Category: War in Ukraine

Kharkiv Is Building Its First Underground Kindergarten as War Reshapes Childhood

May 27, 2026 18:08

3 min read

Authors: Dariia Mykhailenko
News Writer

A teacher gives a lesson at a newly opened underground school in the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 4, 2026. (Source: Getty Images)

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov has said that the city of Kharkiv has been compelled to construct 10 underground schools and is now building its first underground kindergarten to ensure children can continue their education safely amid ongoing Russian attacks.

Speaking at the GLOBSEC Forum , Terekhov said the scale of wartime adaptation in Kharkiv’s education system reflects the realities of living under constant threat, according to UNITED24 Media correspondent.

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Today we are building the first kindergarten underground. Terrible, of course, terrible… I don't want our enemy to take away from our children the opportunity to study. I don't want our enemy to take away our children’s childhood.
Ihor Terekhov
Mayor of Kharkiv

He also described the continuing destruction caused by Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure, including transport systems and residential areas.

“Explosions are heard, and, unfortunately, there are casualties. People, children, adults go to sleep and pray to wake up. And this is a pity. In fact, war is a pity and evil. This cannot be.”

Students order food in the cafeteria of a new underground school in the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 4, 2026. (Source: Getty Images)

Children attend classes as an underground school opens in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine on April 22, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

We were forced to build 10 underground schools, we were forced to rebuild the metro station for schools so that our children had the opportunity to study.
Ihor Terekhov
Mayor of Kharkiv

Despite the ongoing attacks, Terekhov stressed that Ukraine must not lose focus on peace or the long-term future of its citizens, particularly children.

He said it is essential that the international community continues to support Ukraine, including humanitarian and financial assistance, and emphasized the role of democratic partners in shaping a new global security framework.

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“I would like to say thank you to the United States for their support. I would like to say thank you for the humanitarian aid that Ukraine received. I would like to say thank you for the financial support. I would like to say thank you to the international community.”

He expressed hope that the war will end in a just and lasting peace, allowing Ukrainians to return home and rebuild normal life.

I really want and I hope that the war will end. I really want there to be no war. I really want our people to return to their homes, to their country. I want to believe that next year we will gather here at the Global Forum, but there will be no more war.
Ihor Terekhov
Mayor of Kharkiv

As part of broader efforts to preserve access to education during the war, a second underground school opened in the Kharkiv region in January 2025. The facility was established in Pechenihy, a settlement southeast of Kharkiv that has repeatedly been targeted by Russian air strikes.

According to Oksana Pomyliaiko, principal of the local high school, many younger children attending the underground facility will experience structured, face-to-face education for the first time.

The project cost approximately $70,754, including around $7,000 from the local budget, while the remaining funding was provided with support from international partners.

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