Krasnodar residents expressed dissatisfaction with the equipment of drone shelters.

Basements used in Krasnodar as shelters from drones do not provide minimal conditions for long-term stay: there is no ventilation, seating, water, or restrooms. After an alarm is announced, it may take up to 15 minutes to access the shelter, and sometimes the entrance remains inaccessible, residents complained.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 15, a resident of Krasnodar filmed a video showing a drone shelter in the basement of her house without furniture and other amenities. Other Krasnodar residents, commenting on this video in Telegram, debated whether an empty room is sufficient for a shelter or if it should have at least minimal conditions.

During an alarm, moving to the shelter takes up to 15 minutes

Residents of Krasnodar, commenting on the state of drone shelters in their homes, complained about their unsatisfactory condition. For instance, a resident of the Prikuban district of Krasnodar Aleksandr noted that the basement in his house is not ready for long-term stay of people.

Just a raw concrete room without furniture.

"The shelter in our basement is in a deplorable state: there are bare light bulbs hanging, ventilation is only natural through vents, and due to constant dampness, there is a persistent smell of mold. There are no benches, drinking water, and certainly no bio-toilets; it is just a raw concrete room without furniture. Access to it is formally free, but the key is with the concierge and the senior of the entrance, so right after the announcement of drone danger, getting in is problematic, especially at night," he told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

During recent alarms, about 15-20 people descended into this basement, people stood along the walls, and children sat on laid-out cardboard, Aleksandr continued. According to his assessment, only minimal lighting has been provided as per the requirements of the Civil Defense Department. The situation worries residents, who hope for a solution to the problem, added the Krasnodar resident.

Access to the basement of the house was blocked, despite a sign on the door reading "Shelter", complained a teacher from the Festival microdistrict Natalia.

"None of the requirements in our house have been met. The basement is locked with a heavy padlock, the sign 'Shelter' hangs right on the closed door, and the phone of the senior of the house is often unavailable at night. During one of the real threats of drone attacks, about 30 people with children gathered at the door, we stood on the landing for about 40 minutes and could not get inside because we couldn't find the key. We have repeatedly requested to equip the room according to the regulations. In response, there were promises to do everything, but there has been no result," she complained to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

Attempts to achieve minimal conditions for the shelter were also unsuccessful in a house in the Karasun district, reported a local resident Sergey.

"The shelter is an empty concrete bunker without chairs and water. At the moment of a real alarm, about 40 people from three entrances descended into the basement – there was not enough space, it was very stuffy due to the lack of forced ventilation, and elderly people felt unwell," he told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

My legs go numb standing on the concrete, there is nowhere to sit.

Comfort requirements in the shelter are secondary, but access to the room should be organized without delays, believes a resident of the Central district Irina. In her house, the basement is dry and well-lit, and the residents brought benches themselves, but there is no restroom or water supply. During alarms, up to 25 people descend there, and waiting for a person with a key takes 10-15 minutes, Irina said.

"I believe it is pointless to demand conditions of a three-star hotel from a basement. The main thing is that the room protects from debris and shock waves," said the Krasnodar resident to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot". She added that the residents of her house did not contact the management company, as they hoped to equip the room on their own.

Being in unprepared basements is especially difficult for elderly people, pointed out a pensioner from the Jubilee microdistrict Viktor. He noted that in his house, the basement has no seating or ventilation, it is damp and cold, and condensation drips from the ceiling.

"I tried to go down there during one of the night alarms with about a dozen residents, but I couldn't stay there long: my legs go numb standing on the concrete, there is nowhere to sit, and condensation drips from the ceiling. We did not see any bio-toilets or water," Viktor told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

The condition of the shelters has affected the attitudes of the interviewees towards the recent elections differently. Aleksandr reported that the problem did not affect his decision, and he voted for his candidate, who did not win. Natalia said she did not go to the elections because she does not believe her vote will change anything. Sergey believes that the lack of response to safety requests generates a "deaf protest," and many of his neighbors did not go to vote due to apathy. Irina reported that when choosing a candidate, she considered tariffs and utility emergencies more. Viktor said he always goes to the elections on principle and this time voted with the hope that the authorities would address the real problems of residents in border conditions, the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" reported.

A lawyer explained the procedure for equipping shelters from drones

The division of requirements for basements into mandatory and recommended depends on the legal status of the premises and whether it has the status of an official civil defense protective structure, noted a lawyer in the housing sector Yuri Domashev.

The purchase of furniture and water is not provided for by law.

The management company is obliged to maintain the basement in proper sanitary and technical condition, ensure proper lighting, natural ventilation, absence of dampness and garbage, free evacuation passages, and round-the-clock access to keys, Domashev explained, referring to part 2.3 of Article 161 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, paragraph 10 of Government Resolution No. 491, paragraph 4.1 of State Construction Rules No. 170, and paragraphs 16 and 18 of Fire Safety Rules. For violations of these requirements, the management company may face administrative liability with fines of up to 50,000 rubles under Articles 7.22 and 20.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Russia, he added.

Equipping basements with benches, water supplies, and bio-toilets is not included in the minimum mandatory list of services provided by management organizations, the lawyer noted.

"If the basement does not have the status of a bomb shelter under Federal Law No. 28-FZ 'On Civil Defense', the recommendations of the Civil Defense Department of Krasnodar and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are organizational in nature for the management company. The purchase of benches, bio-toilets, and bottled water is not provided for by Government Resolution No. 290. It is not possible to compel the management company to purchase this equipment at the expense of the 'housing maintenance' article. Either a decision of the general meeting of owners under Article 44 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation is required with the allocation of contributions, or direct financing from the municipal budget. At the same time, ensuring the prompt unlocking of the basement during an alarm remains an unconditional obligation of the management company," Domashev concluded.