Sat. Nov 2nd, 2024
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UKRAINIAN children have been seen gathering in underground classrooms as they stay safe from Vladimir Putin’s devastating Kharkiv offensive.

Schools stayed open despite the fresh Russian blitz on the battered city as kids were forced into bomb-proof bunkers by brave teachers.

Ukrainian kids have been going to school like normal despite the latest Russian onslaught in Kharkiv as they learn in underground bunkers11

Ukrainian kids have been going to school like normal despite the latest Russian onslaught in Kharkiv as they learn in underground bunkersCredit: EPA
Children were seen walking to their classes holding hands as they escaped Vlad's fury

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Children were seen walking to their classes holding hands as they escaped Vlad’s furyCredit: Reuters
The heavily fortified underground schools let the children continue to learn with their teachers in wake of the fighting around them

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The heavily fortified underground schools let the children continue to learn with their teachers in wake of the fighting around themCredit: Reuters
Russia's latest attack on the Kharkiv region has left buildings and people decimated

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Russia’s latest attack on the Kharkiv region has left buildings and people decimatedCredit: EPA

It comes as Russian snipers take aim above ground at anyone trying to flee to safety.

Thousands of school children aged between six and 16 are being taught in five converted metro stations away from Putin’s horror bombardments.

Some of the old stations, where locals fled to at the start of the brutal Ukraine war, even have miniature playgrounds inside.

The Sun visited one of the renovated schools earlier this year and spoke to teacher Olenna Volodomyr, who said: “It is strange having classes underground, but it is the only way to teach face to face.

“It is much better for the children.

“The children feel safe here, we feel safe here, and the parents feel better because they know their children are safe.”

As the children remain safe underground, thousands of adults have been trying to escape the fighting altogether since the second bloody assault on Kharkiv was launched on Friday.

Military policeman Vlad Yefarov was trying to rescue a pensioner trapped in the north-east border town of Vovchansk when Russian snipers shot at him.

Vlad told The Telegraph: “We were driving past the old shoemaker’s factory when a Russian sniper’s bullet hit the windscreen right in front of me.

“We tried to turn around, but as we did so, a Russian machine-gunner opened fire on us, and the sniper put another round in my driver’s side window.”

This is just one horrific example of Russian fighters bullying Ukrainian civilians and not allowing them to leave areas, such as Kharkiv, where fighting has brutally intensified.

Putin launches surprise fresh invasion across Ukraine border into Kharkiv

It was also revealed earlier today, that Russian forces had managed to seize miles of ground in the shock offensive.

Putin’s troops claimed they captured five villages this morning.

They later said four more had been taken in the last few hours taking the total to nine.

Ukraine’s armed forces admitted Moscow had achieved some “tactical successes” around the north-eastern city near the Russian border over the weekend.

Russian troops marched between two and five miles in a multipronged attack across more than 20 miles of front line.

Close to 40,000 soldiers and 500 tanks had been amassed along the border ahead of the large-scale ground attack Kyiv had feared was coming for weeks.

Kharkiv’s regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said: “The enemy is trying to deliberately stretch the front line, attacking in small groups, but in new directions.”

Last night, fighting raged on the outskirts of bomb-blitzed Vovchansk and nearby Lyptsi, which sit a few miles south of the Russia-Ukraine frontier.

Almost 6,000 civilians fled Vovchansk although 300 remain, local officials said yesterday.

A woman and child venture down into one of Kharkiv's underground schools

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A woman and child venture down into one of Kharkiv’s underground schoolsCredit: Rex
Civilians have been evacuating Vovchansk and the surrounding regions to escape Russian soldiers advancing through Ukraine

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Civilians have been evacuating Vovchansk and the surrounding regions to escape Russian soldiers advancing through UkraineCredit: Rex
Kids have been seen smiling and laughing as they socialise and develop normally

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Kids have been seen smiling and laughing as they socialise and develop normallyCredit: EPA
Russian missile strikes have bombarded Kharkiv since the offensive began on Friday

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Russian missile strikes have bombarded Kharkiv since the offensive began on FridayCredit: Getty

Despite Putin’s relative success with gaining ground he has reportedly suffered record losses with 1,740 killed in a single day of war.

Russian troops are being continuously thrown into meatgrinder assaults in northeastern Ukraine as part of the brutal new ground offensive.

Ukrainian soldiers said the Kremlin is using the tried-and-tested Russian tactic of launching human wave attacks – sending forward a disproportionate amount of infantry units to exhaust Ukrainian troops and firepower. 

Dramatic footage also showed Ukraine decimating a column of five tanks from above as they attempted to plough further into the Kharkiv region.

Analysts say the Russian onslaught is designed to exploit ammunition shortages before promised Western weapons shipments can reach the frontline.

Russia first stepped up attacks on Kharkiv in March targeting energy infrastructure and settlements with constant airstrikes in what analysts predicted were preparations for a new offensive.

Its mayor had warned the West that it risked being turned into a “second Aleppo” – the Syrian city which heavy Russian bombing helped to decimate a decade ago.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukrainian troops had been carrying out counterattacks in the border villages.

“Disrupting Russian offensive plans is now our number one task,” he said.

Troops must “return the initiative to Ukraine”, the president insisted, again urging allies to speed up arms deliveries.

The key moment in the conflict comes as Putin sacked his long-term defence minister and appointed a tech geek with zero military experience.

Civilian Andrei Belousov, 65, will now take the reins of Russia’s war in Ukraine as the Kremlin ruler carries out a major shake-up of his cabinet.

The Institute for the Study War said the high-level reshuffle signals that Putin is taking significant steps to prepare for a protracted war in Ukraine and a possible future confrontation with Nato.

Police in Ukraine have been helping to evacuate thousands of people including the elderly so they can be safe away from Vlad's terror regime

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Police in Ukraine have been helping to evacuate thousands of people including the elderly so they can be safe away from Vlad’s terror regimeCredit: AP
The schools have been designed inside underground metro stations

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The schools have been designed inside underground metro stationsCredit: EPA
The aftermath of a savage Russian strike

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The aftermath of a savage Russian strikeCredit: Getty

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