Enabling education to continue, underground

The village of Inhulka in southern Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region is home to around 2,000 people. An agricultural community, it lies some 40 kilometres to the north of Mykolaiv, the regional centre.

The only school in the village, the Inhulka Lyceum, has recently received support as part of a project implemented by UNOPS and funded by Denmark. Between December 2024 and September 2025, work was undertaken to renovate its two underground shelters and turn them into welcoming learning spaces.

The reality of education in Ukraine is that students can only attend studies at schools that have a state-certified shelter in place. The capacity of that shelter determines the number of children a school can accommodate. When the air raid alert sounds, teachers lead students underground, sometimes to spend hours until the all-clear is given. If no shelter is available, or its condition is poor, the school can only offer online learning.

“Schools used to be built with underground shelters back in Soviet times," explains Vadym Kobylinskyi, the Inhulka Luceum’s principal. “Then, they eventually fell into disrepair. Nobody in their right mind thought we would ever be using them,” he adds. 

Thanks to repairs implemented by UNOPS, the school now features two equipped underground spaces with a combined capacity for 250 people. This is sufficient to shelter all 239 students currently enrolled. As a designated hub school serving children from Inhulka and neighbouring villages since 2021, the Lyceum faced significant pressure to resume face-to-face learning. The newly renovated shelters have resolved this challenge, ensuring safe access to education for the wider community.

“Our children have already returned to classroom studies. The teaching staff could not be any happier,’ shares Vadym. ‘Now, when another of the countless air raid alerts sounds, students can simply retreat underground and continue classes without skipping a beat, in an environment that is cosy, comfortable, well lit, and warm,” said Vadym Kobylinskyi, principal, Inhulka Luceum.

‘We support our students and want them to develop in multiple directions. We have a folk ensemble that has won awards at numerous contests. We also have a professional football coach working with a team. There are plenty of activities for students to enjoy other than academics,’ adds Vadym.

This is just one example of the challenges and solutions on the agenda for Ukrainian communities. Addressing them calls for strong cooperation and pragmatism.

“Children are our future. We are happy to have contributed to a safer environment for them,” explains Hryhorii Komisarov, the UNOPS engineer responsible for work at both shelters.

“Ukrainian education has struggled a lot since the start of the invasion, because attending classes in person has become so much more difficult. Because of this, many families make the heart-breaking decision to leave and start their life elsewhere. By putting such shelters in place, we help future generations stay and grow in Ukraine,” he adds.

About the project

“Restoring Communities and Social Infrastructure” is a support project funded by the government of Denmark and implemented by UNOPS. Following needs and damage assessments done in close cooperation with local authorities in Mykolaiv City and the surrounding region, it has been working to address pressing needs and create the conditions for local communities to rebuild.

Activities include repairing multi-apartment residential buildings and rehabilitating their neighbourhoods, renovating and constructing underground shelters at schools, and stabilising the Arkas Lyceum in downtown Mykolaiv, a prominent educational facility and cultural heritage site damaged by a missile strike.