Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko participated in the first founding meeting of the Coalition for Shelters for Ukraine. She noted that this initiative is in collaboration with Team Europe and aims to create a modern network of civil protection shelters to protect people.
More than 42 underground schools have already been built in frontline regions using state funds and charitable contributions. European Union countries have also allocated over €22 million to ensure shelter for the population.
Finland leads the coalition
€11 million has been provided by Finland, which is leading the coalition thanks to its 80 years of experience in building bomb shelters.
Other countries, such as Sweden, Lithuania, Belgium, and Ireland, have also contributed amounts ranging from €0.5 million to €7 million. Switzerland also plans to join this initiative.
Population safety is a priority
The state budget draft for the next year includes an allocation of 1 billion UAH for shelters in kindergartens. The Prime Minister hopes for the approval of this project next week and emphasized that the safety of people is the government's main priority.
During my travels across the regions, I see how important it is to provide shelters for the uninterrupted normal life, socialization, and education of children, as well as access to services even amid Russian shelling. The enemy is shelling all regions of our country, so we continue to build multifunctional spaces in shelters throughout Ukraine.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko participated in the creation of the Coalition for Shelters to protect the population from potential danger. Together with European partners, significant investments have been secured for the construction of underground shelters and bunkers to guarantee the safety of citizens’ peaceful life and development, even amid the war in the east of the country.