Kyiv school year starts amid air raid siren after Russian missile strikes

Kyiv’s schoolchildren gathered for a ceremonial start to the new academic year on Monday, only to have the event halted when an air‑raid alert sounded across the capital. The interruption came just hours after Russian missile strikes hit several districts of Kyiv, prompting emergency services to activate the city’s standard warning system and guide families to designated shelters.

Education officials confirmed that classes were suspended for the remainder of the day as authorities assessed the threat and ensured the safety of students and staff. The missile attacks, part of a broader pattern of Russian strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, have heightened concerns about the continuity of schooling in conflict‑affected areas. Ukrainian officials reiterated that measures are in place to protect children, but the incident underscores the ongoing volatility that continues to disrupt daily life in the capital.