At school in Kyiv, it has become common to hear air raid sirens instead of the ringing of the school bell. Dozens of eight-year-olds descend into the basement, clutching pencils and books, determined to continue their lessons despite the threat above.
"It's the war that has made them mature," said Liudmyla Yaroslavtseva, head teacher at Kyiv's Art Lyceum "Zmina." She recalls how children used to panic when the sirens first began three years ago. Now, they sit quietly, focusing on their studies as if this underground classroom is the new normal. "We try to protect them, but we can't fully shield them from everything."
In Kharkiv, classrooms have been set up in metro stations for safety. Children paint, study, and try to maintain a sense of normalcy in these makeshift shelters. “It’s not normal,” one teacher remarks, “but we have to keep going.”
Art teacher Valentyna Maruniak has observed a transformation in her pupils’ drawings since 2022. "They used to paint mainly tanks, planes, bombings. Now, they draw rainbows, flowers, and the sun. They want victory, joy, spring, and calm."
When asked to depict the most memorable moments of the war, some children drew tanks and soldiers. Others painted memories of trips, peaceful times, or places they’ve lost. Eight-year-old Solomiia Karanda painted the landscape of a village where her grandmother once lived. “A missile struck a home close to my grandma’s, but now it is getting rebuilt,” she said.
When asked to depict the most memorable moments of the war, some children drew tanks and soldiers. Others painted memories of trips, peaceful times, or places they’ve lost. Eight-year-old Solomiia Karanda painted the landscape of a village where her grandmother once lived. “A missile struck a home close to my grandma’s, but now it is getting rebuilt,” she said.
Many children have developed routines to cope with the fear of missile attacks. Karanda describes curling up in bed with her toys to feel less scared. Her classmate, Nikita Bondarenko, has learned to hide behind thick walls with his younger sister, covering her with blankets for protection. "I tell her, 'Masha, missiles and bombs are flying.'"
The war has taken a significant toll on mental health. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, over 50,000 children sought professional help with mental health issues in the first nine months of 2024—three times more than in 2023.
A survey conducted by Plan International found that nearly one in five Ukrainian youths have missed between one and two years of education due to the war. More than 3 million children have been displaced, and around 4.6 million face barriers to learning. Nearly a third of the country’s educational facilities have been damaged, with over 365 schools completely destroyed.
Despite the challenges, hope remains. “If you had a magic wand, what would you ask for?” Yaroslavtseva asked her students. “For peace to come quickly,” 90% of the children answered.
They no longer dream of toys or trivial wishes. Instead, they dream of a future where the ringing of the school bell will be louder than the sirens, and the fear of war will be replaced with the sounds of peace and childhood.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on...
At a time when geopolitical tensions continue to ripple across multiple regions, from Ukraine to the Middle East, ...
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it...
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for ...
Recent developments across the Middle East show political messaging is moving beyond traditional channels, with public art and AI-generated content...
Ukraine is monitoring “unusual activity” along its border with Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement released on Saturday (2 May). He warned that Kyiv is ready to respond if necessary amid continued regional tensions linked to Russia’s war.
A fresh Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s vital Black Sea port of Tuapse has sparked a massive fire at the sea terminal, local officials confirmed early on Friday.
An overnight Russian drone attack on Ukraine's southern city of Odesa has wounded at least 10 people, including two children, and inflicted severe structural damage across several residential neighbourhoods, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Monday morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Azerbaijan for talks with President Ilham Aliyev, holding meetings in Gabala on Saturday (25 April) during a working visit to the country.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will “soon be reviewing” a new 14-point proposal sent by Iran, casting doubt on the chances of a deal after Tehran called for security guarantees, an end to naval blockades and a halt to the war across the region, including in Lebanon.
Ukraine has launched a new wave of drone strikes on Sunday (3 May) across Russia, hitting key infrastructure and causing casualties in several regions, officials on both sides said.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
A Russian missile strike killed six people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday (4 May), as Kyiv reported fresh attacks on energy infrastructure and a sharp rise in drone strikes on ports.
Australia and Japan agreed on Monday to deepen cooperation on energy and critical minerals, as Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during a three-day visit.
Australia began public hearings on Monday in an inquiry into the Bondi Beach mass shooting in December, with Jewish Australians giving evidence about their experiences of rising domestic antisemitism.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment