Save the Children asked this year’s graduating class at a school in Mykolaiv region to bring in photos depicting their memories of primary school.
Photo: Dymtro Sazanov/ Save the Children. Link to full photo package.
KYIV, 10 June 2026 – From classrooms reduced to rubble to hours spent studying underground, children graduating from high school in Ukraine reflect on how four years of war has transformed their education since first grade in a series of photos released today by Save the Children.
As many children around the world prepare to graduate from high school this summer – marking the end of an important chapter in their lives – Save the Children asked this year’s graduating class at a school in Mykolaiv region, located about 50 kms (31 miles) from the frontline, to bring in photos depicting their memories of primary school.
In one photo, Nelia*, 16, holds up a picture of her younger self with a classmate as she sits in front of her damaged and shuttered school. Nelia said: “I remember many things. The memories from this school are very strong. I studied here before the war, and my brother studied here too. I remember a lot. It was very interesting. But now it’s sad, because everything is destroyed.”
Another photo shows Artem*, 17, standing in front of a blackboard in his old school on which he has written the word “peace”. He holds a picture of himself, in which he says he is aged six or seven, standing in front of the same board, which during more peaceful times. displayed an image of the sun.
Nelia* and Artem’s* school was damaged by shelling several times during the war, forcing students to switch to online learning before the school moved into the basement of a local council building, which was renovated and furnished with support from Save the Children. Due to limited space in the building – the only one available in the village – children had to study in shifts, taking turns attending classes.
Halyna*, 17, who is also graduating from the same school and hopes to become a doctor said: “Online learning was difficult because I was used to teachers helping us [in a physical school]. But online, you have to study much more material on your own. Because of that, there’s a lot that I don’t know. And now preparing for university entrance exams is very hard.”
According to the Ukrainian Government’s Institute of Educational Analytics, just under 253,000 children in Ukraine will graduate from high school this year from about 12,000 schools – about one-third of which operate either fully online or through a hybrid model of online and in-person learning. Since the start of the war in February 2022, 1,859 schools were damaged and 235 destroyed in Ukraine - which is about every sixth school. [1]
Sonia Khush, Save the Children’s Country Director in Ukraine said:
“As millions of children around the world graduate from high school this summer, we celebrate students in Ukraine, who after five academic years disrupted by war, are set to finish high school later this month. Their achievement is a powerful testament to their determination to continue learning despite years of disruption— but it must not overshadow the learning gaps and challenges many carry with them as they take their next steps.
“Many children in Ukraine have endured long hours of learning underground in dark, windowless basements or studying online, cut off from in-person contact with their teachers and friends. They have lost thousands of hours of learning due to lessons frequently disrupted by air raid alerts, power cuts or heating disruptions caused by attacks on civilian infrastructure.
“Graduating from high school is one of most important and joyful milestones in a child's life. But for many children in Ukraine, it is a bittersweet moment as they look toward a future still shaped by ongoing war and uncertainty.
“Children have shown extraordinary determination to keep learning, but they cannot rebuild their futures alone. Without qualified teachers, safe learning environments, and targeted support to recover lost learning and address their psychosocial needs, these gaps risk holding them back. The appalling attacks on schools and other civilian infrastructure must end, and grave violations against children must stop immediately. Every child has the right to learn safely and live free from violence and fear”
Save the Children has been working in Ukraine since 2014. We have dramatically scaled up our operations since full-scale war broke out. Since February 2022, our team in Ukraine has reached more than 4.7 million people. including more than 1.9 million children, of which 448,000 have received education support.
Ends
Notes to editor:
[1] The total amount of schools in Ukraine in 2025 was 11,820
For more information
Aisha Majid, Data Media Manager
Aisha.majid@savethechildren.orgOut of hours (BST) contact
media@savethechildren.org.uk