A minute of silence at 9:00 has become mandatory in Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law establishing a nationwide minute of silence at the state level at 9:00 a.m. every day.

This is reported by Ukrinform with a link to the law card on the website of the Verkhovna Rada.

The document provides for a mandatory nationwide minute of silence as a ritual of gratitude, respect, and remembrance. It is being introduced to daily honor military personnel and members of volunteer formations who died defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Also, during the minute of silence, medical workers, police officers, rescuers, journalists, volunteers, and civilians who became victims of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine will be honored.

A nationwide minute of silence will be held daily at 9:00 AM.

State authorities and local governments must ensure that information about the beginning and end of the minute of silence is provided at enterprises, institutions and organizations under their jurisdiction, as well as in the relevant territories.

Announcements about the minute of silence will also be distributed by media outlets, regardless of ownership.

Recommendations for organizing a minute of silence for government bodies, enterprises, and public organizations will be developed by the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.

Separately, the law provides for an annual commemoration of the victims of the genocide of the Ukrainian people – the Holodomor of 1932-1933. On the fourth Saturday of November at 4:00 p.m., a nationwide minute of silence will be held, after which the all-Ukrainian Light a Candle campaign will begin.

Local authorities should facilitate the organization of such events, and the media should disseminate relevant announcements.