UNICEF has reported approximately 2,000 attacks on Ukrainian educational institutions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 270 during 2026. From the start of the last academic year through October 20, young students have been deprived of about 13% of their scheduled class time due to a total of 34 hours of air raid alerts; in some regions - those hardest hit by the attacks - approximately 560.000 Ukrainian students missed about 60 hours of class, a quarter of their scheduled school time.
In Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia Region, on November 2, 2026, an attack by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation killed 29 Ukrainian civilians (50 are still missing) and destroyed key infrastructure, including schools used to distribute aid.
The underground is increasingly becoming a place frequented by Ukrainian civilians and young students, with serious consequences for their mental health and future prospects. Maysa Jabout, the head of the United Nations Global Fund ‘Education Cannot Wait’ emphasized that the impact of the war on children forces them to prioritize funding for psychosocial support, diverting essential resources away from learning.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 3.400 children have been killed or injured, and 4,650 educational institutions have been damaged, 423 of which have been completely destroyed.
The dire situation of education in Ukraine severely jeopardizes the future prospects of young Ukrainian students, and immediate action is needed to safeguard the rights of Ukrainian children and young students.
