School in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region damaged in Russian strike, official says PHOTO

A school in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region has been damaged in a Russian strike, according to regional authorities.

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, said Russian forces hit a school in the Derhachi community, damaging the building’s facade and a school bus.

“Once again, children were the target of Russia. Russian forces struck one of the schools in the Derhachi community,” Syniehubov said.

He added that all pupils were in an underground classroom at the time of the strike, which meant the educational process was not disrupted and no injuries were reported.

“The above-ground part of the building, the facade, and a school bus were damaged. All children are located in an underground school during classes. The educational process was not affected by this strike, and the underground space was not damaged. There were no casualties,” he said.

Authorities in the region have increasingly relied on underground or reinforced learning spaces as fighting continues across parts of eastern and northeastern Ukraine.

Syniehubov said such facilities are being expanded to ensure continued access to education despite ongoing hostilities.