Russian missiles target Kyiv on first day of school

Thousands of children returned to school for the first day of the school year hours after Russia launched a barrage of missiles into the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a water treatment plant and a subway station entrance used as a shelter were hit. Two schools and a university were also damaged.

According to the Ukrainian military, 22 cruise missiles and airborne ballistic missiles were destroyed by the air force.

Local authorities said three people were injured by shrapnel from the destroyed missile.

For schoolchildren across the capital, Monday’s bombing coincided with the first day of the school year, a day of celebration in Ukraine.

Teachers and parents tried to maintain a sense of normalcy as music played and smiling students were greeted by a sea of ​​flowers.

One parent hid at home with her daughter during the missile attack before sending her to school.

“The kids were smiling, but you could see the nervousness on the teacher’s face [who] Bear that burden,” she told the BBC.

“I’m so grateful for everything they do to give the kids a real holiday.”

For Yevheniia, 33, it was the first time she had sent her six-year-old daughter to school, and the day was filled with fear.

“Her hands were shaking,” Yevnia told Reuters.

“Our apartment started to smoke, but we have to go to school, right? We are Ukrainians,” she said she told her daughter that morning.

Alina, a student at the damaged university, told Ukrainian television that she “started screaming” when the air raid sirens sounded and everyone ran into the dormitory’s air-raid shelter.

During the attack, air raid sirens sounded for nearly two hours until the military deemed the skies clear.

“We were very scared,” Alina said, adding that they saw fire after the explosion.

After the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the first day of school “one of the most important days of the year” for children, their families and teachers.

“All our schools, all higher education institutions that are functioning today are a testament to the resilience of our people and the strength of Ukraine,” he said on the Telegram channel.

Ukraine was put on alert across the country for hours, and neighboring NATO country Poland said it had deployed its own and allied aircraft to secure its airspace amid the Russian attack.

Russian troops advanced into 477 square kilometers (184 square miles) of Ukrainian territory last month, Moscow’s biggest monthly increase since October 2022, according to data from the Institute for War Studies analyzed by AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces had not advanced at “such speed” in Donbas for “a long time” and were occupying several square kilometers of territory every day.

Meanwhile, in Russia’s Kursk region – where Ukraine launched a surprise invasion on August 6 – progress has slowed, with Kiev recently claiming control of 1,294 square kilometers (500 square miles) of territory, including 100 settlements .

Nearly 600 Russian soldiers were also captured, the statement added.

President Putin – who is speaking to the children starting the new school year – said it would not stop his troops from advancing into eastern Ukraine, claiming they were advancing at the fastest pace “in a long time.”

“Their plan was to prevent our offensive operations in key areas of Donbas. The results are known… They did not stop our advance,” he said.

Some critics in Ukraine argue that the Kursk invasion diverted experienced troops from the Donbas front lines at a critical moment.

However, President Zelenskyy defended the offensive on Monday, saying it was proceeding “according to plan.” He said the attack would relieve pressure on the eastern front.