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

Families arrive with minimal possessions: a few crucial documents, a thermos, perhaps a toy or two for the children. They occupy small patches of concrete floor, defining their temporary space with blankets and bags. The air is thick with the smell of damp concrete and the low, constant hum of the ventilation system, creating a distinct, unforgettable atmosphere that is the antithesis of a normal home, yet still manages to offer a sense of security that the surface world has forfeited.