KYIV – A series of protests against the government’s quarantine restrictions occurred in Kyiv in the first days of May. Local authorities of some Ukrainian cities also publicly confronted the central government and its decisions, while easing some restrictive measures on their own territories in contravention of Kyiv’s plan.

These developments occurred against the backdrop of tensions in society that are rising due to the substantial economic losses of small and medium businesses, which are fighting for survival and receive little help from the authorities. Meanwhile, the news media reported that the government gave preferential treatment to some large companies and a representative of the president’s team operated his restaurant in violation of quarantine restrictions.