The new school year has just begun in Ukraine, but for many children, something essential is missing: their books. 

In recent months, as the country prepared for children to return to the classroom, attacks have repeatedly hit warehouses, printing plants and book markets. In mid-August, an attack hit Kyiv’s historic Pochaina book market, known for its stalls selling rare and second-hand books, destroying thousands of volumes. Just days later, a missile strike destroyed a printing plant on the outskirts of the capital, burning 1.3 million schoolbooks – around 10% of the number needed across the country for the new school year. In August, a major publishing warehouse was also hit, destroying another 8 million books, many of them destined for schoolchildren. 

The overall picture is devastating. An estimated 10 to 13 million books were destroyed between May and August 2026. But the loss of books is just the tip of the iceberg for an education system under immense strain. More than 3,000 schools across Ukraine have been damaged, nearly 400 completely destroyed, and around 4.6 million children are struggling to access education. Many attend lessons online, often disrupted by power cuts and a lack of suitable devices. This precarious form of learning is also taking its toll on educational outcomes. 

The war, in other words, is threatening far more than children’s physical safety. Day by day, it is eroding their right to learn and to imagine a future. 

Our work in Ukraine did not stop during the summer holidays. Ahead of the new school year, we distributed laptops and tablets – essential tools for helping children catch up with missed learning and ensuring continuity of education where schools remain closed or damaged. Together with our local partners, we also organised educational day trips and summer camps: precious opportunities not only to keep learning, but to spend time together, play and, for a few hours, simply be children again. 

Going back to school should mean something simple: having the tools you need to learn and the opportunity to imagine your future. And that is exactly what we continue to build every day, together with the people who support us.