Khreshchatyk will stop every day: Kyiv will block the main street for a minute of silence
22 September 2025 15:17
The main street of the capital, Khreshchatyk, will be blocked every day at 09:00 during a nationwide minute of silence.
This was announced by the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA) Timur Tkachenko, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to him, the relevant order is already being prepared and will come into effect by the end of the week.
How it will work
The organization will involve:
- patrol police;
- The Center for Traffic Organization;
- the Department of Transport;
- municipal units responsible for informing the community.
“Khreshchatyk is the heart of the capital. And the capital is the heart and example for the whole of Ukraine. I expect not understanding but respect for those who gave their lives for ours,” Tkachenko wrote.
The symbolic dimension
The Kyiv city administration explains that the traffic stop on the main street of the city is to emphasize the national significance of the minute of silence and make the commemoration more visible.
At the same time, the authorities promise to take into account the safety and interests of the citizens: the blockade will last only for the short time necessary for the ceremony.
As a reminder, on March 16, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced a daily minute of silence at 09:00 to commemorate those killed in Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
The tradition has been in place for more than three years, covering government agencies, schools, and private companies.
Similar commemorative practices exist in many countries around the world. For example, in Israel, on Holocaust Remembrance Day and Memorial Day, the national minute of silence is accompanied by a traffic stop.
Reaction of Kyiv residents and businesses
- Kyiv residents generally support the initiative, noting that a minute of silence is important for collective memory and national solidarity.
- Small business representatives point out that the daily closure of Khreshchatyk may create additional inconveniences for transport and delivery of goods, but are ready to take into account the short-term nature of the event.
- Motorists will receive information in advance, and road services promise alternative routes to avoid traffic jams.
What’s next
The closure of Khreshchatyk may be the first step towards expanding the practice to other Ukrainian cities, where the minute of silence will gain a more public and tangible dimension.
