Latvia May Join the Coalition of Civil Protection Shelters for Ukraine 0 12

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that since 2022, when Russia began its full-scale aggression against Ukraine, thousands of infrastructure facilities have been destroyed or severely damaged in the country. Missile and drone strikes are also aimed at civilian objects — residential buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, and critical services.

The ministry emphasizes that such attacks create a constant threat to the population and significantly affect the state's ability to provide basic services. In these conditions, civil protection shelters are an important element of safety. They save lives and ensure the continuation of the work of educational institutions, the healthcare system, and other vital services even amid regular threats.

One of the goals of the Ukrainian authorities is to rapidly increase the number of civil protection shelters across the country, which is why in May of last year, the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Finland officially launched this coalition. Currently, it includes nine members — Ukraine, Belgium, the European Union, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Sweden, Switzerland, and the European Investment Bank.

The goal of the coalition is to unite international donors and provide effective and coordinated support to Ukraine in developing this system, transitioning from a fragmented and heterogeneous system of shelters to a planned, standardized, and state-coordinated network.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that since the beginning of the war, Latvia has been involved in supporting Ukraine, including in the restoration of infrastructure. Additionally, Latvia has already made a direct contribution to the coalition's activities. Last year, the ministry allocated 65,000 euros to support the coalition.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that Latvia's joining the coalition is justified by several factors. In particular, Latvia has practical experience in building and reconstructing shelters, and participation in the coalition will allow for better coordination of Latvia's contribution to the restoration of Ukraine and attract additional international resources.