Russia quietly modernises bomb shelters in Moscow and St Petersburg
Tens of millions of roubles have been allocated for repairs to shelters across Moscow districts and St Petersburg metro stations as Ukrainian drones struck another Russian refinery on Sunday, as the Kremlin's all-out war in Ukraine continues well into its fifth year.
Russia is quietly upgrading bomb shelters in Moscow and St Petersburg, with undisclosed funds earmarked for repairs not yet made public. State data reveals 39 million roubles allocated in early September to refurbish nine shelters in Moscow's South-West administrative region, a hub for research institutions and defense contractors.
The project aims to complete by 30 November, encompassing entrances, partitions, doors, and utility systems such as water, electricity, sewage, ventilation, and communication networks. Additional funding has been allocated for shelters in Moscow's eastern Novogireyevo district, and a comprehensive overhaul is planned for a 1971 shelter in New Moscow, which includes its own diesel power station.
Tenders for 200 million roubles in repairs were published at the start of summer for shelters in 17 districts, primarily in Moscow's eastern areas.
In St Petersburg, the metro operator announced a search for contractors to build bomb shelters at nine stations, including four compartments and 35 kilometers of track. The initiative entails major modifications to both operational and unfinished stations to meet civil defense standards, including air filtration and pressurized air supply systems.
The Kremlin has increasingly faced the impact of Ukraine's strikes on Russia's energy and business sectors, particularly in Kyiv's efforts to disrupt Russia's war economy. Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow refinery in Kapotnya on Sunday night, causing fires at primary oil processing units, according to reports.
The escalating threat from Ukraine's drone strikes has prompted Russia to enhance its civil defense infrastructure. Moscow's existing civil defense facilities, primarily from the 20th century, consist of command bunkers for government and military communications and mass shelters for civilians, including the metro. Recent inspections in St Petersburg uncovered numerous shelters requiring repair, while a significant portion of basement spaces in residential buildings have been converted to private use.
Ukraine's metro systems, notably in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, have served as continuous bomb shelters since Russia's full-scale invasion commenced in early 2022, accommodating tens of thousands of residents during daily air raids. In regions lacking a metro, underground schools have been established to ensure children can attend classes.
Ukraine has also transitioned its public education system to remote learning due to the persistent risk of Russian air strikes.
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