This is Kindergarten No. 30 “Olenka” in the city of Nikopol. Our kindergarten’s capacity was 205 children, from two-year-olds through six-year-olds. It’s an eleven-group institution. But right now, there are far fewer children because of the war.

We are in a frontline zone. Our city, Nikopol, is constantly shelled. Our school was targeted. The building was heavily damaged, the windows shattered, all because of the aggression of the Russian Federation. There were two very powerful strikes, so strong that Kindergarten No. 51 nearby was destroyed. First we covered the holes because the windows were completely blown out. In some group rooms there were no windows at all, just empty openings. In some places only the window frame remained, there was no glass, nothing. Everything fell out. The impact hit the walkway area and the building started crumbling. But now, with your windows, the light comes in, and it’s so much better. Teachers still come in and prepare materials, literature, demonstration and didactic materials, even working in the shelter. When everything was boarded up, there was no light and they couldn’t prepare. Now at least one window lets in light, and they can work in some comfort.

Before the war, people would come to our school and say they could sense the aroma of children; that particular scent of youth and energy. Now there isn’t even that aroma anymore. The smell of children has left the building. It’s a very painful topic for me. Of course we want all our children to return, those who graduated over these three years, and even new children we enrolled during this time. The teachers, the staff, everyone wants this. And parents want it too, because it’s essential for a child: they come here, they communicate, they have friends. Now children are deprived of that. That is why we are so determined to repair and restore what we can, so the building remains, so the children can come back. We are trying to preserve this building. When there’s a strike, everyone comes here, staff, teachers, even people who are on leave, because when you see this level of destruction, your heart bleeds. We have a very great desire to begin working again. God help us.