The city of Kharkiv in Ukraine has opened its first bunker school, located 20 feet below ground, to protect children from Russian drone and missile attacks. With relentless attacks near the Russian border, most children in the city have been learning from home, but now they have the opportunity to attend classes in person.
The school, named Kharkiv’s primary school 155, welcomed hundreds of students this week for their first day of classes. The underground facility is brightly lit and painted in white and lime green, providing a safe and modern learning environment for the children.
Despite the ongoing conflict and the fear of airstrikes, parents and students are excited about the opportunity to attend school in person. Marina Prikhodko, a mother of two students at the school, expressed her children’s excitement to meet their friends and teachers face-to-face.
The school has an initial enrollment of 300 students, but plans to expand to accommodate up to 900 students with two daily shifts. The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, emphasized the importance of providing a quality education for the children, even in the midst of war.
The opening of the bunker school was celebrated with traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts and a festive atmosphere. Headmaster Ihor Voznyi highlighted the stark difference between the new school and the previous inadequate facilities, stating that the new spaces are designed to provide a safe and modern learning environment for the students.
Despite the challenges of living in a war zone, the opening of Ukraine’s first bunker school in Kharkiv represents a beacon of hope for the children and families in the city, showing resilience and determination to continue with their lives despite the ongoing conflict.
