Russia burns 628,000 new school textbooks in Kharkiv region
An attack in Ukraine's Kharkiv region destroyed 628,000 newly printed school textbooks just as the new academic year was beginning.
A strike in Ukraine's Kharkiv region destroyed a warehouse containing 628,000 newly printed school textbooks, according to Euromaidan Press, which reported the loss as part of its ongoing coverage of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, marking day 1685 of the invasion.
The incident drew attention because it coincided with the start of the new school year in Ukraine, a period when schools across the country prepare to receive students and distribute updated learning materials. The destroyed textbooks had been intended for use in the classroom, though the report did not specify which schools, municipalities, or region the books were meant to supply.
Education system under strain
Kharkiv region borders Russia and has been repeatedly subjected to shelling and strikes throughout the war. Infrastructure in the area, including facilities tied to education, has suffered recurring damage since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The loss of textbooks on this scale adds further strain to an education system already contending with damaged or inaccessible school buildings and disrupted learning in communities near the front line.
Euromaidan Press did not provide further details on the nature of the strike, the exact location of the warehouse, or the circumstances under which it was destroyed. It also remains unclear whether the textbooks were due to be delivered to specific schools in the coming weeks.
The episode illustrates how the prolonged war continues to affect not only the military situation but also civilian life and the provision of education for children in Ukraine.
