Providing shelter in Ukraine during a full-scale war is one of the most important aspects of public safety. Unfortunately, due to the lack of seriousness about this basic element of protection, we are witnessing the deaths of people due to closed bomb shelters. In addition to access to shelters, there is also the issue of their reliability, as many of them do not meet modern safety standards. Closed and unequipped bomb shelters during the war are a real crime.
The latest inspection of bomb shelters in Kyiv showed that only 15% of them can be considered suitable for use without serious objections (this includes offices with shelters in Kyiv and commercial real estate with shelters in Kyiv). Another 50% need a technical update, and the remaining 35% are completely unusable. Despite the allocation of over 1.2 billion hryvnias for the provision of shelters, the system of this protection is in crisis. The data across Ukraine are also not optimistic: more than 23% of the tested shelters turned out to be unsuitable, and 9.3% were closed.
Another problem is the lack of security conditions in shelters. Many of them do not have emergency exits, ventilation and infrastructure, which creates risks for people's stay. The question arises about responsibility for the safety and life of citizens.
Most of the shelters that are located in populated areas are simple types such as basements or basements. However, many of them do not have the necessary infrastructure to ensure the safety of the population in case of danger. Therefore, it is important to quickly develop a network of shelters that can provide an adequate level of protection for citizens.
What do we have in the legislative sphere?
The Code of Civil Protection of Ukraine is the main document that regulates the organization and provision of civil protection of the population in Ukraine. It contains important aspects of shelters, including requirements for their construction, equipment, safety and other aspects that guarantee effective protection of people in emergency situations. The Code establishes legal standards, procedures and requirements for the purpose of ensuring the safety and protection of the population in shelters, and also provides for a system of control over their implementation.
The draft law, signed by the President in August 2022, envisages the construction of a network of civil protection structures to ensure the safety of Ukrainians. According to this law, the structure of civil defense structures must be defined in the urban planning documentation at the regional and local levels and contain a section on civil defense engineering and technical measures.
The standards for equipping and maintaining civil defense protective structures are specified in the Ministry of Internal Affairs order No. 579. Also in June 2023, the President signed the Decree on the implementation of the NSDC decision regarding inspections of civil defense protective structures and solving problems in this area. The Cabinet of Ministers, regional and city military administrations are instructed to take the necessary measures to resolve the situation with shelters in certain regions and cities of Ukraine.
International experience related to the construction of shelters for civil protection of the population.
The governments of several countries establish mandatory construction of civilian shelters designed to protect the population in case of war or emergencies. Example:
- Switzerland: The legislation provides for the mandatory construction of nuclear bunkers. Private individuals are given the opportunity to refuse construction for compensation.
- Singapore: The law provides for different types of shelters, including private, bunk, public and makeshift. Failure to meet standards can result in significant fines.
- Finland: The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the construction and maintenance of bomb shelters. The law establishes deadlines for the release and removal of things from the shelter during emergency situations.
- Israel: National law establishes requirements for the construction of bomb shelters, including mamadas, which provide quick access to the shelter.
Bomb shelter legislation varies from country to country and is not always standard practice. The responsibility for providing the population with shelters and bomb shelters, their construction and maintenance is assigned to public authorities, as well as to individuals and legal entities - builders.
Priorities for Ukraine
State bodies that have direct authority and responsibility for the protection and safety of Ukrainians must first conduct a comprehensive audit of all existing storage facilities to identify cases of illegal detention and ensure their proper functioning. It is also important to create appropriate infrastructure in educational institutions, to equip special classrooms for classes during emergency situations. It is necessary to ensure constant education and training of children on the correct behavior in the conditions of a missile, nuclear or chemical threat.
In addition, it is necessary to build stops that can serve as shelters, like the way it is done in Kharkiv. It is also important to develop a system of bright and clear indicators for quickly finding the storage.
It is also necessary to build new storage facilities. For example, not a single new shelter was built in Kyiv, despite the city's population of 3 million. Local authorities say that with more than 4,000 shelters in the city, 2.8 million people can be sheltered. However, in practice, the situation may be different, for example, in a neighborhood with 5-6 high-rise buildings, where there is only one shelter for 30 people, 2,000 people may live. Therefore, the question arises: are there enough storage facilities for all residents of the capital?
It is also important to prohibit the construction of new housing complexes without adequate shelter for all residents. This should apply not only to residential buildings, but also to business centers, entertainment facilities, etc. Each business center or shopping and entertainment complex must have a sufficient number of shelters for all persons staying there.
Software must be developed that will automatically open vaults during an alarm and automatically close them 30 minutes after the alarm ends. This will improve the security of the population and ensure quick access to shelter for all citizens.
A strong system of legal regulation is also needed, which will provide for enhanced liability for negligence in ensuring the safety of citizens in emergency situations. Changes to the legislation should also apply to liability for improper design and construction of protective structures.
Conclusion
Civil defense programs and the construction of shelters are important aspects of a country's preparedness for possible threats. Ukraine should also actively work on improving the civil defense system and ensuring adequate protection of its population.
State authorities should conduct an audit of existing shelters, develop new projects for the construction of modern and safe shelters, ensure proper functioning and support of existing structures. It is also important to educate the population on proper behavior in emergency situations and ensure quick access to shelter for all citizens.
In general, the safety of citizens should be a priority for any country. Proper construction and maintenance of bomb shelters and shelters can save lives and prevent tragedies in emergency situations.