The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already damaged or destroyed 3,790 schools and preschools, according to a report released this Thursday by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which describes cases of units looted, vandalized and occupied for military purposes.
The 71-page document “Tanks in Recreation” documents the damage and destruction of schools and preschools in the regions of Kiev (north), Kharkiv, Chernihiv (both in the northeast) and Mykolaiv (south), all from fighting since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, where the non-governmental organization interviewed almost 90 school employees, representatives of local authorities and witnesses of military operations.
The damage reported was caused by airstrikes, artillery bombardments, rocket launches and, in some cases, cluster munitions, “causing significant damage to roofs, wall collapses and large debris in classrooms”, which caused a serious disruption to access to education for millions of children.
In general, according to HRW, the damage and destruction of schools occurred as a result of Russian forces capturing cities and towns in the first weeks of the invasion, occupying schools. In several cases they fired at facilities before the subsequent territorial reconquest by the Ukrainian Army and before withdrawing from those regions.
The report notes that during the occupation of school buildings, Russian forces ransacked them, looting desktop and laptop computers, televisions, interactive whiteboards, other school equipment and heating systems.
“What was not stolen was often broken. After withdrawing, Russian forces left behind burned and looted classrooms. They also painted ‘graffiti’ on the walls,” typically expressing hatred toward Ukrainians, the document describes.
The example of the Borodyanka school, on the outskirts of Kiev, was also mentioned, which was hit in the exchange of fire between Ukrainian and Russian forces, who when leaving the place left messages against Ukraine and paintings of Nazi flags, alluding to “denazification.” ” of the country invoked by the Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin, to justify his “special military operation.”
“It was impossible to hold back the tears,” said the school director, quoted by HRW. “In the cafeteria, they [forças russas] made a bathtub [no lava-louças]. In another room there was blood on the walls. “They broke all the computers, filled everything with trash and simply stole the laptops.”
Using schools as accommodation for troops, storing ammunition or parking or placing military vehicles on their premises increases the likelihood of attacks on schools, HRW reminds, noting that military forces are obliged, under the laws of war, to do everything everything possible to protect them. school units and other civilian facilities under their control from the effects of the attacks.
HRW also recalls that, in previous reports, cases have been reported of schools and preschool facilities, including for children with disabilities, being used by Russian forces as places of torture, rape or other ill-treatment of prisoners of war or as detention centers for civilians.
There are also documented cases of placing Ukrainian soldiers in schools, or nearby command posts, in addition to the mobilization of a small number of members of the Territorial Defense Forces to provide security to civilians sheltered in teaching units, “actions that can increase the risk of attacks.”
“Ukrainian children have paid a high price in this war because attacks on their education are attacks on their future,” said Hugh Williamson, director of the Europe and Central Asia division of Human Rights Watch, quoted in the organization’s statement. , adding that “the international community “Should condemn the damage and destruction of schools in Ukraine and the looting by Russian forces.”
The report indicates that, before the war, the Ukrainian government, unlike the Russian government, had adopted the Safe Schools Declaration, an international political commitment that aims to protect education from the worst effects of armed conflict, and, one month Before the invasion, a thousand officers were trained for this instrument, specifically, for the Guidelines for the protection of schools and universities against military use during armed conflicts.
Already in July last year, Ukrainian authorities also issued a high-level order with the aim of “not using educational facilities for temporary accommodation of military headquarters and units,” according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, cited by HRW.
“The United Nations and others should pressure the Russian government to immediately cease deliberate, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, including schools, and urge Russia to prevent the use of Ukrainian educational facilities for military purposes. Russia must comply the provisions of the Declaration and include its principles in the training of military personnel,” the organization requests.
Data from the Kiev Ministry of Education reveal that in January more than 95% of eligible students were enrolled, “a significant achievement in wartime,” praises HRW.
Despite these efforts, many students from damaged or destroyed schools “had to continue their studies in other schools, studying in shifts or remotely, which harmed the quality of education,” he warned. and Internet outages have often prevented distance learning,” HRW says.
The NGO highlights the “enormous effort necessary” to help Ukrainian children recover their education after almost two years of uninterrupted war.
“Returning children to classrooms adds urgency for Ukraine, with the support of international partners, to restore and rebuild damaged educational facilities to safety and accessibility standards,” HRW said.
“Most countries in the world, including members of the European Union and NATO, have committed to protecting education from attacks and should help Ukraine achieve this goal during the war; this crucial right must be protected” said Hugh Williamson.
Portugal has committed to rebuilding a secondary school in Zhytomyr, 150 kilometers west of Kiev, which was destroyed by bombing in the early days of the war, in a School Park project in collaboration with the Ukrainian and Estonian authorities and which It provided for the training of teachers in Portugal.
Source: TSF
