Moscow authorities restoring long-neglected bomb shelters in schools, hospitals, and apartment buildings, local media reports
Moscow authorities have begun inspecting the conditions of bomb shelters in the city’s schools, according to the Russian news site Podyom, which cited unnamed employees from companies involved in the review.
“Nobody gave us a specific order [on paper], of course, but they told us orally that there were instructions to get the bomb shelters in working order. Right now, in four schools in the center of Moscow, we’re preparing the sewage drains and installing electricity,” one source told journalists.
According to the source, the shelters are currently in a “neglected” state: “You can imagine — nobody’s been using them.”
Earlier, subscribers to the Telegram channel Sota reported that the Moscow Education Department had issued instructions for the institutions in its jurisdiction to be outfitted with bomb shelters.
On October 14, Sota reported that one Moscow homeowners' association had notified residents that bomb shelters were being prepared “to take in shelterers.” The notification letter indicated that “activities to enhance collective protection preparedness” were being carried out following a meeting that included Moscow Deputy Mayor Pyotr Biryukov.
On October 19, Sota reported that multiple Moscow hospitals were equipping the long-abandoned bomb shelters located beneath them for use, citing a source from the city’s “medical community.” Another source told the outlet that the Moscow Public Health Department had indeed sent out an order to restore the shelters. The department itself denied the reports.
On October 21, the news outlet Baza reported that authorities had begun preparing shelters in multiple hospitals in the city for use by installing electricity, Internet, and lights, as well as by purchasing disposable dishes and water.
On the same day, the Moscow news outlet The Village reported that a source from the Moscow government had confirmed that the city’s Social Protection Department had commissioned a design for arrows to direct people to bomb shelters.
Oops...
Just as they've claimed not to be equipping bomb shelters, Russian authorities have denied buying Iranian drones for use in Ukraine. But the truth always finds its way out one way or another.
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