Ukraine orders nationwide bomb shelter inspection as more head underground amid rising ballistic missile threat

Ukraine has ordered an urgent nationwide inspection of all civilian bomb shelters following Russia's latest deadly ballistic missile attack, with Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi instructing authorities to ensure shelters are properly maintained and accessible whenever a ballistic missile threat emerges.

The move comes after Russia's overnight missile and drone barrage killed civilians across Ukraine and as more Ukrainians increasingly rely on bomb shelters amid a growing wave of Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Ballistic missiles leave civilians with little warning

Koretskyi's order follows reports circulating on social media that some people were unable to access shelters before the overnight attack because an official air raid alert had not yet been issued. 

Kyiv authorities denied claims that access to metro stations – the capital's largest public shelters – was restricted after the alert was announced, saying all stations were opened immediately once the warning was declared.

However, Russia's increasing use of ballistic missiles has sharply reduced warning times, often to minutes or less. In some recent attacks, air raid alerts have been issued only after missiles were already approaching or reaching their targets.

Government orders inspection of every shelter

Koretskyi said relevant ministries, government agencies, regional military administrations, including the Kyiv City Military Administration, and local authorities had been instructed to immediately inspect every civilian shelter within their areas of responsibility.

"All of them – without exception," he said.

The inspections will assess both the condition of shelters and whether people can access them without obstruction.

Shelters should open before air raid alerts

Koretskyi said shelters should be accessible when authorities already know a ballistic missile threat exists, even if an official air raid alert has not yet been issued.

"Access to shelters must be available even when the danger is already known but the alarm has not yet been announced," he said.

"Given the constant threat of ballistic missiles, regional authorities and city administrations must act more quickly and based on the real need to protect people."

He said it was unacceptable that, more than four years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainians could still face problems accessing bomb shelters.

"People must always be able to reach shelters in advance and without obstruction, especially when there is a ballistic missile threat. This is the personal responsibility of every official," Koretskyi said.

Ballistic threat drives more people underground

The order comes as Russia increasingly relies on ballistic missiles, which can reach their targets within minutes and leave civilians with little time to seek shelter.

The growing threat has led more Ukrainians to use bomb shelters during air raids. During the latest overnight attack, more than 56,000 people took refuge in Kyiv's metro stations alone, according to the Kyiv City State Administration.

The renewed focus on shelter access also comes as Ukraine continues to press partners for additional Patriot interceptor missiles, which are among the few systems capable of shooting down Russian ballistic missiles. Russia's latest overnight attack included ballistic missiles that struck multiple regions across the country, killing at least nine civilians and injuring dozens more.