Kyiv is the only city without mobile shelters due to bureaucratic obstacles in protecting residents

In the fourth year of the war, Kyiv remains the only major city in Ukraine that lacks mobile shelters for its population. Mayor Klitschko and local officials have repeatedly delayed their installation, citing the lack of approved state building codes.

This was discussed during a meeting of the Kyiv City Council’s Standing Committee on Budget, Socioeconomic Development, and Investments.

“To use the term ‘shelter’, this structure must meet certain criteria,” Klitschko explained. “There are DBNs that require approval to determine how exactly they should be built to protect people, so as not to mislead them. Although it is possible to install a mobile shelter, it is important to understand whether it will provide protection – it depends on the criteria.”

However, experts from other cities note that state building codes are not mandatory for mobile shelters. “Mobile shelters are standardized construction products that meet state standards,” said expert Vitrenko. “Such standards have already been developed and are actively used in Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, and Kherson.”

Representative of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Roman Tkachuk, also emphasized that even the mobile shelters already installed in Kyiv are not part of the fund of protective structures, which complicates their legalization: “For example, the shelter on Lugovaya Street near the Karavan shopping center is not included in the fund, so it cannot be identified as a shelter.”

Thus, the situation appears paradoxical: in Kyiv, approximately 4 billion hryvnias have been allocated for shelter repairs, but only about 20% of the planned work has been completed. At the same time, in other large cities of Ukraine, mobile shelters are installed and used without any obstacles, saving people’s lives.

As a result, the capital is left without operational protection for its residents, and the formal requirements of the State Emergency Service Code become a convenient excuse for inaction.

As of August 1, 2025, the national standard DSTU 9329:2025, “Primary (mobile) shelters. Basic parameters and test methods,” will take effect in Ukraine. This standard will define the main technical requirements for mobile shelters, specifically block-modular types, intended for short-term protection of the population for up to 4 hours during a threat. They can be installed in crowded places, such as bus stops, streets, and parks.

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