The Polish city of Lublin has revived a Cold War-era air raid shelter as Russia steps up attacks in Ukraine, with one symbolic change reflecting a shift in perceived threats: its emergency exit now faces west, not east.

Poland, once part of the Soviet bloc and now a member of NATO, is on heightened alert after several Russian missile and drone incursions into its airspace.

Residents of eastern regions have been issued warnings to seek shelter during Russian airstrikes on neighbouring western Ukraine.

The alerts have become an increasingly familiar part of life near the border.

Last week, a regional television station interrupted a live broadcast for about 20 minutes after journalists evacuated to a shelter during an air raid warning.

One of the shelters available during recent alerts is a modernised facility beneath the premises of municipal bus operator MPK in Lublin.

Built in the mid-1980s at the height of Cold War tensions, it was upgraded to meet current standards.

"It provides shelter for 200 people for up to 72 hours, ensuring access to air, water and electricity independent of external power grids," Kamil Rzad, a civil defence inspector at MPK Lublin, told Reuters.

The upgrades reflect growing efforts to bolster civil defence preparedness during Russia's war in Ukraine.

Yet many residents remain unsure where they would seek refuge in the event of an attack.

The number of shelters is estimated by the government at around 2,000, enough for about 300,000 people.

Poland also has over 86,000 places of refuge offering a lower level of protection such as basements, underground garages or subway stations, and catering for around 23 million people.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk this week said Russia's military campaign in Ukraine was moving ever closer to Ukraine's border with Poland, but the government was "fully focussed" on preventing any spill over onto Polish territory.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

LUBLIN, POLAND (SEPTEMBER 29, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. CIVIL DEFENCE INSPECTOR AT POLISH BUS OPERATOR MPK LUBLIN, KAMIL RZAD, OPENING DOORS LEADING TO SHELTER

2. SIGN READING (Polish): “Shelter”

3. RZAD OPENING DOOR

4. OPEM DOOR IN SHELTER

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) CIVIL DEFENCE INSPECTOR AT MPK LUBLIN, KAMIL RZAD, SAYING: (WALKING THROUGH SHELTER)

“We have beds gathered here; not all of them are set up yet. That will be something to keep us busy during our stay in the shelter - there are puzzles we can put together.”

6. BEDS INSIDE SHELTER

7. BASINS INSIDE SHELTER

8. (SOUNDBITE) CIVIL DEFENCE INSPECTOR AT MPK LUBLIN, KAMIL RZAD, SAYING:

“A week ago, we had the first evacuation and the first, you could say, combat use of this facility since it was built 40 years ago.”

9. RZAD WALKING INSIDE SHELTER

10. STORAGE ROOM WITH MATTRESSES AND BLANKETS ON SHELVES

11. RZAD SHOWING MANAGER'S OFFICE WITH OLD INFORMATION POSTERS

12. POSTERS AND A COLD WAR-ERA MAP ON WALL

13. (SOUNDBITE) CIVIL DEFENCE INSPECTOR AT MPK LUBLIN, KAMIL RZAD, SAYING:

“The shelter dates back to the mid-1980s, but it has recently undergone a major renovation to bring it up to modern standards.”

14. RZAD WALKING THROUGH SHELTER

15. RZAD DEMONSTRATING AIR FILTRATION STATION

16. VARIOUS OF AIR FILTRATION STATION

17. (SOUNDBITE) CIVIL DEFENCE INSPECTOR AT MPK LUBLIN, KAMIL RZAD, SAYING:

“It provides shelter for 200 people for 72 hours, ensuring access to air, a water source, and electricity - which, in this case, is independent of external power grids.”

18. RZAD POINTING TO EMERGENCY EXIT

19. RZAD OPENING DOOR WITH SIGN READING (Polish): “Emergency exit”

20. WOMAN WALKING INSIDE SHELTER

21. CORRIDOR LEADING TO LADDER TO EMERGENCY EXIT FROM SHELTER / LADDER UP WALL TO EXIT HATCH

22. ENTRANCE TO THE EMERGENCY EXIT HATCH OF SHELTER

23. BUSES PARKED IN PARKING LOT

24. EXTERIOR OF SHELTER ENTRANCE

25. SIGN READING (Polish): “Shelter”

WARSAW, POLAND (SEPTEMBER 29, 2026) (POLISH GOVERNMENT'S OFFICE - Access all)

26. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRIME MINISTER, DONALD TUSK, SAYING:

"We are repeatedly forced to scramble our aircraft, night after night and day after day, because Russian attacks near the border have become a constant occurrence.”

27. WHITE FLASH

28. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRIME MINISTER, DONALD TUSK, SAYING:

"We remain fully focused on ensuring that nothing untoward happens on the Polish side."

LUBLIN, POLAND (SEPTEMBER 29, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

29. PEOPLE WALKING NEXT TO TOWN HALL BUILDING

30. PEOPLE WALKING IN CITY CENTRE

31. (SOUNDBITE) 77-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER FROM LUBLIN, ELZBIETA WOZNICA, SAYING:

“I actually doubt we even have a shelter. I’d probably just run to the basement or my own bathroom.”

32. PEOPLE WALKING

33. (SOUNDBITE) 77-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER FROM LUBLIN, ELZBIETA WOZNICA, SAYING:

“Of course, I feel a bit more at risk, but I wouldn't say I’m living in a state of terror. For many years I was accustomed to peace and quiet. I couldn't imagine something like this could happen.”

34. PEOPLE WALKING

35. (SOUNDBITE) 67-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER FROM LUBLIN, JACEK KRASUCKI, SAYING:

“And I believe that, since NATO is, in my view, untouchable as far as (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is concerned, I sleep soundly.”

36. VARIOUS OF WOMAN PLAYING VIOLIN, PEOPLE WALKING BY

37. SMALL BRONZE GOAT FIGURINE PLAYING A TRUMPET, PART OF A TOURIST TRAIL INSPIRED BY LUBLIN'S COAT OF ARMS