10 underground schools to be built in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia by year-end

Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, announced this. 

"Our goal this year is 10 schools, which we will try to achieve. Today, we have full funding for 6 schools. And we hope that in the near future, when the state budget is revised, there will be an additional item of expenditure, and we will be able to fulfil our plan for 10 schools," said Fedorov.

According to him, construction is already underway at five construction sites, and the educational process is scheduled to begin in autumn. However, Fedorov said it was not clear whether the school would start on September 1.

"Let me explain why. Today, the practice of building such full-fledged underground schools in our country is only being developed. There are many challenges. A pile field, soil shedding, transition between the new school and the old one. This is the latest construction practice, and even more so in Zaporizhzhia, where there are completely different soils and different terrain," said the head of the administration.

Nevertheless, construction is underway at five sites. Two more are scheduled to start within a few weeks. It is noted that this construction is not only in Zaporizhzhia, but also in Zaporizhzhia region, both closer to the front line and a little further from the front line.

Ivan Fedorov added that the schools will have a backup power supply and ventilation so that children can stay there "not for an hour or two, but for 5-7 hours during the school day".

• In June, the construction of the first five underground schools began in Zaporizhzhia: they will be open in two shifts.