Kyiv to halt traffic for 60 seconds at 9 a.m. during nationwide minute of silence – city council

The Kyiv City Council has ordered traffic in the capital to stop for 60 seconds at 9 a.m. every day to coincide with the nationwide minute of silence. The decision is meant to make the daily act of remembrance visible across Kyiv and establish it as a regular public tradition.

Where technically possible, traffic lights will switch to an all-red “stop” phase for the duration of the pause. The initial rollout covers central locations: European Square, Khreshchatyk, Baseina Street, Bessarabskyi Passage, Velyka Vasylkivska Street, Heroes of Ukraine Square, Yevhena Chykalenka Street, Taras Shevchenko Boulevard, Volodymyrska Street and Prorizna Street.

The council plans to extend the traffic halt to additional streets as traffic-light infrastructure allows. During the pause, the city’s public-alert network will broadcast a voice message and a countdown so residents know when the minute of silence ends.