Air raid alert shatters first day of school in Kyiv

Hours after Russian ballistic missiles shook Kyiv overnight, balloons floated above a schoolyard in the Ukrainian capital’s Obolon district on Tuesday. Bleary-eyed parents and children in festive outfits gathered to music, determined to celebrate the traditional start of the school year. But within seconds, an air raid alert sounded, and the crowd dispersed. Children’s laughter and music gave way to distant explosions. Ukrainian students are beginning their fifth school year since Russia’s invasion, with no end to the war in sight. Thousands of schools have adapted, shifting to remote or hybrid learning, holding classes in shelters or closin…