Russian missile strikes hit Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, just hours before the new school year began. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported damage to a water treatment plant, a metro station, two schools, and a university. Despite the chaos, Ukrainian forces successfully destroyed 22 incoming missiles.
Despite the morning’s chaos, teachers and parents joined forces to create a sense of calm and normalcy as children headed back to school. Music played, and flowers welcomed students, but the strain on teachers’ faces was evident. One parent, who hid with her daughter during the attack, praised teachers for making the day special despite the challenges.
For some, like Yevheniia, the day was marred by fear. Her six-year-old daughter’s hands shook as they navigated the dangerous commute to school. “We are Ukrainians,” Yevheniia told her daughter. “We still need to go to school.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of this school year, citing the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Neighboring Poland deployed aircraft to secure its airspace during the attack.
Russia’s offensive in Donbas has accelerated, with President Vladimir Putin boasting of significant territorial gains. However, Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region has slowed their progress, with nearly 600 Russian soldiers captured.
Putin remains undeterred, claiming his forces are advancing at the fastest rate in a long time. Critics in Ukraine argue that the Kursk incursion diverted troops from the Donbas frontline. Still, President Zelensky defends the offensive, saying it’s proceeding according to plan and easing pressure on the eastern front.
