In Ukrainian frontline city, children attend school underground

In a city close to the front line in Ukraine, children are going to school in facilities built underground. The move reflects an effort to keep education going despite the constant threat of Russian missile and drone strikes that shapes daily life in the area.

While the idea of children studying below ground might seem grim or even dystopian at first glance, parents in the city see it differently. For them, underground schools are not a symbol of how deeply the war has disrupted childhood, but a practical solution that eases anxiety about their children's safety. Knowing their children are in a protected space during lessons allows parents to worry less, even as the danger from Russian attacks persists outside.

A measure of relief amid danger

The framing of these children as "the lucky ones" points to a broader reality: many other children in frontline areas do not have access to such protected educational spaces, meaning their schooling is far more disrupted or interrupted by the war. Having a safe underground option, by contrast, allows some families to maintain a degree of normal routine.

The situation illustrates how communities in Ukraine are adapting to a prolonged war, finding ways to preserve elements of ordinary life — including children's access to education — even under the constant threat of attack. Underground schools, in this sense, function less as evidence of the war's devastation and more as a sign of resilience and adaptation in the face of continued insecurity.