Seven Hours Trapped in a Burning Warehouse: How 92 Rozetka Employees Survived

2 September 09:57

Rozetka’s underground shelter in Brovary saved employees during the Russian attack on the main distribution center on the night of August 5, 2026.

Three ballistic missiles struck near the shelter, after which a massive fire engulfed the warehouse complex. It took nearly seven hours to bring the fire under control, but everyone who was underground survived unharmed.

Rozetka co-owner Vladislav Chechotkin spoke to TSN.ua about the shelter’s design, its cost, and the sequence of events, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"

How the Rozetka shelter saved 92 employees

On the night of the attack, 92 Rozetka employees were on shift. Several people from supplier companies also took shelter underground.

After the strikes, the warehouse caught fire. Russian shelling continued, so rescue workers could not immediately and safely reach the scene. People remained underground until the most dangerous phase of the attack had ended and emergency services had arrived.

According to Vladislav Chechotkin, none of those in the shelter were injured:

from the blast wave;
from debris;
smoke;
combustion products;
or the high temperatures from the surrounding fire.

Employees were only allowed to leave after rescue workers arrived on the scene and assessed the situation.

How much did the Rozetka shelter cost?

The construction of the underground shelter cost the company 60 million hryvnias. The structure was built in about five months.

A site with a minimal number of underground utilities was selected for construction. This allowed the company to avoid relocating them, which could have significantly increased the cost and duration of the work.

According to Chechotkin, the company quickly received the technical specifications. Some difficulties arose during the facility’s commissioning, but ultimately the shelter was officially authorized for use.

How many people can the shelter accommodate?

The bomb shelter is designed to accommodate 600 people. This is the maximum number of employees who can work at the facility during a single shift, including drivers and supplier personnel.

This capacity means that during an alert, not only full-time employees but also people temporarily on the logistics center’s premises can receive protection.

“Our shelter is designed to accommodate 600 people. This is the maximum number of employees working a single shift, plus supplier personnel—drivers who may be on site during an air raid alert or shelling,” says the company’s director.

On the night of the ballistic attack, the shelter was not fully occupied: there were 92 Rozetka employees and several representatives from partner companies inside.

How Rozetka’s bomb shelter is set up

The shelter was built as a self-sufficient facility where people can stay for an extended period even without electricity or outside assistance.

The bomb shelter was built in accordance with all existing regulations and standards, although, according to Chechotkin, modern Ukraine effectively has no specific building codes for shelters—only updated standards dating back to the Soviet era.

“We went a step further on this issue: we added explosion-proof ventilation, along with mechanical ventilation drives, and installed a smoke extraction system. Thus, even if the power supply is cut off, the bomb shelter will remain operational—people will have air to breathe, and they can stay inside for quite a long time. The bomb shelter is equipped with the necessary number of restrooms. It also stores a certain supply of food and water. There is a redundant backup power supply—a generator located above ground and another one inside the shelter. There is also a fuel storage room, which is separated from the bomb shelter. In addition, the facility is equipped with ramps, and people with limited mobility can use it—there are even restrooms underground designed for them. “There is heating, so it won’t be cold there in the winter, and people will be able to stay there for a long time,” explains Vladislav Chechotkin.

Mechanical ventilation control ensures that air circulation is maintained even after a power outage.

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Dual power redundancy also reduces the risk of a complete shutdown of the building’s systems if one of the generators is damaged or runs out of fuel.

“Modern buildings aren’t made of concrete or brick, but rather sandwich panels that protect against heat, cold, and precipitation. But they won’t protect you from bullets, let alone artillery shells. In wartime, a shelter is the most important thing for a business, because human life is priceless—you can’t bring it back,” says Chechotkin.

Could the shelter have protected against smoke?

The fire at the warehouse lasted about seven hours. Under such conditions, the danger to people comes not only from debris and the possible collapse of structures, but also from carbon monoxide and other toxic combustion products.

The Rozetka shelter was equipped with a protected ventilation system and a smoke extraction system. It was the autonomy of these systems that allowed people to remain underground while the warehouse complex burned above them.

According to the company’s owner, none of the people were poisoned by combustion products.

At the same time, the company has not publicly disclosed the exact specifications of the filtration system, the thickness of the reinforced concrete floor slabs, or the structure’s protection class.

What the shelter is made of

The structure is built on a foundation of sturdy reinforced concrete. Vladislav Chechotkin did not specify the exact thickness of the walls and floors, citing security concerns, but noted that the structure is designed to withstand significant loads.

During the attack, the shelter withstood:

three ballistic missile explosions nearby;
falling debris;
a fire in the storage areas;
heavy smoke;
a prolonged lack of access for rescue workers.

As a result, the modern logistics center, built primarily of sandwich panels, was destroyed. Such structures provide protection from temperature extremes and precipitation but cannot serve as permanent shelters.

The first shelter was built back in March 2022

Rozetka set up the first shelter on its premises in March 2022. At that time, Russian troops were located about three kilometers from the warehouse, and bullets were reaching the facility.

Due to a shortage of equipment and building materials, the company used shipping containers buried underground. They were covered with wood and backfilled with soil.

This was a temporary solution that allowed the company to continue operations during the first weeks of the full-scale invasion.

“Back then, in 2022, it was difficult to get equipment, as it was all being diverted to the construction of defensive lines. And, frankly, we didn’t have the means to build anything large-scale—business was practically at a standstill at the time. So we built our first shelter out of containers buried underground, covered with wood on top and backfilled with soil. All in accordance with civil defense guidelines dating back to Soviet times,” Chechotkin explained.

After the Kyiv region was liberated, the company began construction of a full-scale reinforced-concrete shelter with autonomous life-support systems.

Why the shelter itself wasn’t the only decisive factor

Having a permanent shelter was the key to survival, but the success was also due to the employees’ training.

In the months leading up to the attack, each shift practiced an emergency evacuation every week. People knew:

which route to take;
where the nearest entrance was located;
who was responsible for checking the premises;
when to close the protective doors;
under what conditions they could leave the shelter.

In addition, the company conducted fire drills every quarter. Medical staff also regularly practiced providing assistance to victims.

Thanks to this, the air raid siren did not cause any confusion among the staff: everyone immediately began the evacuation.

Rescue workers also used the shelter

Upon arriving on the premises, rescue workers did not leave the site even during repeated air raid alarms.

They went down to the shelter, waited out the danger, and returned to fighting the fire once the all-clear was given. The availability of a protected space made it possible to continue the rescue operation without a long interruption.

The shelter also houses a medical station, where a team is constantly on duty.

According to Chechotkin, during the previous attack on the Rozetka site, the company’s medical staff treated six wounded people and stabilized them until the ambulance arrived.