Classrooms in Sumy Oblast are moving underground due to Russian shelling: 13 such schools are already operating, nine are under construction, and another 14 are at the design stage
Russian attacks have damaged 165 schools in Sumy Oblast since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Sumy Oblast in Ukraine has seen 165 schools damaged and 21 destroyed beyond repair, according to the region's administration head. To combat the ongoing threat from Russian shelling, the administration is moving classrooms underground. Design plans for 14 new underground schools are already in place, while 13 are already operational, and nine more are under construction, according to Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy Oblast Military Administration.
Sumy Oblast is frequently targeted by Russian forces, making above-ground school buildings dangerous. Out of the region's 280 schools, 225 have shelters, mostly basic ones, and over 70 have radiation-protective shelters. Hryhorov emphasized that the construction of these underground schools is a growing and increasingly widespread effort.
The focus is on the region's larger cities, where most schoolchildren reside. The learning process in these underground schools is distinct, with two shifts accommodating around 360-370 students daily. Each shelter is equipped with backup power supplies, enabling classes to continue during air raid alerts and power outages. Currently, 22 schools conduct in-person classes, while 193 follow a hybrid learning format.
A total of 75,000 children attend school in Sumy Oblast. In September, a Russian bomb struck a Sumy school during lessons, targeting a shelter where about 40 students were present. The city's military administration head, Serhii Kryvosheienko, criticized Russia for deliberately targeting schools.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
