KHARKIV — For thousands of Ukrainian parents, the first day of school this year was unlike any other. After more than three years of living under the shadow of Russia’s full-scale invasion, they sent their children not to classrooms above ground—but deep underground.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and a frequent target of missile strikes, around 17,000 children are now attending schools built below the surface. Seven underground schools are already running, with more expected to open soon.
For many families, this unusual start is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
“Today, my child, a first grader, came to school for the first time—an underground school,” said Anastasia Pochergina, a mother from Northern Saltivka, a suburb often hit by attacks.
“The school is three floors down. They told us it is the deepest in Kharkiv, so I believe it is safe. As a parent, I was desperate for my child to finally attend a real classroom again.”
Learning in Safety, But Not in Peace
On September 1, when Ukrainian pupils traditionally greet teachers with flowers and gifts, Pochergina tried to cling to a sense of normalcy. Still, she admitted the war has dimmed her hopes.
“We expected things to get better, but not full peace. We never thought we’d return to traditional schools. We are realistic—we understand the situation.”
Teachers urged children to move quickly down stairways into their new classrooms, where both younger and older students sat together, clutching each other’s hands but smiling as lessons began.
Schools in Metro Stations
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said three more underground schools will open in the coming year. In addition, six metro stations have been converted into classrooms to bring back a sense of daily life for children growing up in war.
“This is one of the schools closest to the Russian border. Today we opened two schools in Nova Saltivka. You can see how deep underground it is—it matters. The building is big, with 1,500 students,” Terekhov explained.
Childhood Interrupted
For six-year-old Maria Yampolska, the underground classroom was her first taste of real school life. She proudly shared about her artwork and playtime with new classmates.
But when asked how it compared to kindergarten, her reply was simple and sobering:
“I never went… because of the war.”
