Kyiv Metro to Procure 4,460 Folding Chairs for Its Bomb Shelter Stations

Procuring Seating for Air Raid Shelters

According to Главком: Kyiv's metro system is planning to purchase 4,460 folding chairs for its underground stations, which double as public bomb shelters. In 2023, over 10,000 chairs were received from the International Organization for Migration, but due to heavy use and some not being returned, only about 2,400 remain available. The capital has 46 underground stations operating as 24-hour shelters, providing a safe place for residents during air raid alerts. This ongoing need highlights how critical public infrastructure has become for civilian safety during the war.

Current Construction and Development Projects

The new chairs will be acquired through a public procurement system. All chairs received are distributed among the 46 stations serving as shelters. Concurrently, construction crews are actively working on expanding the metro network itself:

• Construction on the Syretsko-Pecherska line has progressed to the active phase of building engineering structures and relaying utilities.
• The construction of the reversing sidings at the 'Varshavska' station is in its final stages.

Therefore, this new procurement of folding chairs is a crucial step in maintaining basic comfort at stations fulfilling a vital shelter function. It underscores the Kyiv Metro's efforts to adapt under the ongoing military aggression, where its underground spaces have become essential for public safety. At the same time, the active construction of new stations demonstrates a commitment to continuing infrastructure development despite the challenging circumstances.