Title: 240,000 Ukrainian Kids Start School Under Fire as 183 Children Killed or Wounded in July

As the new school year opened across Ukraine, Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv and other regions for a sixth consecutive day, wounding at least three children and damaging civilian infrastructure in five of the capital’s ten districts [232807][232827]. The attacks came just hours before lessons were set to begin, forcing students and teachers into shelters as explosions sounded overhead [232807].

Around 240,000 Ukrainian children entered first grade this week, a 10% decrease from last year, reflecting families displaced, killed, or living abroad [232814]. For about 200,000 students living near the front lines, the school year will be entirely online, meaning they will learn from home or shelters, away from their teachers and classmates [232814].

The timing of the strikes has raised alarm among parents and officials. A large-scale attack on Kyiv and its outskirts killed at least eight people and wounded over a dozen others overnight, just as children in the capital prepared to return to school [232158]. Another strike targeting rail workers injured 20 people, including two children [232519].

The United Nations has recorded 183 Ukrainian children killed or wounded in July, marking the highest monthly toll since the war began in 2022 [232824]. The figure includes both deaths and injuries, and Ukrainian officials say the actual number may be higher, as some cases are still being verified [232824].

The UN has repeatedly called for the protection of children in conflict zones, noting that schools and hospitals must never be military targets [232824]. Emergency crews worked through the night to clear rubble and restore power, while city officials urged residents to stay in shelters as the threat of further launches remained [232827].

For many students, the sound of a school bell is now replaced by the sound of an air-raid siren [232814].