Metinvest presented steel shelters for schools at URC 2025 in Rome

The Citadel project will provide children with modern protective shelters in case of emergencies

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2025 in Rome, Metinvest Group, together with the State Agency for the Restoration of Ukraine, presented a project for steel school shelters called Citadel. These are modular underground structures that provide protection for children during air raid alerts. This is stated in the company’s press release.

During the event, all visitors were able to personally inspect two models of shelters specially adapted to the needs of schools. The project is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development.

“We already have significant experience in the production and application of steel underground shelters – for defense, hospitals, command centers. Now we are ready to scale these solutions to protect school communities. This is the way to preserve our future, our children,” emphasized Metinvest’s Chief Operating Officer Olexander Myronenko.

Citadel modules are cylindrical structures with a diameter of 2.4 meters, which are installed in the ground at a depth of up to 5 meters. One module is designed for 48 people, but can be combined with others into a larger configuration. Inside, there are places to sit and sleep, a bathroom, ventilation, and lighting. The shelter is self-contained, does not require connection to external systems, and can withstand shelling.

«Safe shelters in Ukrainian schools are a vital necessity. All children must receive reliable protection. Citadel is a quick, effective, and modern solution,» said Serhiy Sukhomlyn, head of the Recovery Agency.

The modular design allows it to be used not only for schools, but also for hospitals, industrial facilities, and frontline areas. The shelter can be installed in just a few days.

It should be noted that Ukraine’s first underground hospital, built by Metinvest Group at a depth of six meters near the front line, has already saved the lives of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers. The unique 500-square-meter facility operates autonomously and has a laboratory, intensive care unit, operating rooms, recreation areas, and even a kitchen. It is invisible from the air, which minimizes the risk of enemy strikes.

This is part of the Steel Front initiative, under which the company also manufactures steel dugouts to protect soldiers, protective screens to counter FPV drones, which are installed on armored vehicles, and more. Over the three years of full-scale invasion, Metinvest has allocated more than UAH 8 billion to support Ukraine. A significant portion of these funds — more than UAH 4.4 billion — was transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the Steel Front initiative.