There are already over 61,000 shelters in Ukraine, but this is not enough – Minister of Internal Affairs
Photo: Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
More than 61,000 civil protection facilities have already been built in Ukraine, but this is still not enough. This number of shelters can protect only about half of the population during enemy attacks, states Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, at the 3rd International Summit of Cities and Regions.
"We are actively working to increase the number of civil protection facilities. As of today, there are already over 61,000 of them in our country, but this is not enough. This number — 61,000 — can cover and provide protection for only about half of our country’s population," Klymenko said.
He added that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is taking a comprehensive approach to developing population protection facilities and has brought about 20% of previously inadequately equipped shelters to a state of readiness. In addition, more than 40,000 basic shelters have been registered.
"We have created more than 600 primary mobile shelters. This is also a novelty for Ukraine — and for the world — when it became necessary to urgently install not only underground but also above-ground or semi-buried shelters for our citizens," the minister added.
Shelter construction in Ukraine
In March, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Strategy for the Development of the Civil Protection Shelter Fund for the period up to 2034. The total cost is estimated at 789.3 billion UAH, mostly funded through international assistance.
The goals will be achieved in three stages:
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First stage (2025–2027): an increase of 2,300 shelters through the construction of new civil protection facilities and dual-purpose structures.
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Second stage (2028–2030): an increase of 3,000 shelters, also through the construction of new civil protection and dual-purpose facilities (including publicly accessible protective structures).
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Third stage (2031–2034): an increase of 8,000 shelters.
In addition, Ukraine and Finland recently launched an international shelter coalition for civil protection in support of Ukraine. The plan is to build over 5,000 shelters by 2030.
