Latvia to build 15 bomb shelters near Russian border with EU funding

The Latvian government has announced plans to construct 15 bomb shelters in regions bordering Russia, as part of a broader initiative to strengthen civil protection infrastructure amid growing regional security concerns.

Five shelters will be built in each of the Ludza, Balvi, and Kraslava municipalities. The project will be financed through the European Regional Development Fund, Caliber.Az reports per the Latvian broadcaster LSM.

“This is only the first step towards creating public shelters. We still have a long way to go,” said Sergejs Maksimovs, a deputy of the Balvi municipal council, as quoted by the portal.

The initiative comes amid wider discussions on enhancing emergency preparedness. In April, Latvia’s Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis revealed that the government was exploring the option of deploying mobile shelters, particularly near key government institutions. He noted that such solutions could provide a flexible and effective means of ensuring public safety in times of crisis.

The shelter construction project marks a significant development in Latvia’s efforts to reinforce civilian infrastructure amid heightened tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.

By Sabina Mammadli