted by Russian forces, often endure multiple alerts lasting for hours. At the end of July, Kharkiv set a record for the longest air raid siren, lasting nearly two days. The persistent wail of these sirens has become a familiar sound in Ukrainian communities, signaling potential danger from attacks.
This ongoing situation highlights the enduring resilience and strength of Ukrainian citizens amid the constant threat of conflict.
Source link