The first underground school built because of the war in Ukraine opened its doors to children in Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, this Monday (13).
Located six meters underground, the school was designed to accommodate 900 students who will be taught in two shifts.
Teachers and parents hope the “bunker school” will protect children from daily missile and drone attacks and allow for uninterrupted educational activities throughout the school day.
Kharkiv is frequently targeted by Russian missiles, drones and artillery. Faced with the constant threat of attacks, schools in the region of about 2.5 million people, which borders Russia, were forced to learn online following the Kremlin's February 2022 invasion.
Marina Prikhodko, a mother of two, said her children were eagerly awaiting their first day at school.
“My oldest daughter, a third grader couldn’t wait to come here, dress up for the occasion, meet her friends that she missed so much,” she said.
“For my son, who is in first grade, it is like a festive day, a chance to meet his classmates in real life, not online, to play with them,” he added.
The fortified underground school, designed to withstand direct attacks and equipped with everything necessary for the learning process will allow children to safely return to in-person studies, said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
He added that city authorities were planning to build at least three more fortified underground schools.
Source: CNN Brasil
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