Published on: 2026-07-02
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
UN News Service: Ukraine, and especially Kyiv, once again experienced one of the most extensive and prolonged air attacks. What is the situation in the capital and other regions of Ukraine after these strikes?
Toby Fricker: It was another night of horror for children and families in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. The attacks lasted several hours. This morning we visited one of the most affected areas on the left bank of Kyiv.
Half of the residential building there is almost completely destroyed. Next to another building, near the kindergarten, a huge crater has formed. The kindergarten itself suffered serious damage – inside we saw rooms that were heavily affected.
According to available data, at least 20 people have died, and this number may unfortunately increase. It is reported that a 15-year-old girl is missing; rescuers continue to search for her and her family members. There are other injured children as well. This is a tragedy for all the residents of the district.
When we were on site, what struck us the most was not only the scale of the destruction, but most importantly — the feelings of the people who had lost their homes. They were trying to carry out whatever few intact belongings they could from their apartments, if it was still possible to enter. Many were in a state of shock.
A psychologist working through a UNICEF partner organization said that people often say, “I don’t need help right now.” But this shock is a natural reaction to the trauma experienced. Later comes the realization of what happened, and at that time it is very important to have specialists nearby who are ready to provide psychological support not only immediately after the tragedy but also in the following weeks and months.
UN News Service: Many families spent the night in shelters. How does such an experience affect children, their mental health, and their future lives?
TF: Nights spent in shelters have a huge impact on children. At the same time, not all families have shelters nearby. People have to find a safe place at night or go down into the metro.
© UNICEF Rescuers working at the site of the night attack on Kyiv, Ukraine.
This must not become the norm. But for Ukrainian children and their parents, after more than four and a half years of war, this has unfortunately become a part of everyday life.
The sound of nighttime attacks is terrifying in itself, not to mention seeing the consequences or being under attack yourself. This affects children in different ways. Some stop sleeping normally, some experience panic attacks, and others find it difficult to communicate with friends and family.
These consequences can persist for a very long time. That is why it is so important to provide psychological support to children and families right now in order to prevent more serious consequences in the future, if possible.
UN News Service: Are there groups of children who are especially vulnerable right now?
TF: In our opinion, two groups are particularly vulnerable.
The first group consists of the very youngest children during the first thousand days of their lives. It is precisely during this period that the foundations of a person’s health and development are formed.
These children, like all others, are experiencing what is happening, but they are not yet able to express their feelings and experiences. Therefore, the effects of stress can be difficult to notice immediately. However, if families receive the necessary support from social workers and other specialists, it is possible to help the child develop normally even in such difficult conditions.
The second group consists of teenagers.
This is the age when young people begin to make plans for the future. But many teenagers have already been living under war conditions for four and a half years. They have been deprived of the opportunity to regularly meet with friends, attend school, and develop not only knowledge but also life skills acquired through interaction with peers.
All of this especially affects teenagers. Moreover, it becomes more difficult for them to make plans regarding their future profession, education, and work.
UN News Service: What assistance is UNICEF currently providing and what programs is it implementing in the long term?
TF: Immediately after such attacks, our top priority is to provide emergency assistance. We provide financial aid to families who have lost their homes and belongings or whose houses have been damaged. This helps to at least partially alleviate financial difficulties. We also deliver essential items.
© UNICEF Humanitarian aid after shelling in Ukraine.
Another very important area is psychological support. Children should have the opportunity to talk to social workers, counselors, and psychologists immediately after experiencing trauma.
When it comes to long-term work, our goal is to provide children with conditions for full development. This means the opportunity to attend school safely. We support the construction and equipping of shelters, restore basement premises, and turn them into safe spaces where classes can be held.
We also work with teachers, helping them support children who have experienced traumatic events, as the teachers themselves are also living in conditions of war.
In addition, we are developing youth centers where teenagers can socialize, acquire new skills, and prepare for their future professions. Young people want to grow, want to play an important role in Ukraine’s recovery, and we must help them prepare for this.
UN News Service: What stood out to you most during your interactions with children and families? What do you think is important for people outside Ukraine to understand?
TF: Today we spoke with our psychologist, who worked with a teenager affected during the recent attacks.
She said that after such a strike, a child completely loses the sense of stability and security. People have already gotten used to living under the threat of shelling, but when the strike affects you personally, it feels completely different.
That is why it is so important to talk with children, to give them the opportunity to gradually talk about their feelings, not to rush them, and to accompany them for as long as necessary.
I recall another meeting – with a fifteen-year-old girl from the Sumy region. She had just returned to in-person learning after the school reopened, but soon the school was damaged again and closed once more.
She said to me, “It seems like everything is lost again.” Life was just starting to get better, the girl had just begun reconnecting with her friends, and once again lost that opportunity.
But nearby was a youth center where she was able to meet her peers again, try to acquire new skills, and feel that she indeed has a future.
This is especially important today. Young people do not want to lose hope. They want to have their place in the world, to develop, and to be successful.
United Nations News Service: And one last question. What message would UNICEF like to address to the world today?
TF: First and foremost, children must be protected. Always. And especially during war.
It is very important that UNICEF and our numerous local partners have the resources to continue their work.
This concerns not only emergency assistance immediately after attacks or support for families forced to leave their homes. Equally important is to continue supporting children thereafter: helping them return to education, adapting assistance to individual needs, providing reintegration programs, and creating conditions suitable for each child.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It represents an accurate account of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.