President orders government members to monitor fires, regional governors not to hold public events

16:33

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has issued instructions to government members and regional governors in order to prevent outbreaks of fire in the current heat wave in Ukraine and prevent possible threats to public health, the presidential press service reported on Tuesday.

First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Kliuyev was ordered, in the case of there being outbreaks of fire, to ensure the involvement of the available forces and means of the Emergencies Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry, the State Border Service, the State Forestry Committee, the Crimean Council of Ministers and local authorities in extinguishing them.

Acting Emergencies Minister and First Deputy Emergencies Minister Mykhailo Bolotskykh was tasked with carrying out continuous monitoring of fire risks due to the high temperatures over large parts of Ukraine and take timely measures to prevent emergency situations.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Yezhel was instructed to tighten controls over the state of fire safety at storage facilities for explosive materials.

Health Minister Zinoviy Mytnyk was ordered to ensure the compliance of health standards at enterprises, recreational areas and crowded places, and to ensure the provision of primary care to those suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, elderly people and children.

The head of state also instructed regional governors to temporarily refrain from holding public events, the press service said.