Thanuja Jayani, JadeTimes Staff
T. Jayani is a JadeTimes news reporter covering Europe
On the first day of the school year in Kyiv, Russia launched a significant missile attack on Ukraine’s capital, targeting vital infrastructure and causing substantial damage. The barrage struck a water treatment plant and the entrance of a metro station used as a shelter, as well as two schools and a university. According to Ukraine’s military, the air force successfully intercepted 22 cruise and ballistic missiles. Local authorities reported that debris from the destroyed missiles injured three people.
The missile strikes occurred as thousands of children returned to school, marking a traditionally celebratory day in Ukraine. Despite the chaos, teachers and parents worked to maintain a sense of normalcy. Music played, and students were welcomed with flowers, even as air raid sirens blared for nearly two hours. One parent, who sheltered with her daughter during the attack before taking her to school, expressed pride in the nation’s resilience, noting the strain on teachers who endeavored to make the day special for the children.
Yevheniia, a mother sending her daughter to school for the first time, described the fear and tension of the day, while Alina, a student at the damaged university, recounted the panic and subsequent evacuation to a bomb shelter during the air raid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the significance of the first school day, highlighting the resilience of Ukrainian people and institutions. He praised the continued operation of schools and universities as symbols of the country’s strength.
In related developments, the pace of Russia’s offensive in the Donbas region has intensified, with Moscow making substantial territorial gains last month, according to the Institute for the Study of War. President Vladimir Putin claimed significant advances in the Donbas, while the situation in Russia’s Kursk region has seen a slowdown in progress due to a Ukrainian incursion. Despite this, Putin asserted that the offensive would continue unabated.
In response to the missile attacks, all of Ukraine was put on high alert, with neighboring NATO member Poland deploying aircraft to secure its airspace. President Zelensky defended ongoing military actions, asserting that the strategy was progressing according to plan and could alleviate pressure on the eastern front.
