Lithuania helps build new shelters in three more schools in Ukraine

New safe shelters have been built in three schools located in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Zhytomyr regions of Ukraine - with over €5 million in support generously provided by the Government of Lithuania through Ukraine's national fundraising platform, UNITED24. The investment is aimed at creating a safe and forward-looking learning environment, ensuring that Ukraine's education system not only recovers, but emerges stronger, more resilient, and aligned with European values and standards.

With the generous support of Lithuania, nearly 3,000 children will be able to return to safe and high quality in-person learning at Nyzy Lyceum (Sumy region), Bilenke Lyceum (Zaporizhzhia region), and Gymnasium No. 9 (Zhytomyr region). These shelters are already fully operational and another one - in the Dnipropetrovsk region - is currently being completed and will be soon operational.

"Together with our partners, we are contributing to the restoration of Ukraine's educational infrastructure - building schools and shelters so that every child can learn safely. In this way, we are helping create a strong, democratic, and resilient future for Ukraine", said Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

"For Ukraine, the priority is to create safe conditions so that children can return to in-person and higher quality education. With funds from the state budget, 33 underground schools have already been built, and by the end of the year, there will be 156. At the same time, we are actively engaging international partners. Over the past two years alone, more than €70 million has been allocated for educational infrastructure projects, including from the EU and the governments of Belgium, Sweden, Lithuania, and Ireland. We are deeply grateful for Lithuania's strong support in rebuilding safe learning spaces for Ukrainian children," said Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Currently, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is implementing the largest educational infrastructure modernization project in the country's history. In 2024-2025, the government allocated funding for the construction of underground school shelters, modern laboratories, and vocational workshops, as well as for the modernization of school canteens and "Defence of Ukraine" centres.

Construction and renewal of educational facilities will continue in 2026. In total, more than 1,500 educational spaces will be built or upgraded during this period.

Support to one of key Ukraine's national priorities - restoring safe, in-person learning for children - is provided through the Lithuanian Fund for the Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid.