Nearly 93% of Shelters in Ukraine Deemed Unfit: Widespread Inspections Reveal Major Flaws.

Ukraine’s Shelter Crisis: A Deep Dive into the Findings

According to Novyny.live: In 2025, a comprehensive monitoring effort uncovered severe deficiencies across the majority of Ukraine’s protective structures. Out of 1,066 shelters inspected, 991 received formal complaints—representing 93% of all checked facilities. This alarming statistic highlights a critical lack of readiness for public use. The inspections were carried out in the second half of 2025, and only 80 sites passed without any issues. To address the problems found, authorities issued roughly 4,000 recommendations for corrective actions. As of early 2026, Ukraine had 66,574 protective structures with a combined capacity of approximately 16.5 million people.

These numbers underscore a pressing need for immediate improvements in safety and accessibility across the country’s shelter network.

Common Issues Identified in Protective Structures

The inspections revealed several recurring problems among the shelters, including:

• locked or inaccessible rooms
• flooded facilities
• cluttered and obstructed spaces

“One of the most critical issues remains the inaccessibility of many protective structures for people with disabilities.”

Dmytro Lubinets

Lubinets further noted that “compliance with inclusivity requirements is the worst-performing area” and that “this is a systemic problem tied to both insufficient oversight and a lack of resources.”

These outcomes emphasize the urgent need for action by the Ministry and relevant authorities to resolve the identified shortcomings and enhance the overall state of this vital sector. With growing threats, it is essential to guarantee that every citizen—regardless of physical ability—can access safe shelters.