It may take Ukraine up to 100 years to provide shelters for over 95% of the population — Ministry of Internal Affairs
There are currently about 61 thousand shelters of various types in Ukraine, but they can provide protection for only about half of the population. This was stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko.
To reach the level of Finland, where over 95% of citizens have access to protective structures, Ukraine may need from 80 to 100 years.
According to Klymenko, these estimates were prepared jointly with Finnish partners. The minister emphasized that Ukraine does not have such a reserve of time, as the threat from the Russian Federation will persist not only during the war but also in the future after its end.
He reminded that the country must be ready to provide protection for the population, considering the extensive border with Russia and constant security risks. That is why, with the support of international partners, Ukraine has begun work on expanding the network of protective structures. Finland became the initiator of the Shelter Coalition.
Currently, 13 countries have already joined the coalition. Within the framework of cooperation, several international conferences have already taken place, and projects for the first seven protective structures have been approved.
The first facilities are planned to be built in regions close to the line of hostilities and high-risk zones. These include Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Kherson regions.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also reminded about the Strategy for the Development of the Civil Protection Shelter Fund until 2034, approved by the government. The implementation of this program requires significant financial resources and large-scale work, but there is no alternative to strengthening the civil protection system.
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