President’s Office proposes revoking exemptions for companies that do not observe the nationwide minute of silence

The Office of the President has proposed stripping company executives and owners of their exemptions from mobilisation if their businesses fail to observe the daily minute of silence at 9:00 a.m.

The initiative was put forward by Viktoriia Strakhova, an adviser to the Office of the President, in a Facebook post.

Strakhova believes that her proposal could help Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov ensure fairer mobilisation.

“I propose that at enterprises, institutions and organisations where the minute of silence is not observed, the exemption of the manager and owner should be revoked, even if the company itself is classified as critically important. If these ‘exempted people’ do not respect the memory of those who have fallen, then I believe it is fair that they should feel what war is. I also propose that compliance be monitored by Territorial Recruitment Centre staff and police officers working undercover. Whether we meet the mobilisation target is uncertain, but at least we will teach people respect,” Strakhova wrote.

It is not yet known whether Fedorov has responded to her proposal.

Ukraine has legally required local authorities to use media outlets and public-alert systems to notify residents about the minute of silence in memory of everyone killed in the war.