Kyiv pupils begin new school year amid air raid sirens
A school year opening ceremony in Kyiv was interrupted by an air raid alert, hours after Russian missiles struck the capital overnight. Ukraine is now starting its fifth school year since the full-scale invasion began.
On Tuesday, children gathered in a schoolyard in Kyiv's Obolon district to mark the traditional start of the new school year, with balloons floating overhead and music and laughter filling the air. The celebration took place just hours after Russian ballistic missiles had struck the Ukrainian capital overnight, leaving parents and pupils exhausted but determined to carry on with the event.
The festive mood was soon broken when an air raid alert sounded. Families scattered as the sound of distant explosions replaced the earlier music and laughter.
School prepared to respond
Yevhen Poliakov, principal of Lyceum Obolon, had considered cancelling the ceremony, aware that repeated alerts could disrupt it. However, the school has a shelter that allows pupils to reach safety quickly, which made it possible to proceed with the event.
Ukraine is now entering its fifth school year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
