The Kherson region continues to suffer from relentless enemy attacks, with medical facilities among the critical infrastructure frequently targeted. To protect the lives of patients and medical staff during missile and drone strikes, major repairs of a civil defense shelter at a regional hospital began in August 2024. The works lasted four months and were completed at a total cost of UAH 11,183,219, funded through a state budget subvention and co-financing from the local budget.

This hospital provides care for more than 23,000 patients annually and performs over 15,000 surgeries. In addition, the regional consultation clinic welcomes around 375 visitors each day.

The project included a wide range of essential construction and restoration activities:

• demolition of existing brick walls and installation of new partitions;
• creation of new doorways and closure of outdated ones;
• installation of new flooring;
• restoration of wall plaster and application of modern finishes;
• installation of new doors;
• waterproofing and thermal insulation of foundation walls;
• construction of a safe walkway for access.

Throughout the project, specialists from the East SOS Charity Foundation carefully monitored the shelter’s compliance with barrier-free accessibility standards and energy efficiency requirements

Barrier-Free Accessibility

The project was implemented in line with current inclusiveness standards and regulations, including DBN B.2.2-5:2023 “Civil Protection Facilities” and DBN B.2.2-40:2018 “Inclusiveness of Buildings and Structures.” When developing design solutions, the needs of people with limited mobility, including persons with disabilities, were carefully considered.

The shelter is equipped with doorways at least 0.9 m wide, lifts for vertical accessibility, handrails installed at 0.9 m along evacuation routes, accessible sanitary facilities, navigation aids, including tactile and visual signs.

The restroom for people with reduced mobility does not fully comply with barrier-free requirements.

Other sanitary facilities remain difficult to use for elderly people, wounded individuals, and others with special needs.

As a result, the project does not yet ensure equal access conditions to the protective structure for all categories of the population.

Energy Efficiency

The project incorporates modern technical solutions designed to optimize energy use and maintain a stable indoor climate. Key measures include:

• high-quality hydro- and thermal insulation of external walls and foundations;
• an electric heating system with energy-efficient convectors;
• LED lighting and autonomous battery-powered lamps;
• mechanical ventilation (electric fans) to ensure air circulation;
• a capacitive water heater with 1.5 kW capacity;
• thermal insulation of water supply pipes (Termoflex type);
• a backup power supply system (700 kW generator);
• resource metering integrated with the hospital’s main facility.

Thanks to these engineering solutions, the shelter achieves high energy efficiency standards. Its expected energy efficiency rating is Class C or higher—the optimal benchmark for protective structures in the healthcare sector.

This monitoring was carried out within the project “Independent Public Monitoring of Social Infrastructure Reconstruction in the Kherson and Mykolaiv Regions”, implemented with the support of the European Union in Ukraine. The initiative is part of the program “Controlling Recovery Costs”, coordinated by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER), the Center for Economic Strategy, and the NGO “Technologies of Progress”.

East SOS conducted monitoring of the construction of a radiation shelter in the village of Kobleve, Mykolaiv region