Apparently, there is no such Ukrainian who would not divide his life today into “before” and “after”. The full-scale intervention of the aggressor country made painful and irreparable changes in the life of Ukrainian society. But it is most difficult to realize the fact that among the victims there are children.
According to a UNICEF study, 36% of children in Ukraine had a traumatic war experience. The emotional and mental state of children is equally difficult, both for those who have changed their place of residence and for those who have remained in the country. Destruction of homes and forced change of residence, constant power outages and lack of communication, destruction of local schools and kindergartens, frequent stay in large crowds of people in bomb shelters, death of relatives in front of children, lack of simple communication with peers and the opportunity to simply have fun – all this left severe scars in children’s souls and plunged them into an atmosphere of constant stress.
Let’s return to such a distant and still peaceful year 2021. At that time, there were about 5.4 million children in Ukrainian educational institutions (1 million children in kindergartens; 4.4 million children in schools). Since 2019, the state has allocated subventions to improve the conditions of the educational process. It is worth noting that the remaining subventions were kept in the local budget and used in subsequent years. Thus, buses were purchased at the expense of the remaining funds, which made it possible to transport children to educational institutions from remote parts of the country. This opportunity, in turn, gave the green light to the reduction of schools in rural areas, by consolidating and creating educational centers. The system worked, but no one remembers the sad fact that village children were brought to educational institutions early in the morning, and then younger schoolchildren had to sit in groups for an extended day and wait for seniors to be dismissed.
With the launch of the New Ukrainian School, not only the processes of educational development took place, but also the creation of an inclusive space. In the 2021-2022 school year, an increase of 2.83% was noted in the number of children with disabilities studying in the same conditions as other schoolchildren.
Today, 43% of young Ukrainians fill the educational institutions of foreign countries and overcome the difficulties of translation and socialization in another society as a result of forced departure abroad.
What was the situation with the education of children on the territory of Ukraine during the war?
Let’s turn to the data of the UNICEF study. 40% of schools and kindergartens are closed due to significant destruction and the impossibility of carrying out the educational process in them. And this means that children aged 3 to 17 do not have the opportunity to realize the right to education promised to them by the Constitution. Currently, a hybrid form of education has been introduced in Ukraine, where online and offline modes of education alternate.
- 17% of children study only online;
- 53% of children living in areas of active hostilities study only online;
- 60% study in a hybrid form of education.
According to parents, the hybrid form of education does not give their children the opportunity to fully communicate and develop emotionally. And in general, there are now a number of serious obstacles that complicate the accessibility of education in general. Thus, 34% of children do not have the opportunity to attend educational institutions due to the lack of bomb shelters. 50% of education seekers do not have access to educational institutions due to lack of premises.
As a result of the significant outflow of teachers abroad, schools are forced to increase their staffing capabilities. Yes, there is a tendency to replace the positions of insufficient teachers with those available. And this means that a specialist in one subject begins to teach those subjects that are not his specialty. And, therefore, the level of provision of educational services deteriorates significantly and, accordingly, leaves its mark on the knowledge of schoolchildren, which is already shaky in such conditions.
The results of the PISA study showed that COVID-19 and the full-scale invasion significantly affected the performance of Ukrainian children in a negative way compared to the results of 2018. Reading performance dropped by 38 points compared to 2018.
Ukrainian children are under constant stress, and their parents do not have the opportunity to work fully, because they are afraid to leave their children alone. 80% of families indicated that they are on the verge of poverty. According to an analytical analysis by UNICEF, 82% of children suffer from impoverishment.
Before the full-scale invasion, children were able to visit wonderful theme parks, ride rides and interact with animals. For example, in Feldman Ecopark entrance is absolutely free. 500-800 hryvnias were enough for recreation in the Aquapark. The Central Park turned out to be somewhat more expensive, where a ticket for children cost 620 hryvnias. There was also a tendency among the parks to provide free access to entertainment services to children whose height is less than 130 cm. Although not every week, the average Ukrainian family with monthly income could afford to have fun with their children.
But the war came and the situation for recreation became tense. It is enough to recall the devastating consequences of the war on Feldman Ecopark in its first days. In May 2024, as a result of shelling, a football field, a cafe and a children’s railway in the Central Park of Kharkiv were damaged. Such a situation of constant terror from the aggressor makes it impossible for children to stay in places of rest. But all the same, in the conditions of war, amusement parks are trying to work. The price of tickets was raised by 20%, and the prices of meals in cafes also increased by 30-50%. Due to the tense situation in the energy sector, most parks (60%) can provide their services in a very limited state (use of attractions independent of electricity). Some of the owners of the entertainment sphere left the country altogether, and their parks simply closed (30%). According to estimates by park workers, the frequency of visits dropped from 2-3 times a month in peacetime to 1 visit a month during wartime. By 2022, the level of visits (50%) to amusement parks increased significantly during the holidays. Currently, parents are financially constrained, cannot afford to entertain their children, are afraid to leave home, and also try to send their children away from big cities.
According to experts, 1.5 million children, not having the opportunity to release negative energy, simply suffer from depression and deep stress. There is an urgent need for medical assistance, and no one has canceled calendar vaccinations either. But according to statistics, 17% of children do not receive the necessary medicines. Children staying abroad do not receive scheduled vaccines against such diseases as diphtheria, measles, and poliomyelitis. 11% of IDPs have not vaccinated their children for several years due to difficulties in accessing doctors. As of today, 898 children need treatment as a result of the escalation of armed aggression against Ukraine. The leader in this sad criterion is the Kharkiv region (269 children). 94% of children need treatment for mine-explosive and gunshot injuries. 3% of children were amputated and need prosthetics. Due to the high level of unemployment and the difficult conditions of wartime, not all parents are able to meet such needs.
The Russian Federation is now not only destroying Ukraine, but also insidiously stealing the childhood of young Ukrainians. Children who should carefree spend time in the circle of their peers, gain knowledge, get to know the world by attending various events, have now turned into sad “old men” who, just like adults, fear the future. The low level of family security due to unemployment and the unstable economic situation in the country make it impossible for Ukrainian children to have a full life. And who will be responsible for the stolen childhood? Who will compensate children for the lost years of a carefree childhood? Our children have already learned to live in a world of pain, loss and suffering.
War is a test that leaves a deep mark in the hearts and souls of those who experienced its horrors. For Ukrainian children growing up in wartime, these consequences can be particularly difficult. Their childhood years, which should have been filled with joy and carelessness, turn into a constant struggle for survival, fear and loss.
In the future, Ukrainian children will bear the burden of what they experienced, their memories will be permeated with pain and anxiety. They saw the destruction of their homes, the loss of loved ones, and these traumatic events will forever remain in their hearts. However, despite all the difficulties, it is these children who can become a symbol of the indomitability of the Ukrainian people. Their pain and loss can become a source of strength to build a new future free of war.
Many of these children, unfortunately, may face psychological problems that will require long-term support and rehabilitation. It will be difficult for them to restore a sense of security and trust in the world. But with the help of loving parents, teachers, psychologists and society as a whole, these children can find their way to healing. It is important that we do not forget about them and do everything possible to support them in this difficult struggle.
These children are the future of Ukraine. They will become new leaders, scientists, artists who will build a peaceful and prosperous society. Their experience of war can turn into a powerful incentive to create a better world where war will never happen again. We have to give them the opportunity to grow strong, confident and able to face any challenges.
Despite the fact that the war leaves deep scars, these children can become the ones who will heal the wounds of their people and lead Ukraine to a bright and peaceful future.
