What Is a Shelter?

Shelter – a structure that can be used as a safe refuge during emergency situations, such as shelling or other military threats. The simplest types of shelters include basements and cellar spaces in buildings, underground parking facilities, and pedestrian underpasses, especially those with multiple exits, one of which leads outside the building.

These spaces are often used as shops, gyms, warehouses, and for other purposes. However, property owners should be aware of their potential use as shelters during emergencies and be prepared to provide access to people when needed.

We recommend arranging access with property owners in advance and obtaining their contact phone numbers for emergency situations.

Residents of cities with metro systems can also use metro station platforms and underground passageways as shelters during emergency situations.

A shelter is designed for the long-term accommodation of people during emergency situations and is typically an airtight structure.

To locate such facilities, look for signs marked “Shelter” or “Civil Protection Facility.” In addition, a contact phone number for the person responsible for unlocking the shelter in case of danger should be displayed on-site.

If no contact number is available, you can contact your local authorities for further information.

Use of the Metro as a Shelter

During wartime, certain metro stations in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, as well as underground stations of the high-speed tram system in Kryvyi Rih, may be used as shelters. These stations may remain accessible 24/7, including during curfew hours.

In Kyiv, during an air raid alert, you can enter the metro free of charge through manually controlled turnstiles.

If you need to access the metro during curfew hours, you should contact the police officer on duty. The relevant phone number is usually displayed at the metro entrance, or you can use the vestibule call button located near the entrance.

Law enforcement officers will arrange access to the shelter in such cases.

In Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Kryvyi Rih, metro stations are available for use as shelters around the clock.

In the Dnipro Metro, there are dedicated staff rooms that can be opened for mothers with children. These rooms are warmer than the station platforms and are equipped with shower facilities.

To access these rooms, you should contact a metro employee.

Please note that identity documents may be checked in metro shelters, so it is important to carry valid identification with you.

You should also remain inside the shelter until the official all-clear signal has been announced.

Rules of Conduct in a Shelter

Before entering a shelter, you should shut off the gas, electricity, and water supply in your home, and close all windows and ventilation openings.

If you are unable to leave the premises on your own, inform your neighbors in advance.

Items Not Allowed in the Shelter:

People with children are usually accommodated in a designated area of the shelter.

Individuals who are feeling unwell may be placed in a medical room or near protective structures and closer to ventilation openings.

It is also important to provide a separate area designated for restroom facilities.

Smoking, making excessive noise, and lighting candles without permission are prohibited inside the shelter.

All occupants should follow established rules and maintain discipline, while movement within the shelter should be kept to a minimum.

When staying in a shelter, follow announcements broadcast over the radio and do not leave the facility until an official notification confirms that it is safe to do so.

You may leave earlier only if the shelter has been damaged and remaining inside poses a risk to your safety.

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