Restore Ukraine establishes “Point of Invincibility”, the first in a series of shelters for Ukrainians.

When Russian missiles fly overhead, the residents of Kharkiv, Ukraine are forced to take shelter underground. The trauma left behind by a last-minute scramble to shelter is made worse by the conditions they find in the few shelters available.

As a nonprofit, Restore Ukraine’s goal is to provide as many comfortable and safe places for war-stricken Ukrainians as possible. To aid that mission, Restore Ukraine opened a new kind of shelter on the campus of Kharkiv’s National Law University.

The Point of Invincibility (the name of the collective center) has a total area of over 8500 square feet. The facility can operate completely autonomously and serve as a bomb shelter; it is equipped with life necessities such as generators and large wood stoves for 100 people to warm up during winter.

Furthermore, Restore Ukraine fully equipped this shelter with 7 bedrooms for 60 more people, a kitchen, several restrooms and its own medical aid station. In times of emergency, the vault can host up to 260 residents.

The shelter is well-stocked for use, with medical supplies, food, hygiene material and water for multiple purposes.

Residents in the area are encouraged to warm up in the Point of Invincibility with hot tea or coffee, rest, recharge gadgets, access the Internet and wait out air strikes or rocket attacks in the event of a power outage.

The shelter addresses an acute need for housing and supplies for Kharkiv residents, as many people in the region are suffering due to a lack of basic necessities.

The shelter’s opening was attended by Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov and other city officials, who said that the facility is crucial for nearby residents.

“The establishment of such storage facilities is critical,” Terekhov said.”After all, our adversary is cynical – just the day before, there was an attack on a residential building, and people were displaced. But Kharkiv is impenetrable. We will stand, and we will undoubtedly win.”

The event was also attended by Restore Ukraine’s partners from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

“We are very happy to be in Kharkiv – the city, which functions and inspires,” Dimitris Dendrinos, a Project Officer for IOM. “Thanks to people who work in this facility, we managed to implement this project.”

As Restore Ukraine continues to build shelters like Point of Invincibility, more people will be able to wait out Russian attacks in safety. With a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, more people will be able to survive.