Amidst ongoing massive attacks on Ukrainian territory, the lack of safe shelters remains one of the most critical issues for the civilian population. A vivid example of this situation is the story of Ukrainian model and influencer Ekaterina Bilyk, who in August 2026 openly shared how she was forced to endure a night raid in the narrow corridor of a regular stairwell. Her account, published in an interview with Styler magazine, sheds light on the reality in residential areas where the absence of protected facilities puts the lives of thousands at risk.
"A church is not a protective structure": The problem of shelter accessibility
According to Ekaterina, the lack of a shelter in her neighborhood is not a new issue. Residents have repeatedly raised this issue with local authorities, collected signatures, and demanded a solution, as the situation affects not just one family but the entire residential complex. However, the response from municipal services was formal: residents were advised to use the local church in case of an alarm.
"But for us, this is not a real solution to the problem. It is an ordinary building, not a specially designed protective structure, and we have no confirmation that it can protect people during a missile strike or falling debris," the model explained. She emphasized that in the event of a direct hit or a strong shockwave, such a building could be destroyed along with the people inside. In fact, despite the presence of an "alternative" facility, residents of the neighborhood still lack an accessible and reliable shelter.
30 minutes to "safety": Conditions in the nearest bomb shelter
The only official shelter in the accessible zone, Ekaterina named, is a room in a primary school in the settlement of Vyshneve. However, it takes about 30 minutes to walk there from the model's place of residence. Even this place, which should be the last line of defense, does not meet safety and comfort standards.
"When I was there last time, the room was very overcrowded. There was mold and, in fact, proper ventilation was not working," Bilyk described the conditions. Such a situation makes staying in the shelter for a long time dangerous for health, especially for the elderly and children, which effectively negates its protective function.
A terrifying night in the hallway: The story of saving cats
A particular emotional color to the model's story is given by the account of one specific night when a massive raid broke out. Ekaterina hid with her neighbors in a narrow corridor on the first floor, as there is no elevator in the building and the basement is not equipped as a shelter. At that moment, she recorded a video message to her mother, admitting that she didn't know if she would survive until morning.
"What I remember most from that night was an elderly neighbor. He was going down the stairs very slowly and heavily, holding two carriers with his cats in his hands. It was difficult for him to carry them and hold onto the handrails at the same time, so I helped carry one of the carriers down," Bilyk recalls. Despite the roar of explosions, which seemed ready to blow out the windows at any moment, the elderly man did not leave his animals in the apartment, risking his life to save them.
Why it is important to talk about this in English
After that night, Ekaterina decided to tell the international audience about what was happening by posting stories in English on Instagram. She explained her choice by the fact that among her followers there are people from different countries who are able to influence public opinion and convey information to decision-makers.
"I understand that one publication will not change the situation instantly. But it can attract attention, spark a public discussion, create an information resonance, and remind our partners once again: Ukraine still critically needs air defense systems and missiles for them," the model noted. For her, it was important not to turn her own fear into a means of self-promotion, but to show the reality in which tens of thousands of Ukrainian families live.
