Solutions to win: Iron Shelter website debuts in Ukraine, providing vital information on shelter conditions

In Ukraine, a website called "Iron Shelter" has been launched to provide information on the shelter conditions. By 2023, it is expected that 6,847 shelters will be renovated in Ukraine.

This is reported in the statement of the Minister of Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin, during the presentation of the Iron Shelter project and the Iron Shelter website.

What is the problem?

During the shelling of Kyiv on June 1, three people, including a child, died after they could not get into the shelter because it was closed.

In Ukraine, a large-scale inspection of the condition of bomb shelters was conducted throughout the country. The results were disappointing. Because of this, President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered to strengthen criminal liability for improper maintenance of shelters and failure to provide access to them.

Oleksandr Kamyshin was appointed responsible for the condition of shelters. Together with the city authorities, he inspected the warehouses. 96 shelters were checked in Kyiv. Observers found only 73% of shelters; the other 27% could not be found at the addresses indicated on the online map.

The minister stated that only 15% of the shelters were usable at the time without significant concerns. However, the city officials claimed that 65% of the shelters in Kyiv are in satisfactory condition.

What is the solution?

The shelter facilities will be equipped in accordance with the safety requirements within the framework of the "Iron Shelter" project.

"Today, we are launching a working portal called "Iron Shelter," Kamyshin said at the site's presentation.

How does it work?

According to the head of the ministry, on the website you can find information about:

• which shelters have already been put in order,
• which shelters are in progress,
• what shelters are in the plans.

As reported, the information is divided by regions of Ukraine. Also, on the site, there is a manual for arranging shelters.

According to Oleksandr Kamyshin, the priority of arranging shelter facilities is to protect as many people as possible.

"Priority is determined by deciding where there is the greatest need, where there are the fewest shelters, and where one shelter can solve problems for a more significant number of the population.

This is the main criterion. For the educational process, we focused, for example, on schools and kindergartens. Now we are focusing on solutions where one shelter provides more places for people," said the minister.

The developers state that the Fund for Civil Defense's protective structures, currently comprising 61,803 objects, will undergo constant modifications. Certain ones require enhancements, specifically shelters in schools, kindergartens, hospitals, residential buildings, underpasses, etc.

According to them, by 2023, 6,847 shelters should be put in order in Ukraine – a little more than 10% of the country's total fund.

Currently, 3,891 shelters have already been equipped, and 2,956 more are planned to be repaired by the end of the year, Kamyshin said.

For reference:

It should be noted that Ukraine has developed a manual for the construction of shelters in kindergartens and schools.

In addition, Ukraine will create a unified information system of protective structures of civil protection.