Details emerge about the secure shelter during the alert in the town of "Skazka" in Mykolaiv.

Closed shelter during the alarm in the "Skazka" children's town in Mykolaiv: details have emerged

In Mykolaiv, a security guard was able to open the shelter in the "Skazka" children's town only 37 minutes after the air raid alert was announced.

Details of the incident, which occurred on January 12, were clarified by “Suspilne”.

Local resident Ekaterina Maksimenko recounted that she and her family were walking in the town that evening. At 5:43 PM, the siren sounded, prompting them to return to their car.

“At the car, I heard the sounds of combat and the noise of 'Shaheds'. Instantly, I picked up my child and ran to the shelter. But unfortunately, the door was locked,” the woman shared.

More than 20 people gathered at the entrance, all trying to get into the shelter. People called the security service, but, according to one mother, she was told that they did not know where the key was. Ekaterina called the police, and the law enforcement officers documented that the entrance remained closed.

“I called the police because I believe this is a gross violation of our rights. 37 minutes passed from the announcement of the alarm to the opening of the shelter. And all that time, while people were on the stairs, the key was under the mat,” the woman added.

The director of the "Skazka" children's town, Natalia Demchishina, explained that the duty officer responsible for the shelter had stepped away to the restroom at that moment. According to her, there is no restroom inside the shelter, and the staff member had to go to another part of the town.

“We have an order that outlines the duties of the duty officer, which certainly stipulates that if any need arises, they should at least leave a security guard at their post,” the director noted, adding that following this incident, the employee would receive a reprimand.

Demchishina also pointed out that another entrance to the shelter, located near the amphitheater, was open during the alarm.

“People were perhaps not adequately informed. And there may be some responsibility on the part of the "Skazka" children’s town. Although signs are posted,” the director remarked.

Regarding the security guards who were supposed to open the shelter, the director explained that they are staff of a contractor, not of the town itself.
“As far as I know, there was a security guard yesterday - a relatively new person at our site, and he may not have been properly instructed,” she noted.

This is not the first time the situation with a closed shelter has occurred at "Skazka". Natalia Demchishina recalled that after the first incident, it was decided to keep duty officers at the entrance. However, according to her, the shelter “partially fulfilled its function”.

“The entrance to the shelter starts with a metal door, and the walls are thick. So, I understand that the shelter was not fully opened, but people were already safe,” she said.

Lawyer Andrey Sachenko explained that if someone were harmed or killed due to the closed entrance during the alarm, the duty officer could face 3 to 8 years in prison. If consequences were avoided, the responsibility could be classified as “attempted crime.”

“As for the management in the case of severe consequences - they could be held accountable for official negligence,” the lawyer concluded.