A scandal has erupted in Kyiv over an incident that, according to eyewitnesses, took place during an air raid alert at one of the capital's universities. According to the Telegram channel "Real Kyiv," students of the economics faculty of KNU (Kyiv National University) who tried to take cover in the university's shelter were allegedly denied entry. They were reportedly told that the shelter was overcrowded and that the alternative entrance was closed. As a result, according to the authors of the video, the students were directed to a metro station located about a ten-minute walk from the building.
Kyiv police response
The Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv confirmed that, while monitoring social media, its officers came across a post containing video of the incident. The police registered the information in the unified register of statements and notifications. As the department stated, a corresponding legal assessment of what happened will be provided once the investigation is completed. At the time of publication, the law enforcement authorities had not issued a final verdict, and the university had not publicly commented on the incident.
Context: updated Cabinet of Ministers rules
The incident occurred against the backdrop of recent changes to the rules governing the operation of enterprises and educational institutions during air raid alerts. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine introduced a division of alerts into "yellow" and "red" levels depending on the type of threat and clarified the requirements for the availability of shelters or safe spaces at facilities. In particular, the updated rules provide for the mandatory presence of functioning shelters or similar protective structures in educational institutions. This makes the issue of students' access to a shelter not only an ethical but also a legal problem: if the Cabinet of Ministers' requirements were violated, the university's administration may bear responsibility.
Contradictory data
It is important to note that, at this point, the version of events presented in the video by the Telegram channel "Real Kyiv" has been confirmed neither by the police nor by the university administration. The law enforcement authorities have only recorded the fact of the appeal and launched an investigation, without issuing a final assessment. Meanwhile, the initial media reports (including those by RBC-Ukraine) use the word "allegedly," indicating that the circumstances of the incident have not yet been established. The university has neither denied nor confirmed that the shelter was actually overcrowded or that the alternative entrance was closed. Thus, until the police investigation is completed, both parties — the authors of the video and the university's administration — remain without official confirmation or denial.
A broader issue: the state of shelters in Kyiv universities
The incident at KNU is not an isolated one in the context of problems with shelters at the capital's universities. Previously, open sources published materials about the poor condition of protective structures in the dormitories and buildings of other Kyiv universities, including complaints about dampness, dirt, and the absence of basic conditions. This underscores the systemic nature of the issue: even formally existing shelters may not meet safety requirements, and their availability at the moment of an alert depends on the actions of the administration. In a situation where the Cabinet of Ministers has tightened the standards, such incidents gain additional resonance and may entail administrative or other liability for the responsible persons.
