In the six frontline regions, work is continuing on setting up mobile protective shelters along school routes. International partners are set to provide funding for a further 90 such facilities.

The initiative was launched over two months ago by the Ministry for Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure and the Office of the President of Ukraine. It covers Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions, where children study in person or in a hybrid format.

As reported by the Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons Vitalii Bezgin, communities in the central and western regions have almost fully met their co-financing targets. According to Mr Bezgin, the regional military administrations in frontline regions have already contracted for over 350 protective shelters. In total, 840 protective shelters need to be installed along school routes, and the required funding amounts to approximately UAH 1.4 billion.

‘We must do whatever it takes to ensure that school routes are safe, and that our children can not only study in well-equipped underground schools and nurseries, but also get there safely,’ the Minister emphasised.

The Shelter Coalition is also involved in the initiative. Under preliminary agreements, international partners will fund a further 90 protective shelters.

The mobile shelters are designed to protect children on their way to educational establishments. Work on the project is ongoing.