Air raid sirens disrupting classes have become an unsettling norm for Ukrainian students, marking the grim reality of three years of war. A newly released UN report on Friday, March 21 sheds light on the severe impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion, detailing the widespread devastation inflicted on Ukraine’s education system.
According to the UN human rights office (OHCHR), there have been 1,614 recorded attacks on schools in Ukraine by the end of last year. These attacks are part of a broader legacy of death, injury, displacement, and separation from families that the war has left in its wake.
The report highlights the war’s detrimental effect on children’s education, warning that their learning has suffered immensely, “diminishing their future educational path and ability to realize their full potential in employment and beyond.”
Children residing in the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia, in violation of international law, are especially vulnerable. The UN report points to the imposition of a Russian school curriculum in these areas, prioritizing “military-patriotic training” and exposing children to war propaganda.
“Children are also completely restricted from accessing education in the Ukrainian language and have been imposed with Russian citizenship,” said Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the Office for Human Rights, during a press briefing in Geneva on Friday.
Meanwhile, the war’s toll extends beyond the classroom. The report confirms that since February 2022, at least 669 children have been killed, with another 1,833 injured — though the actual numbers are likely higher. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced internally, while nearly two million children now live outside Ukraine as refugees, many separated from their parents.
High Commissioner Volker Türk expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that “their rights have been undermined in every aspect of life, leaving deep scars, both physical and psychosocial.”
Escalating Attacks as Odesa Hit Again
As Ukrainian children struggle through the realities of war, Russian drone attacks continue to ravage key Ukrainian cities. On Friday, Russian drones struck the Black Sea port city of Odesa, injuring three people and igniting massive fires, according to local officials. The attack caused “local emergency power outages” in three districts, raising concerns that energy infrastructure may have been damaged.
Reacting to the strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed calls for stronger international action against Russia. “Joint pressure on Russia, strengthening sanctions and defense support for our state … is the way to stop such terror and Russia’s prolongation of the war,” he stated.
“We expect real pressure on Russia from the U.S., Europe, and all our partners,” Zelenskyy added, emphasizing that diplomatic efforts alone will not be enough to halt Russia’s aggression.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further as Russia accused Ukraine of blowing up a gas facility in the Kursk region, in violation of a ceasefire agreement. Ukrainian officials have denied the accusation.
The UN report also highlights troubling reports of Ukrainian children being forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-occupied areas. At least 200 children have been transferred, with Throssell stressing that these “acts may constitute war crimes.” However, due to restricted access, the full scale of such incidents remains unclear.
“It is clear that Ukrainian children have endured a wide range of drastic wartime experiences, all with serious impacts — some as refugees in Europe, others as direct victims, under continued threat of bombardment, and many subject to the coercive laws and policies of the Russian authorities in occupied areas.
“As our report makes clear, acknowledging and addressing violations are essential to ensure a future where all Ukrainian children can reclaim their rights, identity, and security, free from the enduring consequences of war and occupation.”
Volker Türk
The drone strike in Odesa occurred shortly before Czech Republic President Petr Pavel visited the city on Friday morning to meet with local leaders and officials from other southern regions, underscoring the international focus on the crisis in Ukraine.
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