Digital Applications Help Kyiv Residents

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

An airstrike warning notification appears on a cell phone in Kyiv City, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 14, 2022. This notification usually coincides with the sound of a siren which echoes in almost all corners of Kyiv city.

On Tuesday (14/6/2022) morning, the streets of Kyiv were wet from the rain and the air was piercing cold. At 9:25 a.m. local time, however, the sound of the drizzling rain was drowned out by blaring sirens that echoed throughout our fourth-floor apartment, not far from Independence Square.

The sound of the sirens was accompanied by a notification from the Kyiv Digital app that appeared on our mobile phones. It read in Cyrillic: “The Ukrainian government has issued an air raid warning. Seek shelter immediately.”

Using the app, the Ukrainian government also said that civilians could use the Dnipro, Hydropark, Livoberezhna, Damytsia and Chernihivska subway stations as shelters at any time.

For recent residents and people who have just arrived in Kyiv like us, the sound of the sirens was shocking at first, so we tried to find more information. “Stay calm. This location is very safe because it is close to the government center,” said Oksana, the apartment manager.

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Almost all Kyiv residents have downloaded the Kyiv Digital app on their mobile phones. So they remained calm and did not rush to find shelter when a warning was issued. “Yes, there will definitely be further notification from the authorities if we really have to go to a shelter,” said Oksana.

Sure enough, half an hour after the air raid warning, another notification from the app appeared, saying that the Ukrainian government had lifted the warning.

At 12:27 p.m., the sirens blared again and another notification appeared on our phones. But after an hour and 50 minutes or so, the warning was again lifted.

In addition to the Kyiv Digital app developed by the Ukrainian government, there is also an air raid warning app used in Ukraine that was developed by Google and security firm Ajax. These two applications are quite similar, and provide notifications whenever the Ukrainian government issues a warning about an air raid.

Guide

During the war, air raid warning apps serves as a guide on when Russia launches a missile strike on Ukraine. Kyiv has been hit by Russian missile strikes at least three times already.

The first missile strike hit an apartment building on Lobanovsky Avenue on 26 Feb. 2022. The second attack hit an arms factory not far from Kyiv International Airport on 15 April 2022. Both buildings are located on the right bank of the Dnieper River. The latest Russian missile strike hit a railway depot in Darnitskiy district, on the left bank of the Dnieper River.

KOMPAS/KRIS MADA

Posters of encouragement and solidarity for the Ukrainian people are displayed in one corner of Kyiv, Tuesday (14/6/2022).

In addition to missile strikes, Russian troops and several tanks also attempted to enter the capital city. However, the Ukrainian army and civilians managed to prevent the tanks and Russian troops from entering the city of Kyiv. Russia was able to enter other cities within the Kyiv area but outside of the capital, such as Irpin and Bucha.

Although Kyiv has only been hit a few times by Russian missile strikes, the air raid warnings sound almost daily and often leads to warnings being revoked. Residents are now less concerned when the sirens blare throughout the city. “In Kyiv, the conditions are safe. Everything is running normally. I am sure this city will be protected,” said Sergei (26), a resident of Kyiv.

It is undeniable that Kyiv Digital and other similar applications aim to provide early warnings in the event of an air raid. Some residents admit that the warnings can build awareness, while others ignore it because they are often false alarms.

Transportation

Apart from air raid warning apps, almost every Kyiv resident has downloaded transportation apps like Uber, Bolt and Uklon. Bolt and Uklon are more popular in Kyiv compared to Uber, and are similar to Indonesia’s Gojek app.

The transportation services that Uklon and Bolt offer really help the mobility of residents with fares that are nearly the same as Grab or Gojek in Indonesia. For example, taking Uklon for a 4-kilometer trip in Kyiv costs 110 hryvna (Rp 50,000).

However, the application only provides cars. There are no motorcycle taxis like in Indonesia or Vietnam. For Bolt users, there are scooters that can be used for short-range trips. All you have to do is order a scooter, scan it and it will automatically turn on.

Aside from transportation, there is also a grocery delivering app called Glovo that is very popular among Kyiv residents. They can order food from restaurants and groceries from supermarkets through this app.

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Glovo’s drivers generally deliver the orders using a motorbike or bicycle. Unsurprisingly, Glovo drivers can be seen in almost every corner of the city. They are also found placing orders at restaurants, food outlets and supermarkets.

“If I need food, I usually order from Glovo because it’s more practical,” said Oksana.

The rapid development of digital technology has made it easier for people to continue their daily activities. There is no exception in times of war, like in Kyiv. Many residents feel that technology has made it easier for them to move around and stay at home out of concern for their security.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.