Karkiv, Ukraine: The Ongoing Struggles of Children in Education

For over five years, thousands of children in Ukraine have been tethered to their screens as continuous bombings make leaving for in-person education unsafe.

Moscow frequently targets critical infrastructure in Ukraine, creating risks that impede even basic daily activities.

Take Kyrylo, a fourth-grader. He’s only recently returned to in-person classes after spending most of his school life behind a screen, starting kindergarten in 2020 when the pandemic first hit. Virtual learning became the norm for students globally.

When schools reopened in the fall of 2021, Kyrylo was excited to reconnect with classmates and develop essential social skills. However, the outbreak of a full-scale war in February forced students back online once again.

A parent, who requested anonymity to protect their child from potential Russian targeting, shared, “It’s incredibly frightening to think about your child’s safety. He’s just ten years old; I can’t let him go out by himself.” They noted that keeping up with online lessons is challenging, as teachers are unable to cover everything thoroughly, requiring parents to help their children relearn material.

Kyrylo has only one close friend, the son of a neighbor. When they do manage to meet, it often happens before his mother’s nightly routine, ensuring they can reach the shelter safely when air raid alarms sound.

“It feels like we’re in a never-ending COVID era,” a local named Vlada remarked. “But this time, there are bombs.”

Much like in the U.S., many schools in Ukraine lack bomb shelters, which often forces parents to make difficult decisions to secure their children’s education safely.

Some families scrape together enough money to send their kids to expensive private schools equipped with shelter facilities.

Slava, a pharmacist from Kharkiv with a ten-year-old son, feels a strong obligation to ensure her child receives a quality education. “The first year of the war, he was isolated online, which was tough, so I decided he needed a real, traditional education,” she explained.

She noted that her son had been “depressed” while studying at home alone but has begun to thrive since returning to a classroom environment.

“He enjoys being with other kids. Learning online is hard for little ones; they need interaction,” Slava added. “It’s not just about academics—school is also about friendships and socialization.”

Another parent, Tatiana, has made personal sacrifices to keep her son safe from the brutal war. Her seven-year-old, Alexei, found online learning particularly challenging during the first two war years. To ensure he receives proper education, Tatiana made the tough choice to send him to live with her mother in Poltava, where schools have bomb shelters.

“We’re doing everything we can to improve our children’s lives,” she shared. “I travel to Poltava to see him, and we’re just trying to make it work.”

In Poltava, kids attend school in person but must go to shelters whenever alarms go off. “It’s very strict,” Tatiana added.

Fortunately, some lucky students attend underground schools, funded by generous donations from around the world. A recent visit to such a school in Pisochyn, near Kharkiv, revealed a cheerful environment meant to uplift students in a three-story, windowless setup.

The school has eight classrooms designed to accommodate 250 students, but due to high demand and limited space, two shifts of four hours are necessary daily, according to Mayor Oleg Chernovi.

During the Post’s visit, a summer program catered to students who had previously been learning online. Chernovi pointed out the severity of the situation: “It takes just 45 seconds for a Russian rocket to reach Kharkiv.”

“When alarms don’t sound, the kids are already underground,” the mayor continued. “This way, they can stay safe and continue their studies.”

Anastasia, a sixth-grade student, expressed, “I feel safer at school than at home.” Another girl, Yevheniia, shared that one of the best aspects of returning to in-person classes was being with friends she had missed. “Being here with friends and teachers is much better than learning from home,” she remarked, adding, “If we must endure war, we should at least be with friends.”