KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE, May 31 — The first underground school in the region was opened in Liubotyn, Kharkiv region.

“The enemy continues to terrorize the civilian population and destroy civilian objects in the Kharkiv region. Our primary task is to protect people’s lives and, most importantly, children. The shelter of the highest security class A-4 is designed for 400 people,” said the Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Towns and villages of the Kharkiv Oblast, especially border settlements, came under massive Russian artillery shelling and airstrikes since Russia launched a new ground offensive north and northeast of the region in the Vovchansk and Lyptsi directions on May 10. 

The press service of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration reported that two more schools are planned to open in the Krasnohrad and Lozova districts.

The underground school cost almost $1.8 million to build. These are funds from the fund for eliminating the consequences of armed aggression and the regional budget.

The school will work during this summer holiday. The school’s administration is currently developing a schedule for several shifts, the Governor added.

The school foundation’s depth is two to four meters. The wall thickness is about 400 millimeters. In addition to the main hall, there are ten technical rooms. There is access for people with disabilities, service rooms, and elevators.

As reported by Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Andrii Stashkiv at a briefing at Ukraine—Ukrinform Media Center, Russian aggression has destroyed more than 200 schools in the country and damaged 1,600. Every seventh school in Ukraine has been damaged, leading to a lack of access to education. About 900,000 children can’t attend school and are studying remotely.

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