Zelenskyy Visits Wartime School

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with students, teachers and education officials at a lyceum in the Kyiv region on Oct. 2, where classes were being held in a shelter because of the threat of Russian strikes. The visit took place ahead of Education Workers’ Day.

The lyceum’s equipped shelter allows students from all grades to continue lessons during air-raid threats. The facility also includes a medical room, cafeteria, gym, creative workshop and robotics room. Zelenskyy spoke with students about their studies and interests before meeting educators and heads of schools from the Bucha community.

Discussions focused on teachers’ salaries, housing assistance and the need to equip more schools with safe learning spaces. Educators said young professionals often cannot afford the down payment required under the state eOselia housing program. Zelenskyy instructed officials to consider expanding housing programs for educators and converting unused buildings into social housing.

The president also called for additional funding for school shelters, equipment, curricula and contemporary books. Education Minister Andrii Butenko said the ministry would allocate 100 million hryvnias for printed publications by the end of the year. Zelenskyy said the amount was insufficient nationally and cited the government’s 4 billion-hryvnia “Tysiachovesna” program, which includes Ukrainian cultural content and books.