Children go underground as Ukraine starts new school year under constant Russian fire

As the new academic year commenced on September 1, 2026, Ukrainian children are once again navigating their education amidst persistent Russian aggression. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi reported that 25,000 educational institutions have opened under new safety protocols, with over 83% of students now having access to protective shelters. This includes an ongoing effort to construct additional underground schools and kindergartens, with approximately 200 such facilities projected to be operational by the end of the year.

Many students in regions like Kharkiv, where security risks remain high, are attending classes in underground schools, with 17 currently functioning and seven more nearing completion to accommodate about 30% of students in a hybrid learning model. In Kyiv, the first day of school was marked by a Russian drone attack, leading some students to begin classes directly in shelters or participate remotely. Certain schools in the capital have shifted to conducting all lessons in basements to minimize disruptions caused by frequent air raid sirens.

The widespread damage to educational infrastructure, with 4,650 facilities affected and 423 completely destroyed since the invasion began, underscores the challenging environment for learning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the renewed attacks on the first day of school, emphasizing the deliberate targeting of children in the conflict. Despite these significant obstacles, the country's education system continues to adapt, offering in-person, hybrid, and remote learning formats based on local security conditions and the availability of shelters.