Caritas Australia is urging Australians not to look away as Ukrainian families endure another devastating wave of attacks, with young people forced to sit critical exams in the aftermath of mass bombardment.
On the night of 2 June, Russia launched a massive attack across multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro, using 73 missiles and more than 650 drones. The strikes hit civilian areas, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 135, while damaging homes, hospitals and infrastructure.
In Kyiv alone, a record 41,000 people sought shelter in the metro overnight as explosions shook the capital.
Caritas Ukraine staff described buildings shaking from nearby strikes, widespread power outages and families crowding into shelters overnight, before emerging into smoke-filled streets to continue daily life.
One Caritas Ukraine staff member said: “The realisation of the exhaustion from the war and the necessity to keep living despite it all paralyses me.”
Despite the destruction and exhaustion, Ukrainian teenagers sat their National Multi-Subject Test, the national university entrance exam, just hours later.
“It’s hard to comprehend the reality these young people are facing,” said Sally Thomas, Humanitarian Manager at Caritas Australia.
“After a night of explosions, fear and sheltering underground, they are expected to sit four-hour exams that will shape their futures. It speaks to extraordinary resilience, but it also highlights the unbearable pressure this war continues to place on children and families.
“This conflict is now in its fourth year, yet it is slipping from global attention. For the young people of Ukraine, the war is not a headline, it is their daily life, interrupting their education, their wellbeing and their hopes for the future.”
The attacks underscore the ongoing humanitarian crisis, with millions of Ukrainians still in urgent need of support.
Caritas Australia, through its global Caritas network, has been supporting people in Ukraine since the escalation of conflict in 2022.
The response includes providing emergency shelter, food, healthcare, psychosocial support, and assistance to help families rebuild their lives and maintain access to education and essential services.
Caritas is calling on the Australian public to stand in solidarity with Ukrainian communities and support ongoing humanitarian efforts.
To support Caritas Australia’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal, visit www.caritas.org.au/ukraine or call 1800 024 413 toll free.