John Marks, interim UNICEF A representative in Ukraine renewed his call for schools to be protected as the war continues.
“During the first week of the new school year, attacks were reportedly carried out on educational institutions in regions such as Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, Lviv and Sumy,” he said. said.
“Evacuations are also taking place in areas closer to the frontline, and education has again been disrupted as children flee their homes.”
Young lives are being cut short
Mr. Marks’ statement concerned the deaths of three sisters.
Seven-year-old Emilia was killed along with Dariia, 18, and Yaryna, 21, along with their mother in an attack in the western city of Lviv on September 4. Their father was wounded.
The family was among the many victims, including other children.
Mr. Marks said the three sisters were just starting their lives.
Although Emilia attended the first few days of school, “unfortunately she didn’t show up on the third day,” he said.
After finishing school, eldest sister Yaryna found a job with the organization Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025. The organization is a UNICEF partner and works on youth empowerment through life skills training.
“This tragic story reflects the reality for children and young people across Ukraine as attacks continue to take place in populated areas,” he said.
Civilian casualties increase
Russian missile and bomb attacks have caused widespread damage across the country since August 26, the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine said (HRMMU) said on friday.
Investigators have determined that the attacks in government-controlled areas killed 64 civilians and injured 392. In addition, significant damage and destruction was caused to civilian property and key infrastructure.
The figures include children: six of them were killed and 43 were injured.
The high casualty figures follow a recent sharp rise in civilian deaths and injuries. In August alone, 184 people were killed and 856 wounded – the second-highest monthly casualty figures this year after July.
Electricity infrastructure focused
Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU, noted that “targeted attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure have again caused prolonged nationwide power outages, while recent attacks have destroyed or damaged hospitals, schools, supermarkets and critical energy infrastructure.”
According to the HRMMU, on August 26, Russian forces launched one of the largest coordinated airstrikes on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Eight civilians were killed and at least 23 injured, while at least 25 energy facilities in 15 regions were damaged.
Also on August 30, airstrikes in four districts of the city of Kharkiv killed six civilians and wounded at least 44. The next day, Kharkiv was again hit by multiple rockets, killing a medical worker and wounding at least 11 civilians.
In addition, seven civilians died in the September 4 attack in Lviv, which killed three sisters and their mother. Another 62 people were injured and three schools were also damaged. HRMMU said this was the first incident with civilian casualties since February 2024.
Russian occupied territories
The UN investigators also recorded reports of civilian casualties in Russian-occupied areas and inside Russia itself.
For example, on September 4, an attack took place on a market in the city of Donetsk, killing four civilians, including two children, and wounding seven others.
According to local reports, a new attack on the Russian city of Belgorod took place on August 30, killing five people and wounding dozens. However, the HRMMU could not verify the figures.
Education under fire
On Monday UNICEF reported that the first day of school in Ukraine was marred by deadly and devastating attacks.
Children in the capital Kiev were woken up by loud explosions and schools were damaged.
According to local authorities, educational institutions in the Kherson region and the city of Sumy were damaged before the start of the school year, injuring six children.
According to reports, a child was killed and 29 others were injured in the deadly attacks in Kharkov on August 30 and September 1.
Lives lost, learning disrupted
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 2,180 children have been killed or injured and more than 1,300 educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed, UNICEF said. The true numbers are likely higher.
Boys and girls are entering their fifth year of disrupted education as the war escalation enters its third year after the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are signs of widespread learning loss.
According to UNICEF, data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), conducted in 2022 and released in late 2023, shows that the size of the learning gaps in 2022 compared to 2018 is equivalent to a two-year gap in reading and a one-year gap in mathematics.
Protect education from attacks
Mr Marks recalled that September 9 will be the fourth day of commemoration. International Day for Protection of Education from Attack.
The day was established by a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly, which included both the UN education and cultural agencies, UNESCOand UNICEF to raise awareness about the situation of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict.
“We use this moment to once again call for the protection of educational institutions from attacks, to prevent parties from using educational institutions militarily, and to respect, uphold and enjoy the right to education by children throughout Ukraine,” he said.
“Schools must be safe and provide a stimulating learning environment in which every child can develop and flourish.”
UNESCO/Serhii Knyaziev
Children play at a UNESCO-run summer camp in Ukraine
‘Children in Ukraine have suffered enough’
In the meantime, UNICEF continues to work with the Ukrainian government and partners to ensure children can continue to learn, support their mental health and maintain some sense of childhood.
Activities include refurbishing shelters in schools and kindergartens, providing learning materials and equipment, providing tutoring and equipping teachers with skills to provide mental health and psychosocial support to their students.
In addition, transit centers and mobile teams of psychologists and social workers provide support to children and families evacuated from frontline areas, helping children cope and resume their learning in new locations.
“Children in Ukraine have suffered enough; they need to be protected from attack,” Mr Marks said. “Like Emilia, they all just want to go to school, learn, have fun and be children again.”
