The Ukraine has become the first former member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS – former Soviet Union) to require picture warnings on cigarette packages. It has selected a series of 10 warnings, taken from the European Commission library.

This follows the publication of a decree on Monday 4 April 2011 in the country's Official Journal. The Ukraine currently has text warnings covering 30% of the package front and back.

Under the new requirements, the picture warning will appear on 50% of the back of the package, while a text warning (Smoking kills) will appear on 50% of the front of the package

The warnings will be required at the manufacturer/importer level from 4 October 2012 (i.e. 18 months after the decree was published). Ukraine will be the first former CIS country to have picture warnings on packages. Only one other former Soviet Republic, EU member Latvia, currently requires picture warnings.