The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has approved €11 million in development funding for a civil defence coalition led by Finland and Ukraine to build protective shelters, the Ministry announced. The money will flow through the European Union’s Ukraine Facility to finance construction of civil defence shelters protecting schools, hospitals, and communities. Finland has expertise in this sector, and Finnish companies have good opportunities to participate in future procurement processes.
During Russia’s war, civilian buildings, schools, and healthcare facilities have repeatedly been hit by attacks. Current civil defence shelters cover only about half of Ukraine’s population, leaving an enormous need for additional protection. Developing a comprehensive shelter network is expected to take at least a decade. The coalition will help Ukraine launch this long-term effort through grant-based funding and a construction roadmap so it can continue building later with loan and mixed funding.
Finland’s contribution will be channeled through Pillar III of the EU Ukraine Facility, which already includes an ongoing civil defence shelter project run by Lithuanian and Belgian development cooperation agencies. Using these existing structures means Finland’s funding can be put to work efficiently. Another advantage is the Facility’s scalability—its second pillar channels loan funding from international financial institutions.
Minister Ville Tavio says Finland is showing necessary leadership in protecting the civilian population and mobilizing international investment. “I have been in close contact with Finnish companies in this sector, and they are ready to operate in Ukraine,” he said. The coalition’s inauguration will happen before the end of the year, bringing together key partners to coordinate efforts.
Finland previously allocated €2.2 million for 2025–2027 to support a development and pilot construction project led by the Finnish and Ukrainian interior ministries and Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. In total, Finland will invest more than €13 million in Ukraine’s civil defence shelters.
