Poland races to build bomb shelters amid rising Russian threat

Poland will require real estate developers to include bomb shelters in most new buildings from 2026, as the country moves to address longstanding gaps in civilian protection against potential Russian aggression.

The decision comes as Poland, a frontline NATO state, faces increasing hybrid threats from Moscow. Recent incidents—including the bombing of a train line allegedly by Kremlin operatives and Russian drones violating Polish airspace in September—have exposed weaknesses in the nation’s civil defence infrastructure, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Financial Times. 

Despite allocating nearly 5 per cent of GDP to military spending, Poland has invested little in protecting its population. Most existing shelters date back to the communist era and are now in poor condition. Only about 1,000 facilities are currently deemed fit for use, enough for just 3 per cent of the country’s 37 million people. By comparison, Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, can shelter around 80 per cent of its population.

“It is a gigantic problem,” said Sławomir Cenckiewicz, head of Poland’s National Security Bureau. “Poland in recent years has focused on modernising the armed forces and forgot about this. We really have to increase our civilian resilience.”

To support the new building law, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government has earmarked 16 billion zlotys (€3.8 billion) for shelter construction in this year’s budget. Cities including Warsaw are also investing local funds to upgrade and expand existing facilities. In December, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced plans to convert the city’s metro system into a shelter capable of accommodating 100,000 residents, complete with camp beds, drinking water, and blankets.

Poland is drawing lessons from Finland’s extensive civil defence system. In September, Polish officials toured a 6,000-person shelter in Helsinki featuring amenities such as a café, playground, volleyball court, and gym. “It is crucial for Poland and its people that we implement these mechanisms,” said President Karol Nawrocki.

The urgency is compounded by Poland’s role as a logistics hub for Western weapons shipments to Ukraine, making it a potential target for further attacks. Public concern is rising: a recent survey indicated that almost 60 per cent of Poles would now support army conscription, a measure previously unpopular due to historical associations with Soviet-era military service.

Private companies are also entering the sector. In October, Polish construction firm Atlas Ward partnered with Finnish shelter specialist Temet to supply blast protection doors and ventilation systems. “Building shelters for the whole population in Poland will take a lot of time,” said Juha Simola, Temet’s CEO, noting that Finland took 70 years to reach its current level of protection.

Poland’s civil protection law, which came into force in January, now requires developers to incorporate shelters in new buildings. However, detailed construction standards are still being finalised. Experts caution that without strict regulations, funds could be wasted and construction quality compromised.

“Even if the law is not perfect, it at least gives a chance to start,” said retired General Jarosław Gromadziński. “Protecting civilians is not as easy or quick as buying weapons.”

As tensions with Russia continue, Poland is racing to bolster its civilian defences, aiming to safeguard its population while maintaining its role at the forefront of NATO’s eastern flank.

By Khagan Isayev