During the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, an extremely innovative project for protecting children during military actions was presented. The engineering solution "Citadel" offers modular underground structures that can provide safety in critical situations.
The technical characteristics of the shelters include a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 2.4 meters, which are installed at a depth of up to 5 meters around school buildings. Each individual module has a capacity to accommodate 48 people, with the possibility of connecting several modules to increase capacity.
The project was developed by the industrial giant Metinvest Group, led by Rinat Akhmetov, in collaboration with the State Agency for Infrastructure Restoration and the Ministry of Municipal Development.
According to the Chief Operating Officer Alexander Myronenko, the company has significant experience in building underground protective facilities, including the first underground hospital in the country. The new shelters can be adapted to various sites – from educational institutions to hospitals and production facilities.
A key advantage of "Citadel" is its complete autonomy. The modules have seating areas, sanitary facilities, lighting, and ventilation. They are designed to withstand shelling and do not require external power or water supply.
The innovative solution demonstrates the ability of the Ukrainian industry to create effective protection systems during military conflicts.