26 Oct 2026
As the war in Ukraine approaches the five-year mark, more schools are giving young people hope for the future and helping them stay connected to the wider world though an international education.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022, the number of Cambridge schools operating in the country has grown from eight to 33. Behind this statistic are remarkable stories of resilience, determination and belief in the power of education, as Alla Poltoratska, Cambridge Coordinator at Libera School, Ukraine explains: "For young people in Ukraine, this international connection [to an academic community] is particularly meaningful. It reminds them that, despite the circumstances in which they are growing up, they remain part of the wider world and have every right to make ambitious plans for their future."
It’s a future that for many will lead to university, making international recognition of qualifications crucial: "The clarity and global recognition of Cambridge qualifications give our students a clear, reliable pathway to top universities worldwide – something that brings incredible consistency and confidence to our school community, even through unpredictable times," says Olena Puchko, International Academic Director at the British International School Ukraine (BISU).
Extending its impact further across Ukraine, Cambridge also recently announced a new partnership with UNICEF Ukraine and Osvitoria to support learning recovery across Ukraine. The initiative will help teachers use classroom-based assessment to better understand learners' needs and provide targeted support, strengthening local capacity and helping more children and young people reconnect with learning despite the continuing challenges of conflict.
Find out more about how school leaders, teachers and students across Ukraine continue to adapt to extraordinary circumstances while maintaining ambitious plans for the future in this blog.