While the war in Ukraine feels like a distant hum for many in Nitra, Slovakia, local councils are quietly preparing for the unthinkable. Despite Prime Minister Robert Fico’s reassuring, pro-Kremlin rhetoric that Slovaks have “nothing to fear” from Russia, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Since the 2022 invasion, cities like Nitra, a five-hour drive from the Ukrainian border, have been annually repairing and refurbishing their Cold War-era nuclear fallout shelters. This year alone, Nitra plans to spend €40,000, a small sum compared to what’s needed, but a clear sign of shifting priorities. Before the conflict, these shelters were a “dead investment,” largely neglected since the fall of Communism. Now, the dormant fear of war has spurred a new sense of urgency.
The challenge is immense. Many of Slovakia’s 1,500 shelters, designed for chemical and biological attacks, are in terrible shape. Think “obsolete ventilation and electrical wiring,” mouldy walls, and inadequate water supplies – far from ready to protect anyone. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok criticized their “mouldy walls” and “broken doors,” pledging an audit and a plan to double shelter capacity by 2040, aiming for 1.7 million Slovaks to have access. The government is even hoping the EU might chip in.
But with official action slow, many citizens aren’t waiting. Companies selling private safety rooms and reinforced underground shelters have seen demand skyrocket by 75% annually since 2022. It seems if the government can’t fully protect them, people will protect themselves. Yet, for all this activity, most people in Nitra remain unaware of their nearest shelter, highlighting a curious disconnect: preparing for the worst, while largely ignoring the potential reality.
