On the morning of October 22, a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv struck and damaged a kindergarten where children huddled in an underground shelter for protection. According to news reports, one person was killed and at least 10 people were injured, including a 5-year-old girl. President Zelensky has said that the 48 children evacuated from the kindergarten were experiencing “acute stress reactions”.
Attacks on education are, unfortunately, not a new aspect of the war in Ukraine, and are becoming an increasingly concerning pattern in conflicts across the globe, risking the lives of children while they study and causing long term psychological and developmental harms. Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to education constitutes a war crime, and also violates a number of human rights, including the right to life and the right to education.
In line with the Safe Schools Declaration, every effort should be made to investigate the attack on the Kharkiv kindergarten under national and international law and, where appropriate, duly prosecute perpetrators.
Read the Safe Schools declaration here.
Read the Guide on Enhancing Accountability for Attacks on Education here.
Photo Credit: SES of Ukraine