Estonia to build a bomb shelter for the children's emergency centre in Ukraine

Sunny House offers vital protection for up to 50 children aged 3 to 18 who have lost parental care due to war, domestic violence, neglect or trafficking. Children can stay at the centre for up to nine months, receiving support and rehabilitation in a safe environment. 

Until now, Sunny House has relied on an old vegetable cellar during missile attacks and air raid alerts. Under Ukrainian law, all child-serving facilities must have proper bomb shelters, making the construction of this bomb shelter an urgent matter. 

“The construction of a modern protective shelter will keep children and their caregivers safe during air raids, while also reducing stress, preventing re-traumatization, and supporting recovery. Our partnership with ESTDEV shows how international cooperation can make a real difference in protecting the most vulnerable,” said Viktor Hradivskyi, Deputy Chairman of the Zhytomyr Oblast Military Administration.  

According to Margus Gering, ESTDEV’s Regional Head for Europe and Head of Ukraine Reconstruction and Recovery, the children at Sunny House have already experienced profound personal trauma, which has been further intensified by the ongoing war. 

"This project is not just about building a safe shelter for children but offering them a foundation for healing and growth. Estonia stands with Ukraine in protecting its most vulnerable individuals," said Gering. 

ESTDEV has developed a standardised blueprint for a multi-purpose shelter that meets modern safety requirements, offers protection from a range of hazards, and can be adapted to various building types and locations. It can accommodate up to 75 people and is equipped with essential safety infrastructure and doubles as a functional space for group therapy, education and play during peacetime. 

For building the first such shelter in the city of Zhytomyr, ESTDEV has finalised the public procurement process and signed a nearly 500,000-euro construction contract with the Ukrainian company LLC Alexander & I. The brand-new bomb shelter will be delivered at the beginning of 2026. 

Ivan Stuzhuk, head of Operations at Alexander & I, expressed the company's gratitude to the Estonian people, represented by ESTDEV, for their continued support of Ukraine. 

"We highly appreciate the trust of our international partners and will make every effort to successfully implement the project to build a new bomb shelter for children in the city of Zhytomyr," said Stuzhuk.  

Currently, only 15% of bomb shelters in Ukraine meet modern safety standards. This project marks a critical step in strengthening protection for civilians amid ongoing conflict and supports broader humanitarian and reconstruction efforts across the country. 

The project has the potential to be scaled across Ukraine with support from interested partners and donors.