Legal regime for underground parking shelters in Ukraine: adaptation to EU standards

The article is devoted to the analysis of certain aspects of legal support for the safety and sustainability of underground parking lots as dual-purpose structures (parking vehicles in peacetime and sheltering the population during emergencies) in Ukraine against the backdrop of ongoing armed aggression. The current state of civil protection shelters, key risks (vehicle fires, limited ventilation, insufficient shock wave resistance, and evacuation problems), and the regulatory framework of Ukraine (DBN V.2.2-5:2023, DBN V.2.3-15:2007) are analyzed. The article presents the results of a comparative analysis with European standards (Directive 2004/54/ EC for road tunnels, EN 12845 for sprinkler systems, EN 12101 for smoke extraction). The research methodology includes a comparative analysis of standards, CFD risk modeling, site surveys, and expert surveys. An analysis of the content of the DBN safety standards made it possible to identify key requirements for dual-use facilities that are relevant to dual use in general – ventilation, airtightness, evacuation, design, and autonomy. Hybrid models for adapting EU standards are proposed, including structural reinforcement of buildings, zoning of space, integration of fire extinguishing systems, and automated sealing. The conclusions confirm the economic and technical feasibility of adaptation to improve resilience without significant costs, with recommendations for updating building codes and international cooperation.