Kyiv National University Denies Claims That Students Were Denied Access to Shelters During an Alarm

Reports that students at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv were allegedly denied access to a shelter during an air raid alert have not been confirmed. The university and law enforcement officials inspected the shelter and its entrances and spoke with the students who reported the issue.

 

Reports that students may have been denied access to the Taras Shevchenko National University shelter emerged on Tuesday, September 22. On the same day, an investigative team and juvenile inspectors from the Holosiivskyi Police Department arrived at the scene. Law enforcement officers inspected the shelter, all entrances, and verified how access to it was organized. The inspection found no violations on site.

The following morning, September 23, representatives of the university itself conducted a further inspection. The inspection was carried out at the request of Acting Rector Valerii Kopiika. First Vice Rector Mykola Pogoretskyi, Student Parliament Chair Viktoria Savosik, the deputy chief engineer, and staff from the fire department and building maintenance department joined the inspection.

KNU representatives once again inspected the shelter and checked access to it. They also clarified the circumstances of the situation directly with the students. In particular, they spoke with those who had reported problems, as well as with students who had entered the shelter or were inside it during the incident. “Reports that students were denied access to the shelters were not confirmed,” KNU stated.

Following the inspection, the matter was discussed at a meeting of the rector’s office. The university decided to strengthen security measures. The heads of all departments were instructed to conduct mandatory refresher training for staff and students. They must be reacquainted with evacuation plans and procedures to follow during an air raid alert or other emergency.

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv emphasized that the safety of students and staff during air raid alerts remains one of its top priorities. The refresher training sessions are intended to help avoid misunderstandings and clearly explain the procedures to follow in case of danger. This was reported on the Facebook page of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The Ministry of Education and Science has appointed a new acting rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The position was filled by Volodymyr Ilchenko, who previously headed the University’s Educational and Scientific Institute of High Technologies. He will lead the university during the election process.