St Petersburg plans to convert nine metro stations into civil defence shelters

The metro system in Russia's St Petersburg has decided to adapt nine stations for use as civil defence shelters, local online newspaper Fontanka.ru reported, citing data from a state procurement portal.

On September 10, the metro operator announced a search for a contractor to develop a feasibility study for the entire package of measures, including assessing the best options for completing, upgrading or adapting unfinished facilities so they can perform protective functions.

Scope and risks to be assessed

According to the technical brief, nine stations are set to be upgraded, along with four sections and 35 kilometres of track. The contractor will also need to analyse future risks such as changes in groundwater levels, urban development and technical obsolescence, and account for two types of emergencies: man-made disasters and fires.

The documentation states that the feasibility study must assess potential risks related to contaminated air possibly entering the ventilation systems of civil defence structures, and that technical solutions must ensure sufficiently effective filtration and ventilation equipment for removing radioactive dust, aerosols and toxic substances.

Ongoing inventory of shelters

The newspaper also reports that St Petersburg has been conducting an inventory of civil defence protective structures since 2024. Last year, 2,633 such structures were inspected, both standalone and those located within buildings. The city's committee on legality, law and order and security stated that most of these structures require repairs.

For context, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly struck oil depots in St Petersburg, as well as naval arsenals and a base in Kronstadt, as part of efforts to halt Russian aggression against Ukraine.