The Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industries expressed "surprise" on Sunday after initial inspection results showed that nearly half of the shelters in Kyiv were closed or unsuitable for use. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an order on Friday for inspections of all shelters in Ukraine following the death of three people in Kyiv due to lack of access to one of the shelters during a Russian airstrike. According to Reuters, Alexander Kamyshin, the Minister of Strategic Industries, stated that after the first day of inspections of 1,078 shelters in Kyiv, it was found that 359 shelters were unprepared, 122 shelters were closed, and people could only use 597 shelters. He wrote on his Telegram messenger: "I accepted with disbelief the fact that half of them were open and seemed ready." He added, "On Saturday, when we inspected the shelters with the mayor of the Obolon district, the vast majority of them were closed." Mr. Kamyshin stated that inspections would continue as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began seventeen months ago, continues. Ukrainian officials have described the intensification of regular Russian airstrikes on Kyiv since early May, especially at night, as an attempt to undermine the morale of the people before Ukraine's counteroffensive. The deaths of three individuals in Thursday's airstrikes due to lack of access to shelters have sparked public outrage, and Mr. Zelensky has promised to address the issue severely. Reuters notes that it seems Zelensky's target is Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, with whom he has previously had disagreements. Vitali Klitschko acknowledged in a local committee meeting on Friday that the responsibility lies with him but stated that others are also to blame, especially those close to the president who have been appointed to manage the affairs of the capital's regions. Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's readiness for a counteroffensive against Russia: "We will succeed." Blinken called Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine a prerequisite for a fair and lasting peace. Ukraine shot down dozens of Russian drones; Zelensky met with Ilham Aliyev. Russia's attack on Kyiv on Children's Day resulted in the death of a child and their mother. A meeting of European leaders in Moldova; Zelensky emphasized the importance of Ukraine joining NATO.
Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister: The Closure of Several Shelters in Kyiv is Unbelievable
Ukrainian officials discovered that nearly half of Kyiv's shelters were closed or unsuitable for use after a deadly airstrike, prompting public outrage. President Zelensky ordered inspections of all shelters and promised accountability. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces amid the Russian invasion.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Ukrainian officials discovered that nearly half of Kyiv's emergency shelters were closed or unsuitable for use following a deadly Russian airstrike. This has led to public outrage and prompted President Zelensky to order inspections and promise accountability.
- 359 shelters were found unprepared and 122 were closed during inspections.
- Three individuals died due to lack of access to shelters during a recent airstrike.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Ukraine has been under a full-scale invasion by Russia since February 2022, leading to significant military and civilian casualties. The conflict has prompted urgent discussions about emergency preparedness and civil defense.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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