Dariia Khudobiak
November 13, 2026
“Education is a privilege” is a phrase said often, but one that quickly slips from our minds as students in France, especially when studying becomes a burden. However, studying in a cute cafe or catching up on your readings at the library can be a luxury occurrence for Ukrainian students. Imagine worrying not only about finals, presentations or submitting assignments on time, but also about what is the fastest route from your lecture hall to a bomb shelter.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 4278 educational institutions, including 97 universities, have been damaged by bombing or shelling. Of these, 428 institutions have been completely destroyed, according to data collected by the Ministry of Education and Science. The European University Association estimates that more than 6 million students struggle to access education. On Oct. 21 2026, several universities were hit by shelling in three different cities — Kyiv, Uman and Kremenchuk — as part of a massive attack on Ukraine. The United Nations reports that 2,105 civilians were injured and 328 were killed this September alone, an 85% increase compared with September of last year. The situation in Ukraine is worsening each day.
I have interviewed university students studying abroad and in Ukraine as well as a high school student who is preparing her university applications in order to showcase personal experiences of real young adults behind statistics.
Olia Dyminska, a second-year student at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv, explained that the war’s impact on her studies has become more pronounced over time.
“In general, there were not so many air raids before, but with the beginning of this [academic] year they became more noticeable,” she highlighted.
Currently, Ukraine is facing a record number of air raid alerts since the start of the war. In the capital, air raid sirens sounded an average of 10 times per day from late August to early September 2026. Dyminska said that air alerts frequently affect her studies, even though she lives and studies in western Ukraine, “in a relatively safer city.” Classes continue to be regularly interrupted and moved from classrooms to shelters or cancelled altogether due to the uncertainty of the duration of the air alert that can last several hours. Students pointed out in their interviews that universities and schools are becoming more flexible with their rescheduling policies.
“At UCU, it is possible to resume classes after air alerts [in person] or online via various platforms,” Dyminska stated.
According to the European Training Foundation, a combination of post-pandemic and war-related factors has resulted in an estimated learning loss of more than one year of schooling. Online classes are often used to compensate for missed class time in both secondary and higher education institutions.
Many experts also express their concerns about the physical and mental health of Ukrainian youth. Children and young people may carry the trauma and fear of the Russian invasion for the rest of their lives.
“It also affects [your] concentration and plans for the day; after [spending time in the] shelter you hardly want to go anywhere else. It is somehow morally tiring, plus it interrupts your intention for the day,” Dyminska shared.
Amid war and uncertainty, Ukrainian society, along with its education system, are evolving and adapting. All interviewed students studying in Ukraine said that there has been more attention paid to their well-being, with an increased focus on socializing and volunteering.
“I find that right now the university is not only a place to receive education, but a community that allows one to keep a feeling of normality in life even during war time,” Dyminska said.
But how does war influence the choices of the next generation? Many students, including myself, have reconsidered their majors as a consequence of the war.
“If it wasn’t for the war, I probably wouldn’t have considered studying international relations,” a first year student studying abroad, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared.
Dyminska, who studies psychology, said the “war further showed [her] how important it is to understand the mental health and state of people.”
While, for some, the war has had little impact on their choice of subjects of studies, the logistical impact of where they can study was the most significant. A high school senior in Ukraine who wishes to remain anonymous reveals that the war has left her uncertain about where she would like to pursue her studies.
“The war is affecting my decision as right now I am choosing from fewer universities due to security concerns. It becomes scary to go study in Kyiv or Kharkiv, where the higher ranking universities are but there’s a higher chance they will be hit.”
Of the 24 higher education institutions in Kharkiv, 21 have come under shelling, according to Save Schools.
Studying abroad has become another option for many students. Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014 accelerated student migration to foreign universities, a trend that continued in subsequent years.
The full-scale invasion in 2022 further exacerbated this phenomenon, as many people, including young people, were forced to flee Ukraine.
However, many students still prefer to remain in their home country, even when they have the option to study abroad. One of Ukraine’s future challenges will be encouraging students who left the country to return and contribute to its reconstruction.
As for education domestically, measures must be taken to maintain educational standards amidst these difficult conditions. Underground schools have become a common practice across Ukraine especially in cities like Kharkiv who come under heavy shelling on a daily basis.
As students, especially at a prestigious university like Sciences Po, it isn’t often that we worry for our lives. While we focus on our studies, we must not forget that education in a safe, calm environment is an immense privilege that many students around the world, including in Ukraine, cannot take for granted.
As winter approaches, the situation in Ukraine is expected to worsen due to harsh weather, power outages and intensified attacks. It is crucial to continue standing with Ukrainian students and the wider population, ensuring that their struggles are not forgotten.
Photo Source: This image was originally posted to Flickr by the President Of Ukraine at https://flickr.com/photos/165930373@N06/53375094351. It was reviewed on 4 December 2023 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-zero.
