First day of autumn school in Ukraine

At least 379 children have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion in February, and another 223 are missing, according to the country’s attorney general. However, the number is believed to be much higher in reality. At least another 7,013 children are among the Ukrainians forcibly transferred by Russia to Russian-controlled areas.

Many children have been forced to flee their homes in other parts of Ukraine or in other countries to avoid fighting. Others have been hiding in basements for weeks. In areas deemed safe, it was possible to go to school digitally, although classes often had to be interrupted by air raid alerts.

2,400 schools were damaged, 269 of which are considered destroyed, according to Ukrainian authorities.

It will be like the new normal for children, which I think is very worrying because this is not how children should live their lives, thinking they are going to be attacked at any moment, says UNICEF Director Katherine Russell.

On Thursday, 51 percent of the country’s schools are open for on-site classes, but students can instead study remotely if parents prefer.

Among other things, in the Kyiv, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions, children are allowed to return to the classroom, but in some places the lessons are held underground.

You usually have windows so you can see. These kids don’t have that luxury and are accustomed to this lifestyle, being forced to protect against potential attacks, which isn’t what any kid should put up with, says Katherine Russell.