Post by : Rameen Ariff

Photo : AP

In Bobryk, a small village in the Sumy region of northern Ukraine, children returned to school on Monday for the start of the new academic year, learning under the shadow of war. With the Russian invasion still ongoing, schools across Ukraine have adapted in different ways to ensure students can continue their education.

In Bobryk, which lies close to the front line, one school has moved all its classrooms into a basement. Students, whose learning had already been disrupted by COVID-19 lockdowns, can now study in person, even while remaining protected from air raids.

“We must do everything so this generation is not lost,” said principal Oleksii Korenivskyi. “Time is the only thing you cannot make up. This is our future, and we must give it everything we have.”

Learning Underground

The school moved underground two years ago when air raid alerts sometimes lasted up to 20 hours, making normal classes impossible. Students and teachers would take cover during the alerts, but the school ensured learning continued.

The basement, part of an administrative building never meant for schooling, has been refurbished with ventilation, electricity, and new flooring. Classrooms line the narrow space, often separated by sheets of heavy plastic, and there are no windows or doors. Children’s voices blend together during lessons, creating a lively chorus of learning amid unusual surroundings.

On Monday, many students wore traditional embroidered shirts, known as vyshyvanka, to celebrate the start of the school year. Teachers’ desks were decorated with fresh flowers, brought by students as a customary gift for the new academic year.

“Unfortunately, this ‘neighbor’ isn’t going anywhere,” Oleksii said, referring to Russia. “We had to work hard to make this happen, and it was worth it.”

Small Classes, Big Efforts

Bobryk, home to about 2,000 people, has a small school with classes of around 10 children. This year, only seven students attended the first-grade classroom. The school currently has just over 100 students, though roughly 10% have left since the invasion, and more continue to move away for safety.

During the first lesson, the teacher opened a textbook to a map of Ukraine, showing the country whole, without marking occupied areas. Pointing to the Sumy region, she explained the difficulty of their location:

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“Our region is next to Russia. That’s why it’s so hard, why they bomb us so often – because we are close to this difficult neighbor.”

Among the students preparing to leave is 15-year-old Vlada Mykhailyk, who will soon move to Austria with her 11-year-old brother.

“We live well, but sometimes it’s sad. We often hear Shaheds (drones) and explosions,” Vlada said. Learning in the basement has become normal for her. “If you have to choose between online classes or the basement, the basement is better.”

She admitted she would rather stay in Bobryk to finish school with her friends.

Daily Life Amid War

Despite the war, teachers try to keep lessons as normal as possible. On the first day, the teacher asked students what they did over the summer. Most answered like children anywhere: bike rides, helping parents, or spending time with friends. Only one student mentioned the war:

“A Shahed drone was intercepted above us and there were fragments,” a small voice said from the third grade.

The teacher responded gently, reminding students that life continues, even in difficult times.

Because the basement is small, the school runs in two shifts, with shortened breaks. The original school building, a beautiful early 20th-century structure, now sits empty, waiting for the day students can safely return.

Seven-year-old Eva Tui, starting her third year underground, remembers her old classroom just 400 meters away, warmer and cosier in winter.

“We’re here because it’s wartime and there are a lot of sirens,” Eva said. “I stayed awake last night with excitement for the new school year. My wish is simple: to go back to the classroom. It feels more like home.”

Hope and Resilience

The story of Bobryk’s school is a powerful example of Ukrainians adapting to life under constant threat. While the war shows no sign of ending, teachers, parents, and students are determined to keep education alive.

With classrooms underground, students continue to learn, laugh, and grow, showing resilience and courage in the face of danger. Their efforts are a reminder that, even amid war, education remains a priority, and life must go on for the next generation.