Anyone who thought that bunkers were now a thing of the past, part of our military heritage, was mistaken.

Bunkers seem, above all, to be a thing of the past. Most lie forgotten in the countryside, whilst some have been converted into museums. However, the war in Ukraine has shown that even in modern warfare there can be a great need for compact, military defences that offer protection against enemy attacks.

A Ukrainian company recently unveiled its own new type of bunker. The mobile ‘Parabella’ can be assembled by two soldiers within three quarters of an hour using 16-millimetre-thick plates of reinforced steel. First, a pit must be dug. A series of posts are then placed in it, onto which the bunker plates are mounted. Dismantling takes just 15 minutes, after which the bunker can be transported elsewhere to be reassembled. The entire structure weighs 3,500 kilograms and has a diameter of 3.20 metres. Ten fully equipped soldiers can take cover inside it at the same time.

According to its manufacturers, the Parabella complies with NATO standards and has now been approved for use by the Ukrainian army. Thanks to its firing ports, the bunker can be used as a gun turret, but above all it offers long-term protection against enemy fire. It is said to be capable of withstanding all types of drone attacks, as well as artillery fire, grenades, landmines and anti-tank weapons. This is partly due to a grid fitted to the exterior, which causes ammunition to detonate before it comes into contact with the armoured plates. For added concealment, soldiers can also choose to cover the entire structure with sand.

The name ‘Parabella’ is a combination of the English word for‘umbrella’ and the Latin saying ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’: if you want peace, prepare for war.