Ukraine’s Kids Study Underground to Dodge Russian Bombs

In the small village of Bobryk, Ukraine, near the front lines in the Sumy region, children began the new school year on September 2, 2025, in an underground haven. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the local school has shifted its classrooms to a basement to shield students from relentless air raids and bombings. This drastic measure ensures that education continues for a generation already scarred by war and prior COVID disruptions.

Principal Oleksii Korenivskyi emphasized the urgency of preserving education: “We must do everything so this generation is not lost. This is our future.” Two years ago, when air raid alerts stretched up to 20 hours, the school relocated to the basement of an administrative building. Once a damp, dark space, it has been transformed with ventilation, electricity, and new flooring. Classrooms, some separated only by heavy plastic sheets, lack windows or doors, yet echo with the voices of children dressed in traditional embroidered vyshyvanka shirts, carrying flowers for their teachers on the first day.

Bobryk’s school, serving just over 100 students in a village of 2,000, operates in two shifts due to limited space. Classes are small, with some, like the first grade, having only seven students. The war’s toll is evident: about 10% of students have left since the invasion, and more, like 15-year-old Vlada Mykhailyk, are preparing to flee to safer countries like Austria. “We often hear Shahed drones and explosions,” Vlada said, noting that learning underground feels safer than online classes. Yet, she longs to stay with her friends.

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The war intrudes even into lessons. In one classroom, a teacher pointed to a map of Ukraine, unmarked by occupied territories, and explained, “Our region is next to Russia. That’s why they bomb us so often.” While teachers strive to maintain normalcy—discussing summer bike rides and new friends—a third-grader’s mention of drone fragments falling nearby underscores the grim reality.

The original schoolhouse, a charming early 20th-century building, stands empty, its warm, spacious classrooms a distant memory for students like 7-year-old Eva Tui. Now in her third year underground, Eva recalls the old classrooms fondly: “It feels more like home.” Her simple wish is to return there, but her bigger dream is for the war to end.

As Ukraine adapts to Russia’s ongoing assault, Bobryk’s underground school symbolizes resilience. With no end to the conflict in sight, these makeshift classrooms offer safety and hope, ensuring education persists despite the shadow of war.

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