Two-Year Shelter Program Approved
The Kyiv City Council has approved funding of ₴1.5 billion for the installation of modular protective shelters throughout the capital.
According to the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration (KMVA), Timur Tkachenko, the decision marks a key step toward strengthening the city’s security infrastructure.
Under the approved program:
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₴500 million will be allocated this year (2025);
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₴1 billion more is planned for 2026.
“We pressed on – and the Defense Council supported this issue at the last meeting. This is a belated but constructive decision that will enhance the security of Kyiv residents,”
— Timur Tkachenko, Head of KMVA.
From Initiative to Implementation
Tkachenko noted that he had promoted the modular shelter initiative even during his work at the Ministry of Strategic Industry, and continued advancing it after assuming leadership of the KMVA.
Despite earlier resistance from city authorities, the Defense Council of Kyiv supported the initiative, allowing the city to move forward with the installation of shelters that meet modern safety standards.
The next phase involves:
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Determining specific locations for modular shelters;
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Defining the number and type of structures;
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Establishing a timeline for installation and commissioning.
Importance for Urban Security
The modular shelters will provide protection for civilians during air raids and missile attacks.
Unlike traditional underground shelters, these prefabricated modular systems can be installed quickly and adapted to different urban conditions — near schools, residential blocks, transport hubs, and hospitals.
Officials emphasize that the shelters will be:
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Accessible and modern, with proper ventilation and communication systems;
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Resilient against blast waves and debris;
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Equipped to accommodate citizens for extended periods if needed.
Strengthening Kyiv’s Civil Protection Network
The newly approved decision is part of a broader strategy to modernize Kyiv’s civil defense system, which includes:
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Upgrading old shelters and basements;
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Expanding early warning systems;
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Introducing smart digital coordination between emergency services.
Tkachenko summed up that while much practical work lies ahead, the main breakthrough has already been achieved — the decision that unlocks financing for the city’s first network of modular shelters.
