Solidarity Foundation completes major repairs Taras Shevchenko National University 'Red Building' shelter in Kyiv
A renovated shelter with an area of 258 sqare meters was officially opened in the main (red) building of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The overhaul was fully financed by the Solidarity charity fund.
The total project budget amounted to UAH 3.9 million. About UAH 3 million has already been used for repair work - dismantling and installation of structures, decoration of premises (waterproofing, tiling and painting), electrical installation work, as well as plumbing work, including the installation of heating radiators, replacement of the sewer riser and installation of plumbing products.
The renovation of the security space allowed to increase the capacity of the shelter by 150 places. In total, there are three shelters and a corridor on the ground floor, where up to 1,000 people can be at the same time during an alarm.
University rector Volodymyr Buhrov emphasized that this is critically important for the Institute of Law, which is based in the Red Building. Due to the large number of students (400–500 people in each course), training is currently conducted in shifts - courses alternate every three weeks.
"Today we face a challenge: in order to study in classrooms, we need a sufficient number of rooms for protection, in which you can stay during an air raid, which are safe, have ventilation and fire alarms, an appropriate supply of water and everything else. As a result, after the great work that has been done, we can take 150 more people to classes or work," Buhrov said.
Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Timur Tkachenko said that the city is interested in maintaining the best conditions for students, because they are the future of the state.
"For me, as a graduate of Kyiv National University, it is a joy that my alma mater now has more spaces for safe learning. This is very important, because protection is the top priority today. The comfortable conditions created here significantly improve the quality of student life in our difficult times. I thank the Solidarity Foundation for its strong support. All partnership and charitable funds, donor projects are a significant and powerful help for Kyiv today," he said.
A representative of the French Embassy in Ukraine recalled that several buildings of the university have already suffered from enemy attacks, so strengthening security is a necessary step.
"It is especially pleasant to come to the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, in particular to this historical building, because it is here that ancient and modern knowledge is transmitted, it is here that the Ukraine of tomorrow is created. And it is especially impressive that despite the war, Russian missile strikes, studies continue. It is unusual to build bomb shelters for students, but this is absolutely necessary," representative of the French Embassy in Ukraine, Counselor-Envoy, Deputy Head of Mission, Sebastian Suren said.
The head of the Solidarity Foundation, Mathieu-Marie Arden, explained the organization’s motivation:
"The mission of the Foundation is to be useful in the field in which we understand construction. Being useful also means guaranteeing or at least helping to arrange people’s safety. After all, sheltering at the university guarantees a certain form of security. This allows young people to return to their studies. So we fully meet our mission."
The Foundation’s cooperation with the university does not end there. During the meeting, the leadership of the university and the Solidarity Foundation signed a new agreement. It provides for the renovation of three dormitories that were damaged by Russian shelling.
In addition, work will soon begin on the creation of the Mental Health Center, a joint long-term project of the Foundation and the university. Despite the fact that the project is designed for a long term, work will start in December.
