Protective structures as a device of ensuring the safety of victims in a war situation

Abstract

Interest in protective structures is steadily increasing as the armed conflict in Ukraine unfolds. Experience shows that shelters and hiding places are the most effective form of protection for civilians from conventional and unconventional war threats. Meanwhile, there are no guidelines and rules for the construction of public and private shelters in Poland. The problem is a big one, especially in view of the war that is taking place in the close vicinity of Poland. The purpose of the article is to review Polish and foreign legal and organizational solutions in the field of protective constructions and to indicate the technical requirements necessary to meet in a situation of war danger, with particular emphasis on the use of nuclear weapons. The authors put forward the thesis that in the face of military and non-military threats, the effective way to protect and defend the life and health of the population are properly maintained and managed protective structures, including shelters and hiding places and places of temporary shelter. However, the basic problem remains the question of legal regulation in this regard and the responsibility for their financing and maintenance, which involves the issue of ownership (private and public shelters). In Poland, the experience of other countries that have adopted a variety of solutions should be a guideline for forward-looking activities in the area of protective structures.