Russia is undertaking an unpublicised modernisation of bomb shelters in Moscow and St Petersburg, according to procurement records, as Ukrainian drone strikes across Russian territory intensify.
Procurement records cited by independent Russian media show that 39 million roubles (€400,000) were allocated in early September to restore nine facilities in three districts of south-west Moscow, an area that includes numerous research institutes and defence contractors.
The work, due for completion by 30 November, covers entrances, internal partitions, doors and essential services such as water, electricity, sewage, ventilation and communications.
Additional funding has been designated for shelters in Moscow’s eastern Novogireyevo district. A major renovation is also planned in New Moscow for a shelter built in 1971 that has its own diesel power station.
Tenders worth 200 million roubles (€2 million) were announced at the start of summer for repairs to shelters in 17 districts, primarily in eastern Moscow.
In St Petersburg, the metro operator began seeking a contractor in early September to construct bomb shelters at nine stations, four compartments and 35 kilometres of track.
The project entails adapting both active and unfinished stations to civil-defence standards, including the installation of air-filtration and pressurised-air systems.
Zelenskyy urges an end to the war
The Kremlin has faced mounting pressure from Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s energy and business infrastructure, which Kyiv says are intended to limit the resources available to Moscow’s war effort.
On Sunday night, Ukrainian drones hit the Moscow refinery in Kapotnya, forcing it to halt operations after fires broke out in primary oil-processing units, according to reports.
In August, Ukrainian rocket developer FirePoint and former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the Ukrainian armed forces could begin striking Moscow with new ballistic missiles by the end of the year.
“Moscow should not be building layered rings of air defence at the expense of other regions, but ending its brutal war and choosing peace,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“There are steps for de-escalation on the table: in energy, in food security. What is needed is political will.”
Civil-defence infrastructure in Moscow and St Petersburg largely dates from the 20th century. It includes government and military communications bunkers as well as mass civilian shelters, including those beneath the metro systems.
Recent surveys in St Petersburg found that many shelters require repairs, while a substantial portion of basement space in residential buildings has been transferred to private ownership.
Ukraine’s metro systems—particularly those in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro—have operated as round-the-clock bomb shelters since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in early 2022. During Moscow’s daily air raids, tens of thousands of people have sought refuge there at a time.
In frontline areas without metro systems, purpose-built underground schools have been constructed so children can continue their education. Russia’s persistent air strikes have also forced Ukraine’s public education system to adopt remote-learning formats.
