The market for specialized protective shelters in Russia is niche but real. After February 2022, interest spiked due to regional tensions and cross-border activity. Many firms offer bomb shelter construction, with modular steel units buried underground being the most common option. In other scenarios, contractors may build a reinforced concrete shelter from the ground up or repurpose an existing basement for safety purposes.
A correspondent for socialbites.ca consulted Akademik Stroy, one of the providers, seeking practical guidance. A representative outlined the construction workflow and described what a basic modular shelter typically includes.
The steel shelter is manufactured to order in a factory setting. It resembles a long, slender cylinder, roughly three meters wide and ranging from six meters to several tens of meters in length. Wall thickness runs from 3 to 6 mm and, while important, it is not the sole element of protection against shock waves or radiation. The shelter is buried several meters deep and can be filled with concrete at the client’s request. A soil layer is then placed atop, leaving only a narrow exit tunnel with a sealed doorway; the opening can be camouflaged with a surface structure. Deeper installations offer stronger protection but require a larger excavation footprint during placement.
Inside the steel shell lies a living area, a shower, a toilet, and an electric generator. The standard kit includes furniture, a refrigerator, plumbing, a water heater, a pump, water tanks, a generator, and batteries.
The air system uses filters, components to mitigate blast effects, and a valve that can seal the interior during temporary isolation. The shelter can be connected to the power grid, water supply, and sewer systems and typically remains online unless an emergency restricts operation. External monitoring is possible via cameras.
Optional upgrades can include gas analyzers and surface-mounted devices for radiation monitoring, with data displayed on an interior screen. Additional features may include a surface fuel tank with automatic generator fueling, a radio antenna, an air regeneration device in case of ventilation issues, a septic system, and a protected well for water supply.
Some providers claim these shelters offer protection from attacks similar to those seen in border regions. Realistically, a random projectile could reach a home, and during active hostilities evacuation to a safer area is often simpler and cheaper. It should be noted that no shelter of this type provides absolute protection.
A steel cylindrical shelter buried a few meters down can withstand the blast of a light surface shell but not larger, penetrating bombs or certain warhead types.
For instance, a high-powered warhead associated with a modern cruise missile can, in theory, pierce several meters of concrete. While nuclear explosions are outside the scope of typical private shelters, the likelihood of such a scenario remains extremely low.
Installing a modular shelter generally takes around three months, whereas a cast-in-place reinforced concrete shelter takes substantially longer. Prices start at roughly two million rubles and can climb into the tens of millions depending on specifications and upgrades.
How should the bunker be?
Swiss practices have long influenced global bunker design, with Swiss law guaranteeing shelter access to citizens. A sizable portion of bunkers exists there, and the country supplies equipment to various Western markets. The Swiss approach often serves as a benchmark. According to these standards, a shelter should predominantly be underground, with a thick soil overburden that helps shield occupants from both radiation and blasts. Depths beyond three meters may complicate egress if access is blocked by a blast.
Underground structures should be encased in a sturdy shell, typically reinforced concrete. Wall thickness commonly ranges from 30 to 70 centimeters. Swiss guidelines allocate at least one square meter of space per person. While life inside such spaces may be uncomfortable, the important point is that spacing between load-bearing walls or columns should be optimized to maintain structural integrity. Entrance doors should be heavy and sealable from the outside to prevent blast intrusion.
In a nuclear event, radioactive contamination becomes a major concern, even more so than fires or blast waves. Soil coverage offers strong gamma shielding, but fallout can settle like dust. Prolonged exposure risks severe health consequences, so ventilation systems use filters to reduce contamination.
It is critical that the fan or air supply apparatus includes a manual backup. If the power supply fails, a manually operated option ensures continued airflow. Since the Cold War era, a radio receiver has been considered essential in shelters to receive civil defense alerts, though modern setups may also rely on portable power banks or hand-cranked generators for charging devices.
Planning for sustenance is important, with provisions for food and water and a sanitary facility. The first day after a detonation is the most dangerous for radioactive exposure. Experts use the 7:10 rule: a sevenfold increase in time since detonation corresponds to a tenfold decrease in radiation levels. Some Swiss shelters are equipped for a two-week survival window, though many are designed for shorter durations. It remains unlikely that individuals unprepared will spend extended periods inside a closed, cramped space.
Swiss law also specifies that a bomb shelter should be located at least a 30-minute walk from a residence, though this criterion is not typically an obstacle for private shelters on private land.