Ukrainian cinemas are warning of closures: attendance is at 10–15% of pre-war levels
Almost all cinemas in Ukraine are operating at a loss and may begin to close within a few months, according to Natalia Baydan, head of the "Union of Cinemas of Ukraine." According to her, attendance is only 10–15% of the pre-war level, and in September, due to prolonged alerts, there were no 90% of screenings in Kharkiv, 80% in Dnipro, and 60% in Kyiv.
Almost all cinemas in Ukraine are operating at a significant loss and may begin to close within a few months. This was stated by Natalia Baydan, the director of the public association "Union of Cinemas of Ukraine" and the general director of the "Planeta Kino" network, during a meeting of the State Film Support Council.
According to her, attendance at Ukrainian cinemas is currently at only 10–15% of the level before the full-scale Russian invasion. After the start of the invasion, it decreased by 60–70%, and subsequently, due to prolonged air alerts and attacks on shopping centers and public facilities, it further decreased by almost 60%.
In September, due to prolonged air raid alerts, the fewest sessions took place in Kharkiv — 90%, in Dnipro — 80%, and in Kyiv — 60%.
The current level of attendance does not even cover the minimum costs for employee salaries, utility services, and rent. According to Baydan, the losses amount to millions of hryvnias and are accumulating as debts; the situation is particularly difficult for cinema chains in shopping malls, as their operations depend on the activity of these establishments.
Victoria Zyunkina, a representative of the Union of Ukrainian Cinemas, stated that cinemas may soon begin to go bankrupt and close; this is particularly a concern for establishments in smaller towns.