Published on: 2026-08-04
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
August 3, 2026 Peace and Security
In maternity wards, school classrooms, hospital corridors, and local communities across Ukraine, people are trying to rebuild their lives despite the ongoing fifth year of war.
In the frontline village of Bezruki in the Kharkiv region, just a half-hour drive from the Russian border, the local school was hit directly in the very first months of the war and soon closed. Tanks passed so close that they could be heard in the vicinity of the educational institution.
During the renovation, the building’s frame was reinforced and the windows were restored – life returned to the school. The basement was converted into a shelter, and later became a gallery.
© UNOPS/V. Yaresko
Thanks to an initiative implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) with the support of the European Union, more than 15 thousand children in the region are back in the classroom.
A curriculum built around the child
Yuriy Tkalenko worked as a teacher in schools in the Cherkasy region for twenty years. In 2025, he underwent training as part of the state reform “New Ukrainian School.”
“One must always learn,” he says. “The new program places the child at the center, adapting the learning process to their needs.”
This program is implemented by UNESCO with the support of the Global Partnership for Education and the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.
New life – new hope
For Anastasia from the Donetsk region, giving birth meant having to leave home and reach a secure maternity ward in Kharkiv, where she gave birth to twin boys.
“I was afraid to give birth, but life goes on,” she says. “The doctors helped us at every stage.”
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), together with the European Union, supports such maternity wards in districts near the front line.
© UNFPA
“Nanny School”
The ability of a mother to work often depends on how the issue of child care is resolved. The “Nanny School” of the International Labour Organization (ILO) trained 80 women to care for children under the age of three. Almost half of the school’s graduates found jobs shortly after receiving their certificates.
The program is small but designed with future growth in mind – it helps women transition out of the informal employment sector and gain stability.
In Kryvyi Rih, after training as part of a project implemented by the UN Women structure, Oksana drives a bus on one of the city’s longest routes. Previously, she worked as a cargo and baggage reception specialist and doubted that she would pass the selection.
© UN Women
“Many passengers still find it unusual to see a woman behind the wheel of a bus, but their grateful reactions inspire me,” she says. “If you want to do something, don’t be afraid to try. I aimed to change my life, and I succeeded.”
“My colleagues give me strength…”
The hospital director from Zaporizhzhia, Anna Makarenkova, has been treating the wounded and receiving evacuees from Mariupol throughout the entire war. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, over 25,000 patients have passed through her. They often had to be treated under shelling and during power outages.
“My colleagues give me strength,” she says, “their tireless work and dedication to the common cause.”
New autonomous power units, installed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of the EU, now ensure the operation of medical equipment when the network is disconnected.
© WHO
“Movement is life”
Alexander from Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region lost both legs and an eye as a result of a drone strike. His wife Natalia helped him through three months of surgeries and rehabilitation: Alexander was learning to maintain balance and to transfer himself independently into a wheelchair.
“Movement is life,” says Natalia. “I think everything will be fine with us. We will live and be happy. Life goes on no matter what.”
The World Health Organization (WHO), with the support of the EU, has trained over 300 rehabilitation specialists across Ukraine: they are engaged in fitting and adjusting wheelchairs; nine of them now train others.
None of this will return to people what the war has taken. But this is exactly what recovery looks like, step by step.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It represents an exact report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.