The streets in Kyiv are mostly empty, with only a few people walking outside wearing masks. The majority of shopfronts are closed, and an increasing number of “for rent” signs become visible with every step taken away from the city centre.
The government has forced Ukrainians to close most shops and urged people to stay inside to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The streets in Kyiv are mostly empty, with only a few people walking outside wearing masks. The majority of shopfronts are closed, and an increasing number of “for rent” signs become visible with every step taken away from the city centre.
The government has forced Ukrainians to close most shops and urged people to stay inside to stop the spread of coronavirus.
In contrast to wealthier European countries, Ukrainians have a weaker social security system, meaning people are mostly left on their own when they become unemployed.
The quarantine will officially last until the end of April, but politicians are talking about an extension until May or potentially longer.
It is affecting people such as 36-year-old Maxim Ivaschuk, who worked selling mobile phones on the outskirts of Kyiv.
“Due to the virus, many orders were cancelled for three months,” said Ivaschuk, who suddenly found himself out of work. “The company has sent everyone home until at least June.
“I can say that I lost my job because of the coronavirus,” he said, explaining he finds it hard to stay at home.
“I have already lost a lot. I was counting on my monthly salary. I have a loan, utility bills, and must pay for food.
“Now, unfortunately, I am the only one to support my family, which is hard.”
Ivaschuk is not the only one running out of money. New studies show Ukrainians are burning through their savings fast because many live from pay cheque to pay cheque. The marketing company Gradus published a study three weeks ago saying that 57 per cent of Ukrainians only have savings for another two weeks of quarantine. The survey asked 1,200 people via their smartphones.
Tymofiy Mylovanov lost his position as Ukraine’s minister for economic development, trade, and agriculture in a government reshuffle before the coronavirus crisis began. He has since been critical of the government’s quarantine measures, calling it “economic suicide” and claiming poor people will suffer.
“At first, I estimated that 500,000 people would lose their jobs. It seems that I was wrong. It was too low an estimate,” said Mylovanov, who is now the new president of the Kyiv School of Economics.