Graduation day in a time of war
Ukraine's children began school in Peace. They're graduating in war.
Classrooms reduced to rubble. Hours spent studying underground.
As many children around the world prepare to graduate from high school this summer – marking the end of an important chapter in their lives – we asked this year’s graduating class at a school in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, located about 50 kms (31 miles) from the frontline, to share how four years of war has transformed their education since first grade.
In this photo story, children share photos of themselves in a peaceful time.
Today, however, their school has been heavily damaged as a result of several shellings, the first of which was in March 2022.
Scroll through the story to hear from the class of 2026.
"Welcome" sign at a school entrance damaged by shelling in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
"Welcome" sign at a school entrance damaged by shelling in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Damaged windows at a school in Mykolaiv region. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Damaged windows at a school in Mykolaiv region. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken since elementary school, in front of their school, damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken since elementary school, in front of their school, damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Nelia*
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."
But now it’s sad, because everything is destroyed."
Nelia* holds up a photo, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Nelia* holds up a photo, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Because of the damage at their school, children were forced to study online for a long time. Later, children began to attend classes in the rooms and basement of the local council building, which was renovated and furnished with support from Save the Children.
However, this was the only space available in the village, and so space was limited. This has meant children had to study in shifts, taking it in turns to attend classes.
School damaged by an attack in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
School damaged by an attack in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Halyna*, 17, and Hanna*, 16, point at photos displayed on the wall at a damaged school. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Halyna*, 17, and Hanna*, 16, point at photos displayed on the wall at a damaged school. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Halyna*
Online learning was difficult because I was used to teachers helping us [in a real 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.”
Halyna*, 17, and Hanna*, 16, point at photos displayed on the wall at a damaged school. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Halyna*, 17, and Hanna*, 16, point at photos displayed on the wall at a damaged school. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Photos of this year's graduates, which were taken in elementary grade. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Photos of this year's graduates, which were taken in elementary grade. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Artem*
Artem*, 17, stands 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 is aged six or seven, standing in front of the same blackboard which, during more peaceful times, displayed an image of the sun.
Artem*, 17, holds up a photo, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Artem*, 17, holds up a photo, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken in elementary grade, in front of their school, now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken in elementary grade, in front of their school, now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
About one-third of these schools are operating either fully online or through a hybrid model of online and in-person learning.
As of 10th June 2026, 1,859 schools were damaged and 235 destroyed in Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022. This equates to one in every six schools.
Daryna*, 17, holds up a photo of herself, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Daryna*, 17, holds up a photo of herself, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Dmytro*, 16, holds up a photo, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Dmytro*, 16, holds up a photo, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Sonia Khush
Save the Children’s Country Director in Ukraine
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.
Sonia Khush from Save the Children stands next to a destroyed school in Donetsk region. Photo: Anastasiia Olinska / Save the Children.
Sonia Khush from Save the Children stands next to a destroyed school in Donetsk region. Photo: Anastasiia Olinska / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
Children hold up photos, taken in elementary grade, at a school now damaged by shelling. Photo: Dmytro Sazonov / Save the Children.
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.
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.
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