Kharkiv establishes underground schools to protect students

In Kharkiv, Ukraine, authorities are establishing underground schools to ensure the safety of students due to the city's proximity to the Russian border. Located only 30 kilometers from the border, the area faces constant risks from air raids, making traditional surface-level schooling difficult and dangerous.

In the Novobavarskyj district, a new underground facility has been constructed several meters below ground. The facility includes colorful classrooms, group rooms, a cafeteria, and a nurse's office. This move follows a period between 2022 and 2024 where most children in Kharkiv were forced to rely on distance learning due to the conflict.

While initial efforts to provide safe education involved using subway stations and existing shelters, the development of dedicated underground school facilities represents a long-term strategy to provide stable, in-person classroom instruction for the next generation.