Russian Missiles Strike Kyiv on First Day of School Year
On the first day of Ukraine’s new school year, Russia launched a series of missile attacks on Kyiv, targeting several civilian areas. Despite the ongoing threat, residents showed resilience and determination to maintain normalcy for their children.
In a striking escalation of violence, Russian forces launched a barrage of missiles on Kyiv just hours before the start of the school year, disrupting what is typically a day of joy and excitement for thousands of children. The attacks targeted several locations across the city, including a water treatment plant and the entrance of a metro station that had been repurposed as a shelter. Additionally, two schools and a university sustained damage from the bombardment.
According to Ukraine’s military, their air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 22 cruise and ballistic missiles. Despite these efforts, debris from the intercepted missiles injured three people, local officials reported.
For many in Kyiv, the attack marred what should have been a celebratory day. Schools across the capital tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, with teachers and parents striving to make the day memorable for the students. Music filled the air, and students were greeted with a sea of flowers as they arrived, though the tension was palpable. One parent, who sheltered at home with her daughter during the missile attack before bringing her to school, remarked on the resilience of the Ukrainian people. “We’re showing again that this nation is invincible,” she told the BBC. “Children are smiling, but you can see the strain on the faces of their teachers who carry this burden. I’m so grateful to them for making it a real celebration for the kids.”
For Yevheniia, a 33-year-old mother bringing her six-year-old daughter to school for the first time, the day was filled with anxiety. “Her hands were shaking,” Yevheniia shared with Reuters. “Our apartment began to smell of smoke, but we still had to go to school, right? We are Ukrainians,” she said, describing her conversation with her daughter that morning.
Alina, a university student whose school was among those damaged, recounted her fear when the air raid sirens blared. “I started screaming,” she told Ukrainian TV, describing how students rushed to the bomb shelter in their dormitory as explosions echoed nearby. “We were very scared,” she added, noting they witnessed a fire following the blasts. The air raid warnings lasted nearly two hours before the military deemed the skies safe.
Following the attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of the first day of school for children, their families, and teachers. “All our schools and higher education institutions open today are a testament to the resilience of our people and the strength of Ukraine,” he said on his Telegram channel.
The entire country was on high alert for several hours due to the attacks. Poland, a neighboring NATO member, also deployed its aircraft, along with allied forces, to secure its airspace during the strikes.
Meanwhile, the conflict in the eastern regions of Ukraine continues to intensify. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have made significant advances in the Donbas region, seizing 477 square kilometers (184 square miles) of territory last month, marking their most substantial territorial gain since October 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that their forces have not advanced at such a pace in the Donbas “for a long time” and are gaining several square kilometers of ground each day.
Conversely, progress has slowed in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise attack on August 6. Ukrainian officials claim to control 1,294 square kilometers (500 square miles) of territory, including 100 settlements. Nearly 600 Russian soldiers have reportedly been captured. Despite this, President Putin, addressing children at the start of their own school year, insisted this would not hinder Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, claiming that they are progressing faster than they have in a “long time.”
He stated, “Their aim was to halt our offensive actions in key parts of the Donbas. The outcome is clear… they failed to stop our advance.” Some Ukrainian critics have argued that the incursion in Kursk has diverted experienced troops away from the Donbas frontline at a critical juncture. However, President Zelensky defended the operation on Monday, asserting that it is proceeding “according to plan” and could alleviate some of the pressure on the eastern front.
