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Odesa Prepares Its Labyrinth Of Catacombs As Shelters Against Russian Attack

Deep beneath the Ukrainian port city of Odesa lies one of the world's largest underground labyrinths. The catacombs there, which date back to the early 1800s when limestone was mined for the city's grand structures, have served as a Cold War bunker, a World War II refuge for Soviet fighters, and a hideout for smugglers over the years. With 2,500 kilometers of tunnels, Odesa's catacombs are two to three times bigger than those of Paris and London combined.

Volunteers in Odesa have taken it upon themselves to search for Soviet-era bomb shelters within the city's catacombs to provide a safe haven for its residents as Russian forces advance deeper into Ukraine.


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