Baltic states turn to Ukraine for expertise in building bomb shelters

The Baltic states have been reaching out to Ukrainian defence manufacturers and civil protection experts to discuss the construction of bomb shelters. The consultations were confirmed by Igor Fedirko, director of the Ukrainian Arms Manufacturers Council, and reported by Politico.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have in recent weeks been consulting Ukrainian defence industry representatives and civil protection specialists about building bomb shelters, according to a report by Politico citing Igor Fedirko, director of the Ukrainian Arms Manufacturers Council.

Fedirko confirmed that Baltic officials have approached Ukrainian experts for guidance, as the three NATO member states accelerate their civil defence preparations amid heightened security concerns on NATO's eastern flank. Ukraine has accumulated significant practical experience in shelter construction and civilian protection since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022.

The Baltic states have long been among the most vocal supporters of Ukraine within the European Union and NATO, and this latest development signals a new dimension in that cooperation — one focused not on weapons deliveries but on protecting civilian populations. All three countries have been reviewing and upgrading their civil defence infrastructure in recent years.

The move reflects a broader shift across Northern and Eastern Europe, where governments are increasingly investing in civilian resilience measures. Sweden, Finland, and several other countries have also updated shelter guidelines and civil emergency plans as the security environment in the region has deteriorated.