Kyiv region's lyceum unveils newly renovated bomb shelter for 400 children

Photo by Ruslan Kravchenko

Alvina Kaminska

A shelter was recently renovated at Bilohorod Academic Lyceum No. 2, located in the Kyiv region. Spanning over 666 m², the shelter has the capacity to accommodate up to 400 children at once.

The head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration reported this on Facebook.

What is the problem?

The Russian Federation continues missile and drone attacks on regions within the country. As a result, shelters for children have been extensively established in educational institutions across all regions for the past six months.

During full-scale war, most educational institutions in Ukraine are conducting classes either online or in a combination of in-person and remote learning. This is because they cannot provide adequate shelter for students during air raids.

September 1 marked the start of in-person learning in schools with properly designed shelter facilities.

According to the Department of Education, only 10 out of 420 communal schools in the capital did not have shelters in June; almost 90% of city kindergartens have shelters.

A map of publicly available shelters in Kyiv can be found on the official portal of the city government.

What is the solution?

"Today, I visited one of the shelters. It was set up this year at the Bilohorod Academic Lyceum No. 2. The premises with an area of 666 m2 were completely renovated," Kravchenko noted.

^{Photo: Facebook / Ruslan Kravchenko – head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration}

How does it work?

The head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration informed that 400 children can stay in the renovated shelter simultaneously.

Education at the lyceum takes place in two shifts. In total, more than 800 children attend the institution.

^{Photo: Facebook / Ruslan Kravchenko – head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration}

The cost of capital repairs is UAH 9.4 million, of which 70% are subvention funds and another 30% are community funds.

^{Photo: Facebook / Ruslan Kravchenko – head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration}

"The lyceum shelter boasts updated ventilation, electrical systems, new furniture, and boilers. Precautions for potential power outages, including emergency lighting and a backup generator, have been taken. The students have access to a water supply. The head of the regional military administration noted that the living conditions have been improved, with renovated sanitary facilities and tiled floors and walls".

^{Photo: Facebook / Ruslan Kravchenko – head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration}

He also said he attended a security class at the same lyceum, part of the All-Ukrainian "Safety Class" project.

^{Photo: Facebook / Ruslan Kravchenko – head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration}

"We involve teachers in the project and employees of the State Emergency Service, the National Police, medics, combatants, and mine safety experts. The classrooms are equipped with everything necessary at the expense of local budgets.

Currently, 62 safety classes have been opened in educational institutions – in every district of the majority of territorial communities of the region," Kravchenko emphasized.

For reference:

In general, over 1,200 civil defense facilities have been set up in educational institutions throughout the Kyiv region. These facilities can accommodate almost 270,000 people during emergencies.

As reported by Rubryka, the Russian troops in Ukraine have completely destroyed 180 schools since the start of the full-scale invasion. Overall, over 300 educational institutions have been destroyed and over 1,000 have been damaged and are now undergoing examination.