First Underground School-Shelter for Ukrainian Children Built in Kharkiv

The completion of an underground school-shelter six meters deep allows Ukrainian children to return to in-person classes after more than two years, studying safely without fear of Russian missile and drone attacks. Reuters reported on Tuesday, May 15, the opening of Ukraine's first underground school in Kharkiv. There are no windows in the classrooms, but they have adequate lighting, and the school corridors are painted in white and lime green. Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine located in the northeast of the country near the border with Russia, has been the target of relentless missile and drone attacks by the Russian army since the onset of Moscow's military invasion in February 2022. In the 26 months since the war began, children in Kharkiv have mostly been educated at home and through virtual classes. For some children, attending a real class with a real teacher and alongside other children is their first school experience in the past two and a half years. So far, 300 students have registered at the 'Ihor Vozny' school; the mayor of Kharkiv stated that this underground school will accommodate 450 students in two shifts. He mentioned, 'We must ensure that both teachers and students get used to the school.' A Russian airstrike on a school in Ukraine left several injured. The construction of underground schools in eastern Ukraine is a response to ongoing Russian threats. The First Lady of Ukraine stated, 'We want weapons to protect our home and right to live.' A Ukrainian governor reported the possibility of 60 casualties in the bombing of a school.