Get you up to speed: Students in Kharkiv attend classes underground amid ongoing Russian attacks
In Kharkiv, Ukraine, a school operating underground has been functioning for years amid the ongoing war, with teacher Tetiana leading classes despite the threat from nearby Russian missile strikes. Pupils, including 15-year-old Angelina, attend lessons in this fortified setting, which has become their primary learning environment due to the conflict. UNICEF, through initiatives led by Jinan Ramadan, is involved in supporting education and helping children recover from disruptions caused by the war.
Jinan Ramadan, Chief of UNICEF Ukraine’s Kharkiv Field Office, stated, “After nearly four years of full-scale war in Ukraine, millions of children have experienced significant disruptions to their education.” He noted that UNICEF is implementing targeted catch-up programmes in Kharkiv to assist children in recovering lost learning and returning to consistent, safe in-person education. Many students, like 15-year-old Angelina, reflect on the importance of valuing life in light of their experiences, saying, “value every single moment, minute and hour because you don’t know what will or may happen.”
In Kharkiv, the underground school continues to provide education amid ongoing Russian missile threats. Jinan Ramadan, Chief of UNICEF Ukraine’s Kharkiv Field Office, stated that UNICEF is implementing targeted catch-up programmes to help children recover lost learning, return to safe in-person education, and rebuild their futures. The students express a desire for normalcy and hope for peace, planning celebrations and reunions with family once the war ends.
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The school where looking out of the window could get you killed | News World
In Kharkiv, lessons are held underground in the face of Russian aggression (Picture: UNICEF)
Pupils in Tetiana’s classroom are never told off for gazing absent-mindedly out of the window when they ought to be concentrating on work.
That’s because this unique school in Kharkiv, Ukraine, lies deep below the
ground, fortified against attacks.
For four years now, the hustle and bustle of students in the hallways has
been replaced by the distant booming and shaking from Russian missiles.
Tetiana, 27, has been working as a teacher for six years. The majority of which have been underground, amid air sirens and the constant threat of an attack from Russia, just 25 miles away.
Kharkiv, nicknamed ‘Smart City’ due to its high concentration of universities, has faced constant power outages from strikes, turning Tetiana’s job into a challenge most educators will never have to grapple with.
Many of Tetiana’s students have never known what a traditional school is like, she said, but many continue showing up each day in the bunker to continue their studies face-to-face.
One of those pupils is 15-year-old Angelina, who told WTX News that her current schooling setup is very different from what she’s used to.
Educators have been conducting lessons below ground for 3 years now (Picture: UNICEF)
Ania, Marksym, Mark and Daniil come to the bunker each day for class (Picture: UNICEF)
‘All my friends being here makes it much easier, though,’ she said. ‘But I miss everything about my old school, especially the feeling of peace and safety.’
Yullia, 15, said it’s not completely comfortable to learn underground, but the safety and being with friends make it feel a bit more normal.
‘I miss looking outside the windows and seeing the sun,’ she said.
Alisa, 13, stayed in the shelter where she’s attending school for a month when the war broke out.
‘It was home, as well as school, for a while,’ she said. ‘The good thing about studying underground is that it’s safe.
‘And it’s much better to learn offline and see my teacher in person. This is only possible in the shelter. But I just miss a normal school day, how it was before, having fun with my friends outside.’
15-year-old Mark told WTX News he enjoys studying physics because it helps him forget that lessons are underground, but he misses his old normal, making friends and having fun while learning.
Alisa, Yuliia and Angelina have been taught underground for years now (Picture: UNICEF)
Angelina said before the war, she didn’t value life as much as she should have (Picture: UNICEF)
Daniil, 15, said that although he still enjoys studying, he misses the parts of school which allowed him to get together with his mates each day.
Learning underground hasn’t put a dampener on the hopes of these young students, who hope for more normalcy when the war ends.
Maksym, 14, told WTX News: ‘I would enjoy seeing my dad more often. If the war ends, I’d go to Germany to see family who fled when the war started.’
Mark said visitors would be welcome to Ukraine with open arms: ‘When peace comes, people should come to Kharkiv, and we will treat them to the local food.
‘We will be glad to accept foreign guests and show them around the city.’
For other students, their hopes for after the war are simpler. ‘I want to have a barbecue with my friends and celebrate,’ Daniil admitted.
Even with the hope of peace, the teenagers say their situation has made them realise how lucky they were before the war.
Tetiana said she stays vigilant for her students, but no longer has fear (Picture: UNICEF)
Chief of UNICEF Ukraine’s Kharkiv Field Office on underground schools
Jinan Ramadan, Chief of UNICEF Ukraine’s Kharkiv Field Office, told WTX News: ‘After nearly four years of full-scale war in Ukraine, millions of children have experienced significant disruptions to their education.
‘Through targeted catch-up programmes such as these in Kharkiv, UNICEF is helping children recover lost learning, return to consistent, safe in-person education and rebuild their futures – and that of the country.’
The classroom, deep below Kharkiv, continues to teach each day (Picture: UNICEF)
Angelina admits: ‘I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t complained about their lives—value every single moment, minute and hour because you don’t know what will or may happen.
‘Before the full-scale war, we didn’t value life as much as we could. People should value everything they have.’
Alisa agreed: ‘You need to live in the moment. Don’t postpone plans, because you never know what might happen.’
Despite the ongoing strikes which shake the underground classroom, Tetiana said she doesn’t feel fear anymore while teaching lessons.
‘I just stay vigilant and careful when it comes to children. Every single place here is dangerous, some places more than others—we all have to continue looking after one another,’ she said.
‘But we don’t want to be forgotten. We want people around the world to remember that we exist, that we are working and fighting for a better future.’
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