A sand storm alert has been issued for the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
The speed of wind reaches 17-22 m per s, according to the ecology and natural resources department of the Kyiv city state administration.
"A hurricane wind carries a cloud of dust over the city. The visibility is very low," it noted.
The reasons for the storm include snowless winter and the unusual shortage of precipitation.
"As a result, [we have] the air erosion of soil, a decrease in the level of groundwater, which are the causes of dust that the northwest wind brought to the capital," the department added.
Residents are advised to stay indoors or if they happen to be outside, they should keep away from trees, power lines and advertising boards.