The project implemented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) said in a press release distributed on Saturday that the dual-purpose facility, which can serve for up to 100 years, will ensure uninterrupted learning under conditions of constant shelling, air raids, and power supply disruptions, as the large-scale war caused by Russia has been ongoing for five and a half years.
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The school, which has 12 fully equipped classrooms accommodating up to 500 people, will operate in shifts, and extracurricular activities and sports sessions will also be offered outside of lessons.
“Every Ukrainian child has the right to learn safely, and the opening of this underground school in Sumy is a powerful proof of what solidarity can achieve. In a region constantly subjected to Russian attacks, this new institution means that hundreds of children will be able to return to classes, learn together, and continue to build their future,” said EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova at the school opening.
According to her, “this is not only an investment in resilient educational infrastructure – it is an investment in Ukrainian children, their communities, and the country’s future.”
The total value of the project is 2.4 million euros. Construction took less than a year, and the newly built facility occupies more than 1,350 square meters. The program under which the school was built is initiated and funded by the EU and Lithuania, with Ireland also contributing.
“Ukraine’s recovery cannot wait until the war ends. It begins when a child can return to the classroom, when communities have safe spaces, and when we rebuild not only what was destroyed but also build what will make Ukraine stronger and more resilient,” said Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristupas Vaitiekūnas.
The shelter houses modern, technology-equipped classrooms, computer rooms, and sports zones integrated with advanced ventilation, climate control, and fire safety systems. A double-protection backup generator ensuring complete energy resilience is also installed.
Hundreds of children return to classrooms
“The war has changed our lives, but it must not take away the opportunity for Ukrainian children to learn, interact with peers, and be part of school life. That is why we continue to create safe conditions so that children can return to in-person learning,” said Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Education and Science Dmytro Zavhorodnas.
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“The opening of new shelters in Sumy allows hundreds of children to return to school,” he emphasized, thanking the EU, Lithuania, and Ireland for their assistance.
Artūras Žarnovskis, coordinator of Ukraine recovery and peace programs at the Lithuanian Center for International Partnerships, said priority was given to “institutions completely unable to operate due to lack of shelter infrastructure.”
“Quality in-person learning is essential for the future of Ukraine’s young generation – these are the people who will rebuild Ukraine, and they need our support today. Restoring safe education also gives families a reason to stay in their communities and helps maintain the local economy,” he added.
The “Construction of New Shelters for Ukrainian Schools” program aims to create safe and modern dual-purpose shelter spaces in frontline and most affected regions.
Schools in six Ukrainian regions were selected to implement the program. The first such shelter has been operating for over a year in the Odessa region, and underground schools are also expected in the Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions.
This initiative aims to enhance civilian safety amid ongoing Russian attacks. The coalition, led by Ukraine and Finland together with “Team Europe” partners, supports the development of modern shelters across Ukraine, including schools, hospitals, and public spaces.
Besides child protection, the Sumy project also contributed to the social and economic reintegration of Ukrainian war veterans by involving them in reconstruction work. Ukrainian veterans made up more than 11% of the project’s construction workers.
