Continued Russian attacks across Ukraine this week made for a tragic start to the new school year, a senior official with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement on Friday.
John Marks, interim UNICEF Representative in Ukraine, issued a renewed appeal for schools to be protected as war rages on.
"During the first week of the new academic year, educational facilities in areas including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, Lviv and Sumy were reportedly damaged in attacks," he said.
"Evacuations across areas closer to the frontline are also ongoing with education once again disrupted as children flee their homes."
Young lives cut short
Mr. Marks' statement centred around the deaths of three sisters.
Seven-year-old Emilia, along with Dariia, 18, and Yaryna, 21, were killed with their mother in an attack in the western city of Lviv on 4 September. Their father was injured.
The family were among the many reported casualties, which included other children.
Mr. Marks said the three sisters were all just starting out in life.
Although Emilia was present for the first days of school "tragically she didn't make it back for the third day," he said.
Oldest sister Yaryna had found a job with the organization Lviv - European Youth Capital 2025, after finishing school. The organization is a UNICEF partner and works to empower young people through life skills training.
"This tragic story reflects the reality for children and young people across Ukraine today as attacks continue to hit populated areas," he said.
Civilian deaths increase
Russian missile and bomb attacks since 26 August have caused extensive harm across the country, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said on Friday.
Investigators verified that attacks in Government-controlled areas killed 64 civilians, and injured 392, in addition to causing significant damage and destruction to civilian property and critical infrastructure.
The figures include children, six of whom were killed and 43 injured.
The high casualty numbers follow a recent sharp increase in civilian deaths and injuries. In August alone, 184 people were killed, and 856 injured - the second highest monthly casualties this year, after July.
Electricity infrastructure targeted
Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU, noted that "targeted attacks on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure have again triggered lengthy nationwide power cuts while recent attacks have destroyed or damaged hospitals, schools, supermarkets, and critical energy infrastructure."
HRMMU said that on 26 August, Russian armed forces launched one of the largest coordinated aerial attacks across Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Eight civilians were killed, and at least 23 were injured, while at least 25 energy facilities in 15 regions were damaged.
Also, on 30 August, aerial bombs in four districts of Kharkiv city killed six civilians and injured at least 44. Kharkiv was again hit by multiple missiles the following day, killing a medical worker and injuring at least 11 civilians.
Additionally, seven civilians died in the 4 September attack in Lviv which killed the three sisters and their mother. Another 62 people were injured, and three schools were also damaged. HRMMU said this was the first civilian casualty incident there since February 2024
