Ukrainian students begin new school year in underground shelters as Russian aerial attacks continue
Thousands of Ukrainian children began the new school year on September 1, 2026, with many classes held in underground shelters due to ongoing Russian aerial attacks. In Kyiv, students at the Ukrainian Global School and Lyceum No. 257 "Syniozernyi" moved to basements to avoid interrupting lessons during frequent air raid alerts. Kyiv authorities reported that air raid alerts occurred 60 times between Thursday and Tuesday, resulting in at least 53 deaths and over 100 injuries in the region. To accommodate the students, schools are adopting hybrid models, with some students learning in person, some online, and others in a market-dependent format. The war has significantly impacted the education system, with over 1,600 schools damaged or destroyed. Many children, such as eight-year-old Milana, have never experienced a first day of school in peacetime. In some areas, schools remain closed due to a lack of adequate shelters, forcing students to rely on online learning. Efforts are underway to renovate schools and build new shelters to ensure students can continue to receive face-to-face interaction and education despite the conflict.