Demand for $300,000 luxury bomb shelters is rising amid Russia's Ukraine invasion

In an interview with the publication, Ron Hubbard, the CEO of Atlas Survival Shelters, said "I've never seen it like this because we've seen Russia invade a sovereign country. A lot of people who were on the fence are like, 'Let's do this.'"

Luxury bunkers are on the rise

The thought of buying a bomb shelter might not feel as far-out and apocalyptic as it might have done prior to the pandemic. As a report by The New York Times puts it, the world's "manifestations of its anxieties and desires for self-defense have shifted from the masks, vaccines, and lockdowns of Covid to the bunkers, iodine pills, and air raid sirens of nuclear war." Still, it's surprising to see that some bomb shelter companies are providing luxury bunkers.

France-based Artemis Protection, for example, offers luxury bomb shelters for a cost of between $300,000 and $500,000, depending on requirements. The company's founder, Mathieu Séranne, told Business Insider he has received 500 bomb shelter inquiries over the last two weeks.

In a statement on March 9, the European Union said it is "extremely concerned by the nuclear safety, security and safeguards risks caused by the Russian invasion on Ukraine and the potential damage to its nuclear facilities that could have a significant impact with potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment." 

Just over two years ago, one might have been laughed at for suggesting the entire world would be wearing masks and social distancing for months on end. Now, in a world that's used to being on high alert, the new demand for bomb shelters might feel less surprising, though it's no less alarming.