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Zelensky sets 1-month deadline for putting bomb shelters in order

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Zelensky sets 1-month deadline for putting bomb shelters in order
A member of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine checking bomb shelters. Published on June 11, 2023. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Facebook)

President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 26 issued a decree ordering the relevant authorities to put Ukrainian bomb shelters in order by July 25.

According to the document, the Cabinet of Ministers and the regional authorities must identify those responsible for the poor state of some of the shelters and provide information on the measures taken by June 30.

The decree tasked the Cabinet of Ministers with appointing an official responsible for oversight over shelters and their restoration. A bill will also be submitted to the parliament by July 31 to strengthen criminal liability for improper management of bomb shelters.

The responsible authorities must remove unusable shelters from electronic maps by June 30, put all other shelters in order by July 25 and provide constant, unhindered access to them.

The Ukrainian authorities initiated a nationwide audit after two women and a nine-year-old child were killed by missile debris in Kyiv on June 1 when they could not access a nearby bomb shelter.

The incident sparked outrage towards authorities for not safeguarding the civilian population properly amid constant Russian attacks.

Out of the nearly 63,000 bomb shelters across Ukraine inspected by the authorities as of June 10, the State Emergency Service said that around one-third were closed or unsuitable for use.

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Martin Fornusek

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Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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