In Kyiv, a significant portion of those killed as a result of Russian shelling are not victims of direct missile strikes, but rather of projectiles and shrapnel. According to political analyst Andriy Kovalyov, ordinary ground-level concrete shelters can reduce the number of fatalities. He made this statement during a broadcast on Den.LIVE, calling on the capital’s authorities to draw on the experience of Kharkiv and Kherson, as reported by Dengi.ua.
The expert noted that having such shelters near where people gather could significantly increase their chances of survival.
"Build above-ground concrete shelters, because an above-ground concrete shelter is definitely much better and safer than people simply remaining in open areas. Judging by the photos being posted online, we can conclude that this was not a direct hit, but rather the consequences of flying debris, which is what killed the Ukrainians,” said Andriy Kovalyov.
At the same time, the political analyst acknowledged that robust underground bunkers are necessary to protect against a direct missile strike. However, he noted that existing shelters, including subway stations, are not capable of accommodating all residents of the capital at once.
“It’s clear that to protect against a direct missile strike, we need shelters that are truly buried deep underground - that’s unquestionable. But we see that the metro system is not capable of accommodating all Kyiv residents. Therefore, first and foremost, Kyiv now needs to increase the number of shelters like these,” the political analyst noted.
Kovalev believes that city authorities should reallocate budget priorities, making the construction of protective infrastructure one of their top priorities.
According to the expert, a network of above-ground concrete shelters must be created directly near areas where large numbers of people gather - in the courtyards of residential buildings, in parks, public gardens, and city squares.