Moscow strike fears prompt Russia to release bomb shelter maps
Aftermath of the drone attack on Moscow (Photo: Getty Images)
The authorities of the Moscow region have begun publishing official maps of shelters amid statements about possible strikes on Moscow and growing fear among local residents, reports The Moscow Times.
Where the shelter maps appeared
On July 30, an interactive map with hundreds of facilities appeared on the website of the Lyubertsy district – in Lyubertsy itself, Dzerzhinsky, Oktyabrsky, and other settlements. These are underground premises for protecting people in emergencies – basements of multi-story buildings, underground parking lots, post offices, and other structures.
A similar map was published by the administration of the Podolsk district, and earlier similar data appeared on the website of the Odintsovo district.
Why this is happening now
The release of the maps coincided with a statement by the owner of the Ukrainian company Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman, that ballistic missile strikes on Moscow could begin as early as autumn, after the completion of tests of a new projectile.
How the Moscow region has already faced attacks
The Moscow region has repeatedly come under Ukrainian drone and missile strikes during large-scale operations deep into Russian territory. In mid-June, after one of the largest drone raids on Moscow at that time, residents of the region complained en masse about the complete absence of warnings and air raid sirens – Russians only learned about the approach of drones by seeing them with their own eyes.
The administration of Kotelniki then explained in the city chat that alerts about air attacks are an extreme, not routine measure, and sirens are only activated in the event of a direct and confirmed threat to life.
Officials also refused to provide residents with information about shelters, despite numerous questions in the Telegram chat of Governor Andrei Vorobyov – at the time, authorities stated that data on shelter locations would only be communicated to the population during the period of mobilization and in wartime.
Drone attacks on Moscow and the region occur regularly. On July 28, drones massively attacked Moscow – Mayor Sobyanin reported the downing of more than 10 drones as early as 5 AM, and that turned out to be only the beginning, with Wildberries facilities and a factory in the region coming under attack.
Russia does not always manage to shoot down all targets. In June, drones struck the Moscow oil refinery, which will only be able to resume operations next year.
