Because of the war, many Ukrainian children have not seen the inside of a school building for more than two years. The city of Kharkiv had therefore started to build an underground school some time ago (we reported on it here). Now it has been opened – and the Washington Post has taken a look around (Source here).
The school was built about six meters underground and has a long corridor leading to the classrooms, painted in bright colorswrites the newspaper. It has a sophisticated ventilation system and the walls are marked with signs for emergency exits in the event of an evacuation. 30 steps lead down to it. The children miss their old school with the windows, but many are happy to be able to learn on site again.
Like 16-year-old Polina. She was tired of staring at the computer in her room when she was taking part in distance learning. She hadn’t been in a school building for two and a half years. She wanted to see her friends again, hug her teacher, and go to school without being afraid of dying. She told the Washington Post about the new school year: “I want to make as many memories as possible.”
The moment when the school officially opens is also something special for the teachers. Natalya Varavva, a chemistry teacher in the 11th grade, speaks of an “incredible feeling of happiness.” Her students have grown much older and more mature since she last saw them. But the war has also left its mark on them: at every sound that reminds them of a rocket, they jump up in fright.
Iryna Chernomaz, the school’s director, jokes that she doesn’t recognize many of the students because so much time has passed. “They have grown up. They have become more mature. The girls and boys are so grown up now.” She is actually about to retire, but the underground building has only just opened. Leaving now would be a betrayal, she says. There is so much to do in this new school year.
The most important news of the day
- A Russian non-commissioned officer is said to have been mistreated by a colonel near the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk Oblast in a highly controversial disciplinary measure. According to reports, the 37-year-old Russian soldier been chained to a tree for five days straight. More here.
- The US is apparently considering supplying longer-range missiles to Ukraine. However, the government in Kiev will have to wait several months for the missiles because the US will have to solve technical problems before a possible delivery, several US insiders say. More here.
- Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump says he has a plan ready that will “guarantee” an end to the war in Ukraine. However, he said in an interview that he could only announce this if he won the presidential election on November 5. More here.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promises Ukraine additional IRIS-T air defence systems. Eight IRIS-T SLM systems and nine IRIS-T SLS systems have been ordered for Ukraine, said Scholz at the Bundeswehr site in Todendorf. “Two of each will be delivered this year, the rest from 2025.” More in the news blog.
- Following heavy Russian missile strikes against the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced support for the reconstruction of the destroyed houses. “Lviv needs help! The target of the Russian attack was the city center. Many historic old buildings were damaged,” Tusk wrote on the X platform.
- According to the Chamber of Deputies, the Ukrainian parliament has accepted the resignation of four ministers. However, the resignation request from Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has not been considered. This is expected to happen on Thursday.
- Russia says it has captured another town near the strategically important city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said the Russian army had “completely liberated” the village of Karlivka, located about 30 kilometers from Pokrovsk.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the upcoming BRICS meeting in Russia in October. “As agreed, we expect Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit,” Putin said on Wednesday at a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.
- The Ukrainian Air Force says it shot down seven cruise missiles and 22 drones during the night. In total, 42 air targets were identified in the nighttime Russian attacks: 29 drones and 13 missiles.
