“Tanks on the Playground”
The damage and destruction of schools documented by HRW typically occurred when Russian forces captured cities and towns and occupied schools during the early weeks of the fighting in 2022.
Russian forces pillaged schools, looting computers, televisions, and other school equipment, as well as heating systems. Upon withdrawal, Russian forces left behind burned-out and ransacked classrooms with hate graffiti painted on walls.
Human Rights Watch has previously documented how Russian forces attacked schools and kindergartens, including schools for children with disabilities. Russian forces also tortured, raped, and otherwise ill-treated prisoners-of-war and detained civilians in schools.
Safe Schools
Ukraine, unlike Russia, has taken key steps to protect education from attack. In 2019, Ukraine endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, an international political commitment that aims to protect education from the worst effects of armed conflict.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Education Ministry reported that over 95 percent of eligible students were enrolled in schools as of January, a significant achievement during wartime.
But Ukrainian forces have also placed soldiers in schools and set up checkpoints near school buildings. Using schools as living quarters for troops, storing ammunition, or parking or deploying military vehicles on school grounds makes attacks on schools more likely.
Military forces are obligated under the laws of war to do everything feasible to protect schools under their control from the effects of attack.
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