Learning Amidst Sirens and Shelters

The war in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year, has redefined what it means to go to school. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, education has become a daily act of resilience for millions of Ukrainian children and teachers. The statistics are staggering: nearly a third of the country’s educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed, with more than 365 schools reduced to rubble and over 4 million children facing severe disruptions to their learning.
For many, the school day is punctuated by air raid sirens. In cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv, students routinely descend into bomb shelters or even metro stations, where makeshift classrooms allow lessons to continue underground. In-person learning is a luxury—where possible, it’s supported by new safety measures, international aid, and the determination of educators. The LEARN program, backed by the World Bank, has helped renovate schools, build shelters, and provide textbooks to hundreds of thousands of students.
Yet, for vast numbers, remote and hybrid learning are the only options. As of late 2024, 741,000 children were in hybrid formats, and another 443,000 learned entirely online—often hampered by frequent power outages and unreliable internet. In the most dangerous areas, children haven’t set foot in a classroom in years, relying on online lessons if they have the connectivity and devices needed.
The consequences go beyond academics. Learning losses are severe: by late 2022, Ukrainian students had already fallen behind by the equivalent of two years of schooling, and the gap has only widened since. Children in rural or frontline regions are especially affected, sometimes lagging four to five years behind their peers. Mental health is a growing crisis, with many students experiencing trauma, anxiety, and depression due to constant danger and displacement.
Despite these challenges, the Ukrainian education system has shown remarkable adaptability. Universities have relocated, adopted distance learning, and even welcomed students displaced from occupied territories. In occupied zones, children often attend Russian-controlled schools, but many families seek to keep their children connected to Ukrainian curricula through clandestine online classes.
Parents and teachers face agonizing choices. Some are too afraid to send their children to school, while others risk daily commutes through dangerous streets so their children can have a semblance of normalcy. The future is uncertain, but the resolve to keep learning alive remains unbroken—a testament to the spirit of Ukraine’s youth and educators.