Kiev schools adapt routines to frequent Russian airstrikes

Schools in the Kyiv region have significantly altered their daily operations due to frequent Russian airstrikes. At the UMKA primary school in the capital's suburbs, students and staff must repeatedly seek shelter during the day following air raid sirens.

While Moscow previously focused attacks on Kyiv during the night, daytime strikes have become more common, making the cycle of moving children to and from underground shelters an exhausting part of the school routine. During a single day, sirens sounded five times between 07:30 and 17:00, forcing 130 students to continue their lessons underground.

The physical dangers are immediate; a recent drone strike in the school's playground narrowly missed a bystander and caused significant damage to nearby classrooms, shattering windows and scattering glass. Despite the ongoing conflict, school staff maintain strict protocols to ensure all children reach safety quickly.