School lessons feel safer underground

AS children sit at neat rows of desks, hanging on their teacher's every word, it looks like any classroom.

- SIMON MURPHY

But these pupils are 23ft underground, mere miles from Ukraine's front line with Russia.

The class is among almost 400 children who attend the first purpose-built subterranean school in Zaporizhzhia. Astonishingly, the 14-classroom School No. 88 was constructed in just six months, with the help of Unicef.

Budding dance choreographer Valeria, 12, told us: "It's a bit scary when you are walking to the school but when you come it feels safe.

"When you are underground, you can feel that you are in school, not even feel that you are underground.

"It's an ordinary feeling that you are in school and studying."