Ukraine and Finland Launch Global Coalition to Boost Civilian Shelter Infrastructure
Ukraine and Finland have officially launched an international coalition aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s civil protection infrastructure, a major step in shielding civilians from ongoing Russian attacks. The initiative was announced following a high-level meeting in Kyiv between Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Finnish counterpart, Petteri Orpo.
“Together with Finland, we are launching a global Civil Protection Shelters Coalition in support of Ukraine,” Shmyhal stated on social media platform X following the talks.
The coalition’s primary objective is to coordinate international efforts to construct thousands of modern bomb shelters and civil defense facilities across Ukraine. According to government plans, 2,300 new shelters will be built by 2027, with an additional 3,000 slated for completion by 2030.
Ukrainian officials are calling on other governments, donors, and international organizations to join the coalition and contribute resources toward building resilient infrastructure that can save lives in frontline and high-risk regions.
The meeting also saw the signing of agreements expanding bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Finland in the fields of security, energy, education, and other strategic areas.
Shmyhal thanked Finland for its consistent support and underlined the importance of global solidarity with the Ukrainian people. “International unity in protecting civilian life is not only a moral duty, but also a strategic necessity,” he said.
Finland had earlier committed to spearheading the shelter initiative, with the official announcement of its leadership role made public in March 2025.
The coalition aligns with broader European efforts to modernize civil protection in light of regional security threats. Notably, Sweden has already allocated 100 million SEK (roughly $10 million) to assess and upgrade its own shelter infrastructure.
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