A fallout shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum: the project was funded by Denmark
- Julia LukyanenkoReporter
A fallout shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVestiA new radiation shelter, built from scratch, has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum in the Voskresenske Settlement Council. Thanks to this, children will be able to attend school in person from 1 September. The project was funded by Denmark, which allocated $1.2 million.
Today, 29 May, the shelter was officially opened, NikVesti reports.
The new shelter at the lyceum has a dual purpose, including protection in the event of radioactive contamination. It is designed to allow people to stay inside continuously for two days. But for now, the shelter is needed so that the lyceum’s pupils can attend classes in person.
An anti-radiation shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
Thomas Lund-Sørensen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine; Jakob Torild Hansen, Head of the Danish Embassy Office in Mykolaiv; and Vitaliy Kim, Head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration. Photo: NikVesti
A radiation shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVestiThe shelter is fully equipped with all utilities. It has been fitted with water supply, drainage, a sewage treatment plant for complete water purification, a fire alarm system, a gas detection system and ventilation, and the walls, ceilings and floors have been insulated. Heating is also provided by a boiler room. A diesel generator provides backup power. The shelter also has a kitchen, accessible showers and toilets.
Kateryna Khrolenko, headteacher of the Kalynivka Lyceum, noted that there are currently 242 pupils studying there, but other children who have temporarily moved to other schools are planning to return. At present, lessons are being held remotely. From 1 September, they plan to resume face-to-face teaching.
«Our bomb shelter is designed to accommodate 175 people, but according to building regulations, there should be 1 square metre per child, so we are making full use of this shelter. This means all the children will be studying in a single shift,» explained Kateryna Khrolenko.
There used to be nothing where the shelter was built.
«Where we are now, there used to be nothing but trees. We had a playground there, which we moved to another location,» noted the headteacher of the lyceum.
Massimo Diana, Director of the UNOPS Office in Ukraine and Moldova, and Kateryna Krolenko, Director of the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
Pupils of the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVestiUNOPS (the United Nations Office for Project Services, — note) was responsible for planning, conducting the tender, supervising the works, and acted as the liaison between Denmark and the local and regional authorities. The project was built as part of the «Community and Social Infrastructure Recovery» project in Mykolaiv and the region, funded by the Danish Government. Denmark allocated approximately $1.2 million for the construction of the shelter.
As UNOPS clarified to NikVesti, the overall project funded by Denmark has a budget of around $17.4 million. It covers, in particular, the restoration of housing, the construction of a similar shelter at Gymnasium No. 61, and the restoration of the Arkas Lyceum in Mykolaiv. The projects are being implemented by the UNOPS team.
Today, the opening of the shelter was attended by Thomas Lund-Sørensen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine; Massimo Diana, Director of the UNOPS office in Ukraine and Moldova; the leadership of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration; the Head of the Danish Embassy Office in Mykolaiv, Jakob Torild Hansen, and representatives of the village council and the lyceum.
An anti-radiation shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
A radiation shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
Thomas Lund-Sørensen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine. Photo: NikVestiThomas Lund-Sørensen thanked UNOPS for implementing the project and noted that the opening of the shelter is a joyful occasion, but we must not forget why it had to be built.
«Of course, we must not forget why these shelters are needed in the first place. Russian aggression continues, and we have seen trends shifting again recently, with tensions escalating. And we all have to adapt our daily lives to these realities. So, of course, on the one hand we have reason to be glad that the construction is complete, but the occasion and the reason why it became necessary are sad,» remarked the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine.
Vitalii Kim, Head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, thanked Denmark and UNOPS for implementing the project. And Mykola Marinov, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration, also emphasised that it is important for the children that, thanks to the shelter, they will be able not only to study online but also to see their friends.
Massimo Diana, Director of the UNOPS office in Ukraine and Moldova, said that this day is the most important for pupils and teachers.
«We understand that this facility is important. It is needed to create a sense of normality, of everyday life, closer to the life we all aspire to. Of course, we dream of the day when this shelter will no longer be needed, but for now, there is a need for it. And we have no doubt that resourceful Ukrainians, and in particular the staff of the lyceum, will find a way to use this space productively, even outside the context of the war,» said Massimo Diana.
He also noted that Denmark is one of Ukraine’s key partners, including in matters of development.
«We are grateful to our partners — Denmark and the local authorities. Denmark is an extremely strong partner for Ukraine; if we are not mistaken, in terms of percentage of GDP, it is probably the strongest donor to Ukraine. Not only in terms of development and humanitarian aid, but also military support. And we often cite Denmark as a model for supporting Ukraine at this time,» added the Director of the UNOPS office in Ukraine and Moldova.
School representatives presented the guests with symbolic gifts.
A fallout shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
A radiation shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
Massimo Diana, Director of the UNOPS Office in Ukraine and Moldova (centre). Photo: NikVesti
A radiation shelter has been opened at Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
A radiation shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti
A radiation shelter has been opened at the Kalynivka Lyceum. Photo: NikVestiWatch the video by NikVesti to see how the shelter was opened at the lyceum:
As a reminder, in the village of Zavodske in the Mykolaiv region, classrooms have been opened on the second floor of the local clinic. A modular school was already operating in the community, but the educational space has been expanded due to an increase in the number of pupils.
This material was produced within the REACH – Media Partnerships for Accountability and Trust project, implemented by International Media Support (IMS) and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. The content reflects the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Danish government. Denmark’s support strengthens civil society and independent media in Ukraine, including in Mykolaiv.
Чому ви читаєте «МикВісті»? Яка наша діяльність найбільш важлива для вас? Та чи хотіли б ви стати частиною спільноти читачів? Пройдіть опитування, це анонімно і займе 5 хвилин вашого часу