Emilio Morenatti, a photographer with the Associated Press, recently spent time with a group of students in Chernihiv, Ukraine, where the academic year is starting up once again, despite their school building having been destroyed by Russian bombs six months ago. Some of the students, who went to their old school to collect new textbooks, visited the ruins of their former classrooms and shared some of their thoughts with Morenatti.

Sofia Klyshnia, 12, stands in the rubble of her former classroom, in the same position where her desk sat, before Chernihiv School No. 21 was bombed by Russian forces on March 4, in Chernihiv, Ukraine, on August 30, 2022. "I'm scared to stand in the destroyed part of the class I once studied," Klyshnia said. #

Surrounded by shards of broken glass and rubble, 16-year-old Khrystyna Ignatova stands at her desk in the remains of her classroom in Chernihiv School No. 21, which was bombed by Russian forces six months ago. "What happened is a tragedy. I already cried out about everything I lost. I miss my school, friends, and teachers. But there will be a new school, new teachers and friends. The most important [thing] is that life goes on," Khrystyna said. #

Mykola Kravchenko, 12, looks at the ruins of his former computer classroom in Chernihiv, on August 30, 2022. "When I'm at school, I think about the person who died in the debris. I feel deeply sorry for her," Mykola said. #

Karina Muzyka, a student, walks through the rubble of Chernihiv School No. 21 on August 29, 2022. #

Oleksandr Morhunov, 13, sits in his chair in the remains of his ruined classroom in Chernihiv School No. 21 on August 30, 2022. "When I'm in my classroom, I think about how much I want the war to end," Oleksandr said. #

Anastasia Avramenko, 13, stands in the rubble of her former classroom, in the same position where her desk sat before the school was bombed in March, in Chernihiv, on August 30, 2022. "I wanted to graduate here. This school feels native to me," Anastasia said. #

Oleksii Lytvyn, 13, stands in the ruins of his former classroom, where his desk sat before the school was bombed, on August 30, 2022. "I feel like it happened not with our school, like we are dreaming. I have never seen something like this; it can't be a reality," Oleksii said. #

Surrounded by broken glass, papers, and other debris, 10-year-old Karina Muzyka stands in her former classroom in Chernihiv School No. 21 on August 29, 2022. "When my school was bombed, I got terrified. We live nearby. Our windows were damaged, and my mother could die because the door almost pressed her to the wall. And the chandelier almost fell on me," Karina said. #

Anna Skiban, 12, surveys the ruins of her former classroom, standing where her desk was before the school was bombed by Russian forces, on August 30, 2022. "I'm very sad. I can't believe this happened to my school," Anna said. #

Ivan Hubenko, 11, stands in what remains of his old classroom in Chernihiv School No. 21 on August 30, 2022. "I feel offended when I'm at my school, a resentment that the Russians destroyed my school," Ivan said. #

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