Underground shelter manufacturers are reporting a surge in customer inquiries since Russia invaded Ukraine, including Artemis Protection, a high-end bunker company based in France.
The company's founder Mathieu Séranne said he has received 500 bomb shelter inquiries over the past two weeks. According to screenshots viewed by Insider, the company has received 30 requests in the past 24 hours.
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionCustomers are willing to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into bunkers because "our most basic instinct as human beings is survival," Séranne told Insider.
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionThe ready-to-use shelter "is as comfortable as a mountain chalet and strong enough to withstand any major event, anywhere in the world," he said.
Courtesy of Artemis Protection"When people around the world see a nuclear superpower acting with such cruelty and so little logic it shocks them and reminds them that peace is a fragile balance," Séranne said, referencing the impact Russia's invasion has had on the market.
Courtesy of Artemis Protection85% of Artemis Protection's clients come from France. The remaining orders have come from Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Poland — countries that are close in proximity to the Belarusian border.
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionSéranne said there has recently been strong demand from Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well.
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionArtemis Protection's initial design goal was to "redefine the 'image' of the bunker, to make it warm and welcoming." Then, as orders flooded in, Séranne decided to create a smaller model that could be produced in three weeks.
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionBelow is a digital rendering of the 65-square foot "standard" bunker, priced at $162,000 and able to shelter four people during an attack.
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionAccording to traffic data viewed by Insider, the vast majority of visitors to Artemis Protection's website come from Googling keywords such as "bunker" or "fallout shelter."
Courtesy of Artemis Protection"This is showing a real concern," Séranne said. "They are looking by themselves to get a shelter."
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionWhile site traffic peaked on March 11, Séranne predicts the market for bunkers will continue to grow and become more accessible as global tensions with Russia persist.
Courtesy of Artemis ProtectionVia PakApNews