The Big Shelter: How Kyiv’s Metro Stations Became Essential Bunkers for Millions

Within these cold, vaulted halls, a remarkable societal transformation takes place. People who were strangers on the street are brought together by the shared experience of fear and the mutual need for survival. The usual social barriers dissolve in the face of a common enemy, fostering a sense of community that is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. This forced cohabitation turns platforms into makeshift bedrooms, ticket halls into triage centers, and long escalators into silent, descending pathways to a temporary, collective home.