Slovakia conducts large-scale civil protection exercise in Zemplín

Slovakia is conducting 'Tiene v oblakoch' (Shadows in the Clouds), a large-scale national civil protection and crisis management exercise in the Zemplín region. The two-day drill involves hundreds of participants, including police, firefighters, paramedics, and members of the armed forces.

The simulation tests the state's ability to respond to various emergencies, such as drone attacks, airspace violations, fires, and mass casualty incidents. It also includes administrative simulations of declaring a state of emergency and testing decision-making processes during critical crises. Specific scenarios involve the warning, sheltering, and evacuation of students and social service clients.

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok described the event as historically significant in its scope, noting that it aims to evaluate how different agencies coordinate, their reaction times, and the flow of information. Authorities have urged citizens not to call emergency lines like 112 due to the increased presence of security and rescue services during the drills.