In Sukachi in Ukraine, near the border with Belarus, children are still traumatized by the abuses committed two years ago by Russian soldiers. They are looked after by specialist educators. A report from our special correspondent Giorgia Orlandi.
Two years after the start of the Russian invasion, the damage is still clearly visible.
In this border region with Belarus, north of Kyiv, Russian tanks have devastated the infrastructure. Some have been rebuilt but entire villages were completely wiped out.
In the midst of the ruins, life has resumed despite everything. And the youngest in particular have learned to live with the danger and risks they face daily.
A large part of this territory is still infested with minesschoolchildren learned how to spot them and, above all, how to react.
“We are in the village of Sukachi, an hour’s drive from Kyiv”explains our special correspondent Giorgia Orlandi. “And at this school, students not only attend classes, but are also helped by a team of psychologists who treat trauma caused by war that can affect learning abilities in different ways.”
Anastasia Pantelei, social worker: “__Children saw their homes destroyed and witnessed killings. This is something that influenced the learning process. When someone says something that brings up a certain memory, they can be triggered and react emotionally and that’s the biggest problem.”
Teaching these students remains a challenge.
Svitlana Vasulivna, history teacher: “Now we tend to pay more attention to the individual approach to all children. Like us adults, they express very diverse emotions. At the beginning, you can endure, but in the end it breaks out: depression, refusal to work… Children react differently. The real challenge here is ensuring a safe and healthy educational environment.”
In areas where the bombings have stopped, adapting to a new normal remains difficult, or even impossible. Every aspect of daily life is a constant reminder that the war continues.