Ever since Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, air raids have become the norm and schools, which have doubled up as relief shelters, have come under attacks consistently. Authorities in Ukraine have tried to circumvent this problem by switching to online classes. But Russia’s constant attacks on Kyiv’s infrastructure facilities and power grid mean officials’ efforts have had little results.

To make things worse for many children, the 18-month-long war comes on the back of the coronavirus pandemic that began in 2020. Together, they have compounded children’s learning crisis by giving way to a fourth year of disrupted education. Conservative estimates suggest that more than 1,300 schools have been destroyed and more than 2 million children have been prevented from attending school as a result of the invasion.

Despite these odds, on September 1, students in Ukraine celebrated the start of their new school year — also called the ‘Day of Knowledge’. It marked their second straight year of school during wartime. Around 3,40,000 children enrolled for first grade in the country on September 1. By now, classrooms have shifted to underground bunkers and Soviet-era metro stations in many parts of the country. As the war grinds on, the students try their hand at a fresh start.