Kyiv Shelters Can Hold 45% of Residents, Yet Most Ignore Them During Air Raids.
Bakhmatov on Shelter Access in Troieshchyna
According to Novyny.live: Maksym Bakhmatov, head of the Desnianskyi District State Administration, has stated that shelters in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi district can accommodate up to 45% of its population. Despite this capacity, only a small fraction of residents actually use them during air raid warnings. The district is home to roughly 500,000 people, yet during large-scale attacks, only between 500 and 2,000 individuals seek refuge in these facilities.
The district operates an extensive network of shelters located in schools, clinics, basements, and shopping centers. According to Bakhmatov,
“we have approximately 45% of the area needed to cover our district”— a statement highlighting the significant resources available to protect the public. For instance, a single parking structure can hold up to 16,000 people. However, despite the availability of shelters, the district administration has not received a single complaint about locked shelters in the past six months.
Challenges and Ongoing Improvements
Among the newer facilities is a radiation shelter at a Kyiv lyceum, designed to hold 600 people. This reflects continuous upgrades to the safety infrastructure in Desnianskyi district. At the same time, the issue of underutilized shelters during alarms remains a pressing concern.
Bakhmatov’s remarks underscore the importance of shelters for ensuring public safety amid military threats. However, the low turnout during alerts suggests potential gaps in resident awareness of dangers or insufficient information about available shelter locations. Moving forward, efforts should focus on raising public awareness and encouraging greater use of shelters when danger strikes.
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