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Zelenskiy Vows Action On Ukraine Air Raid Shelters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (file photo)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (file photo)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed unhappiness on June 12 at the results of an inspection he ordered into all Ukrainian shelters after three people were killed when they were unable to access one during a Russian air strike in Kyiv.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said he had received summary reports on the shelters' "preparedness and unpreparedness" from Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko; Oleksandr Kamyshyn, the minister for strategic industries; and Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.

Inspections Continue As Hundreds Of Ukraine's Bomb Shelters Found Unusable

This was the condition of a bomb shelter in the basement of an apartment block in Kyiv, photographed on June 5. 
1/8 This was the condition of a bomb shelter in the basement of an apartment block in Kyiv, photographed on June 5. 
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
A man leads journalists into a Kyiv bomb shelter on June 5.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> The issue of access to bomb shelters has taken center stage in in Ukraine after authorities <strong><a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskiy-shelters-inspection/32442884.html" target="_self">said on June 3</a></strong> that from &quot;over 4,800&quot; shelters inspected across the country, 252 were locked and a further 893 were &quot;unfit for use.&quot;
2/8 A man leads journalists into a Kyiv bomb shelter on June 5. 

The issue of access to bomb shelters has taken center stage in in Ukraine after authorities said on June 3 that from "over 4,800" shelters inspected across the country, 252 were locked and a further 893 were "unfit for use."
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
A local man at the scene of a missile explosion in Kyiv on June 1.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Urgent inspections were called after three people, including a 9-year-old girl, <strong><a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-kyiv-bombing-locked-shelter/32438627.html" target="_self">died outside a locked bomb shelter</a></strong> in northeastern Kyiv amid a missile attack on the Ukrainian capital on June 1.&nbsp;
3/8 A local man at the scene of a missile explosion in Kyiv on June 1. 

Urgent inspections were called after three people, including a 9-year-old girl, died outside a locked bomb shelter in northeastern Kyiv amid a missile attack on the Ukrainian capital on June 1. 
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
A room inside a bomb shelter in Kyiv on June 5<br /> <br /> A security guard who was tasked with opening the shelter in the northeast of Kyiv on June 1 was arrested and is being held in detention. The arrest sparked <strong><a href="https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/4/7405239/">a fierce debate among Ukrainians</a></strong>, and a petition was launched to free the guard.&nbsp;
4/8 A room inside a bomb shelter in Kyiv on June 5

A security guard who was tasked with opening the shelter in the northeast of Kyiv on June 1 was arrested and is being held in detention. The arrest sparked a fierce debate among Ukrainians, and a petition was launched to free the guard. 
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
Nastya Chuzavkova, 14, sits on a mattress put on a floor in the corridor of her family apartment.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> The frequency of air-raid sirens and -- especially in high-rise apartment blocks -- the distance needed to travel to shelters mean many Ukrainians either do nothing, or simply move away from windows in their residence during air raids.&nbsp;
5/8 Nastya Chuzavkova, 14, sits on a mattress put on a floor in the corridor of her family apartment. 

The frequency of air-raid sirens and -- especially in high-rise apartment blocks -- the distance needed to travel to shelters mean many Ukrainians either do nothing, or simply move away from windows in their residence during air raids. 
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
People take shelter in an underground crossing during an attack on Kyiv on June 1.<br /> <br /> Subway stations and underpasses such as this are in some cases the only underground spaces guaranteed to be open during air-raid alerts.&nbsp;
6/8 People take shelter in an underground crossing during an attack on Kyiv on June 1.

Subway stations and underpasses such as this are in some cases the only underground spaces guaranteed to be open during air-raid alerts. 
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
A bomb shelter entrance in Kyiv<br /> <br /> One woman in charge of a bomb shelter in Kyiv told RFE/RL&#39;s Ukrainian Service that if shelters are left open, homeless people move in, meaning locking the facilities is unavoidable.&nbsp;
7/8 A bomb shelter entrance in Kyiv

One woman in charge of a bomb shelter in Kyiv told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that if shelters are left open, homeless people move in, meaning locking the facilities is unavoidable. 
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
A man gives journalists a tour of a bomb shelter in Kyiv.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> On June 5, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Vitaliy.Klychko/videos/3432747396962833/">posted a video</a></strong> showing him continuing to inspect shelters in the Ukrainian capital amid a bitter blame game over the neglected public shelters.&nbsp;
8/8 A man gives journalists a tour of a bomb shelter in Kyiv. 

On June 5, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted a video showing him continuing to inspect shelters in the Ukrainian capital amid a bitter blame game over the neglected public shelters. 
After three people, including a child, were killed outside a locked bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities have carried out urgent inspections to prepare shelters for future missile strikes.
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"The results, to put it mildly, are unsatisfactory," he said. "Relevant draft decisions will be prepared by [June 16]."

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