UKRAINE, KHARKIV, May 27 — Russian attacks destroyed or damaged 65% of educational institutions in Kharkiv, said Olha Demenko, head of the education department of the Kharkiv City Council, during the meeting with journalists.

According to Demenko, Russians fully destroyed five schools and three kindergartens in Kharkiv. Specialists demined their territories, cleared the rubble, and removed the debris. These educational institutions are now conserved.

She also said that over 10 schools were seriously damaged because of Russian attacks.

“Five years ago if something had flown in and blown out the windows, it would have been terrible. But now, after an explosion, the school director calls me and says, ‘Everything’s fine here — only 10 windows were blown out,’” said Demenko.

Demenko explained that the department can’t conduct a massive restoration of educational institutions in Kharkiv because of the threat of repeated Russian attacks, which could cause damage again.

Demenko said that before the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, 111,000 children attended public schools. That number has now dropped to 94,000. The department works to involve children from internally displaced families who moved to Kharkiv from frontline areas.

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