It's joy mixed with sorrow as Ukrainian children go back to school in the midst of war
BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) — In a small courtyard at a school in Bucha, scene of some of the worst atrocities committed by Russian soldiers during the war, Ukrainian children gathered Friday to celebrate the first day of the new school year.
First graders dressed in Ukrainian embroidered costume shirts known as vyshyvankas, with neat hairstyles and holding bouquets of flowers, line up hesitantly along an improvised stage. Parents, many struggling to contain their emotions, smile and wave from the crowd, constantly taking photos.
But the festive ambiance quickly shifts as the Ukrainian national anthem is played, followed by a solemn minute of silence in memory of fallen Ukrainian soldiers. Onstage, the children stand quietly, and in the audience, some parents quietly wipe away tears.
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This atmosphere of joy mixed with sorrow sets the tone for the start of the new school year in Ukraine.
https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-schools-children-war-online-hybrid-learning-4377ff67610b1996d37b99a3c90573cf
