DiscoverWhat in the WorldUkraine’s underground schools
Ukraine’s underground schools

Ukraine’s underground schools

Update: 2025-12-02
Share

Description

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Thousands of schools have been damaged in the war. According to the UN children agency Unicef, only a third of Ukraine's schoolchildren currently study in-person, due to the threat of missile and drone attacks as well as shelling. Russia has attacked energy infrastructure so there are also frequent power cuts across the country. In this episode we hear what life is like for students in Ukraine right now.

Initially Russian forces captured large parts of Ukraine and nearly made it to the capital, Kyiv, but Ukraine pushed the Russian forces back. Now the fighting is mostly in the south and east of the country, but the whole country is affected.

Ukraine has started to build schools underground to allow children to carry on studying during rocket attacks, both purpose-built and by converting existing underground spaces. We speak to BBC reporter Olga Malchevska who has been to see what one of these schools is like.

Another area where education has changed is in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The BBC is not able to travel to these areas but we discuss allegations of “re-education” there.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal
Producers: Natalia Makohon and Julia Ross-Roy
Editor: Verity Wilde

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Ukraine’s underground schools

Ukraine’s underground schools

BBC World Service