Odesa Still Has Neighborhoods Without Shelters: Officials Accused of Inaction.

Shelter Situation in Odesa

According to Novyny.live: Over the past two months, the number of shelters in Odesa has increased by 17, but the Odesa City Military Administration has voiced frustration over the lack of progress in providing proper protection for residents. Deputy Serhiy Krasylenko highlighted that there are still residential areas in the city where the issue of safeguarding people during air raid alerts remains unresolved.

“This is a real threat to life that has been ignored for years,” said Serhiy Krasylenko.

As part of a security program, a tender process is underway to purchase eight mobile shelters, which will be installed in the coastal zone. While this represents an important step forward, much work still remains unfinished. In Krasylenko’s view, delays in decision-making are the reason Odesa still has zones where people lack protection during alerts.

Financial Spending on Shelters

Additionally, in 2025, the Odesa region spent 1.4 billion hryvnias on the construction and repair of shelters. However, not all funds were used as intended. The director of a construction company embezzled more than 230,000 hryvnias in state money during the renovation of a school shelter, raising further questions about the efficiency of spending on public safety.

Thus, despite the increase in the number of shelters, the quality and accessibility of these facilities remain problematic, requiring urgent action.

The shelter situation in Odesa illustrates a broader challenge of ensuring public safety during alerts. Delays in implementing security measures, along with cases of corruption, raise concerns about the use of budget funds, which in turn could erode residents’ trust in local authorities. Improving the quality and accessibility of shelters is a priority for ensuring the safety of the city’s population.