Ukraine will need 100 years to reach Finland's level of civil defense shelters — Klymenko

It will take the Ukrainian state approximately 80–100 years to reach the same level of protection for its civilian population through civil defense structures as Finland currently has. 

This was announced by Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko during the IV International Summit of Cities and Regions, according to Ukrinform.

According to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there are currently 61,000 various shelters in Ukraine, capable of protecting only about 50% of the country’s population. By comparison, in Finland, such shelters ensure the safety of over 95% of citizens. Given the long-term threat from neighboring Russia even after the war ends, Ukraine does not have that much time at its disposal, so solving this problem requires immediate action and the involvement of foreign assistance.

The minister noted that Finland initiated the Shelter Coalition, which has already been joined by 13 participating countries. The main goal of the coalition is the rapid expansion of Ukraine’s stock of protective structures. Currently, the partners have already approved the designs for the first seven large-scale protective facilities. Construction will begin in frontline and border regions, specifically in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Kherson regions. The financing and implementation of these plans will take place within the framework of the Strategy for the Development of the Civil Protection Shelter Infrastructure through 2034, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.