KYIV – On May 25, life in Ukraine’s capital returned almost back to normal. The metro is the main transport artery of Kyiv, and after its reopening, people’s mobility increased significantly. At first, Kyiv residents were afraid of going underground, but now the city center is full of people, café and restaurant terraces are occupied, and crowds are walking on the central streets.
However, the unusually cold May weather in most regions prevented Ukrainians from dangerous overcrowding. Therefore, the burst of outdoor activity in Ukraine was just beginning.
The Ukrainian government had decided to move to the second stage of eased restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic starting on May 22. During a regular session of the Cabinet of Ministers on May 20, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that the coronavirus infection rate was showing a downward trend in Ukraine.