Four more countries join Civil Protection Shelter Coalition – Steering Board meeting held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs
A second meeting of the Steering Board of the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition for Ukraine – an international initiative aimed at enhancing the safety of the civilian population amid ongoing enemy attacks – took place at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The Civil Protection Shelter Coalition is a multilateral international initiative focused on creating a modern, systematic network of protective structures across the whole of Ukraine. It involves not only the construction of new shelters but also the modernisation of existing ones, as well as the introduction of unified safety standards.
The initiative brings together international partners to coordinate funding, share experience, and implement state-of-the-art technologies in the field of civil protection.
“The importance of building shelters and providing them for the population of Ukraine has grown even greater in recent times. This winter was one of the harshest due to constant russian shelling and record-low temperatures. As a result, a significant number of shelters were used as Points of Invincibility, where people could not only take cover but also warm up,” Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko said.
The Minister noted that over the three winter months, the enemy had launched more than 700 missiles, nearly 19,000 attack drones, and over 14,000 guided aerial bombs against Ukrainian territory.
“Today it is important to discuss what has already been achieved, the plans for financial support of the Coalition, and future measures that will ensure its expansion so that we can increase our capacity for constructing protective structures,” added Ihor Klymenko.
Particular attention was given to attracting new partners. Specifically, the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition for Ukraine has been joined by Slovakia, Greece, Czechia, and Austria.
During the meeting, Oleh Bondarenko, a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, was also added to the Steering Board.
The expansion of the Coalition’s membership demonstrates growing international support for Ukraine in the area of civil protection and the readiness of partners to invest in the safety of Ukrainian citizens.
The Minister pointed out that during the Coalition’s operation, an analysis has been carried out of more than a hundred projects for the construction of protective structures, and agreement has been reached on the building of seven shelters – in particular in Sumy, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Kherson regions: “It is very important that the Coalition has begun its work precisely with the construction of shelters in the frontline regions of our country.”
Ihor Klymenko also informed partners about progress since the adoption of the Coalition’s Strategy, including the allocation of a UAH 6 billion subvention for equipping shelters in kindergartens and schools in 2026.
The Minister stressed that on 10 February 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a law that, at the legislative level, regulates the mandatory construction of protective structures when erecting multi-apartment buildings, dormitories, educational institutions, social protection facilities, healthcare institutions, and critical infrastructure sites.
The Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs thanked all partners and participants in the Coalition who have contributed to the development of shelters in Ukraine: “The Shelter Coalition is an important element of Ukraine’s long-term security policy. It enables a systematic approach to protecting the population, attracting international resources, and creating infrastructure capable of saving thousands of lives.”
Co-Chair of the Coalition’s Steering Board, Under-Secretary of State for Development Policy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland, Pasi Hellman, noted that the Coalition has achieved significant results.
According to him, the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition for Ukraine is already showing tangible results – from launching specific projects to build protective structures to expanding international partnership. It is important not merely to declare support, but to implement practical solutions that directly enhance people’s safety.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Oleksii Serhieiev reported that, as part of strategic support for the Coalition, a bilateral pilot project has been launched between the Department for Rescue Services of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Finland and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
This initiative is aimed at strengthening the capabilities of Ukrainian rescue services, exchanging experience, and implementing the best international practices in the field of civil protection.
A separate discussion block concerned funding – the parties reviewed mechanisms for attracting additional resources, the efficient allocation of funds, and ensuring transparency in project implementation.
“We are focusing on attracting additional resources, the efficient distribution of funds, and ensuring maximum transparency in the implementation of every project. This not only accelerates shelter construction but also guarantees trust from international partners,” noted Oleksii Serhieiev.
The second meeting of the Steering Board of the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition for Ukraine confirmed the initiative’s transition from the planning stage to practical implementation. Participants summarised achievements, noted progress in the construction and modernisation of protective structures, and agreed on next steps and meetings.
To recap, on 28 May 2025, the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland launched the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition for Ukraine. The Coalition, based on the Strategy for the Development of the Fund of Civil Protection Protective Structures of Ukraine up to 2034, is led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.