The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The project was implemented on the basis of the Odesa Military Academy. Thanks to a reliable shelter, the educational process now continues even during air-raid
The hub was described during a national telethon.
Students of the Odesa Military Academy came to their regular lecture. An air-raid alert sounds; the group immediately descends into the shelter, and the class continues.
This is Ukraine’s first underground educational hub specifically for servicemen. Its priority is safety. The space can accommodate about 150 people simultaneously.
“This is very important, because if you don’t feel safe, you cannot study. You worry about yourself and your comrades. That’s the first advantage. And it’s warm here, the air is good, the chairs are comfortable. Everything is here to ensure uninterrupted study”, — one of the academy cadets says.
This is especially important considering that air-raid threats in Odesa region can last 4–5 hours.
Previously, classes had to be interrupted, which hindered effective learning. Now this is no longer a problem.
The hub is constructed from durable steel modules. In an area of 100 square meters, three classrooms, restrooms, and utility rooms have been arranged. The project for the military academy was implemented by volunteers.
One of the key advantages of this shelter is its connection via steel corridors to the existing building. This means people can move from the building into the shelter without going outside. The hub has several emergency exits, allowing evacuation even if one exit is blocked.
Thanks to foldable furniture, the rooms can be easily transformed for different formats — from lectures and trainings to practical classes in tactical medicine.
The project developers have already received the first feedback from servicemen regarding the comfort and technical characteristics of the shelter.
It is expected that similar underground hubs will soon appear in other specialized educational institutions across the country.
