They were supposed to be used to protect the population of Kyiv from an attack by the United States, but today they are being used for their first time to protect the population from an attack by Russia. Only in Kyiv, there are more than 400 anti-nuclear bunkers scattered throughout the city. They were built by the Soviet Union during the Cold War period and served to protect the population from a possible atomic attack by the United States. They could hold 200 to 4000 people each and were equipped with everything necessary to survive the nuclear attack, which never happened. After the end of the Cold War period, the bunkers were decommissioned.
But today, these bunkers full of Cold War relics have paradoxically become crucial for the local population. Indeed, during the constant attacks by the Russians on Kyiv, with almost weekly launches of drones and missiles, the population is taking refuge not only in the subway but also in these bunkers, used for the first time in their lives.