In a jaw-dropping display of defiance, teenage school-leavers in war-torn Ukraine don their ballgowns and tuxes for an end-of-year prom.
The brutal Russian invasion has left their high school in the rubble. However, a handful of Ukrainian students were adamant about dancing the waltz to celebrate their graduation in a customary way.
In a stunning gesture of defiance, teenage school-leavers in war-torn Ukraine wore ball gowns and tuxedos for an end-of-year prom. It was a more solemn occasion for those at Kharkiv's School No. 134, done against the backdrop of their bombed-out classrooms as troops from their country's army looked on.
Olena Mosolova, a geography teacher from the school, was quoted by DailyMail saying, "We had imagined a different 'last bell' for our kids, but it is what it is, and we want to have a celebration for the kids."
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According to Suspilne, a Ukrainian news outlet, around a third of the pupils attended the event on Sunday.
"There were a lot of pals from school. We were like one big family," said 16-year-old Anna Episheva, who was seen in a crimson ball gown amid the ruins.
"We chose clothes with the girls and were relieved that everyone would look stunning on graduation day. However, the "Russian world" came to us and wrecked all of our dreams," she added.
Another graduating student, Hlib Opashnian, claimed he witnessed the school's destruction days after Russia invaded the country in February, adding, 'I'm pleased to be graduating.'
Others have yet to be able to return to the city on the Russian border, which was the main target for Vladimir Putin's forces early in the assault.
According to Kostyantyn Nemichev, a soldier who assisted in the city's defence, the school was the Russian occupiers' final holdout before being pushed out of Kharkiv.
According to local mayor Ihor Terekhov, Russia "does not leave Kharkiv alone" and "constantly maintains people in terror."
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The video shared by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Twitter handle has now become viral, with several people slamming Putin and his forces for taking away the best years of Ukraine's children. Here's a look at some of the reactions:
Waltz on the ruins of school 134 in Kharkiv. It was the school with in-depth study of 🇩🇪 While some 🇩🇪politicians are afraid to provoke Putin, his army is destroying 🇺🇦 schools, hospitals, homes, taking away our children's best years. Stop thinking about Putin - think of children pic.twitter.com/eU3c7mt6JB
— Halyna Yanchenko (@HalynaYanchenko)The graduates of Kharkiv School 134 decided to take photos in front of their school that was destroyed by Russians. There are 111 schools that are completely destroyed by Russia in Ukraine -
Repost Andrei Kurkov, Ukrainian author (Twitter ) pic.twitter.com/skUBBdgFjv
Spirit personified!
The graduates of Kharkiv School 134 still decided to take photos in front of their school that was destroyed by Russians. https://t.co/A0ORyfIHY9
russians destroyed school #134 in . however, its graduates anyway danced their waltz in the schoolyard. This is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Ukraine will rebuild this school & all other schools too, and this youth is the prosperous future of beloved country pic.twitter.com/7lKDlHOxGG
— Olena Halushka (@OlenaHalushka)Defying Russian Fascism.
Prom in a high school 134 in Kharkiv. pic.twitter.com/R72jBLZjuU
Good bye, dear school! 10 graduates of school #134 in Kharkiv danced a farewell waltz near the ruins of a building destroyed at the end of February 2022. pic.twitter.com/famFATzpjO
— Yevheniia Kravchuk (@kravchukev)Beauty & the Beast
A graduate in her graduation dress on the rubble of her 134 Kharkiv school destroyed by Russian bombing.... pic.twitter.com/Pmt1DvZXxc
Graduates of school No. 134 in Kharkiv danced a waltz on the ruins of their educational institution.
The song by
They can bomb Happiness
They can shoot the Dream
But they won't be able to kill freedom!
Everyone will reap what they have sown! pic.twitter.com/csWrPnrXFe
Graduates from this Kharkiv School No 134 still waltzed at the ruins of their beloved school ...
..the will to live,
.. to survive and to continue..
"Dance then wherever you may be..
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be.. " pic.twitter.com/jDwuJP1ula
Congratulations, graduates of Kharkiv School 134. Dancing to song lyrics: “They can’t shoot the dream, they will reap what they sow…” https://t.co/wDriklM3uW
— Kateryna Yushchenko 🌻 🇺🇦 (@KatyaYushchenko)Heartbreaking stuff. High school students from School No 134 in Kharkiv dancing in the the ruins https://t.co/s8sujnka5Q
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS)How painfully symbolic…
“06.06.22 Graduation waltz of 11th-graders of a school that no longer exists.
School № 134 in Kharkiv was destroyed by the occupiers, but the graduates still decided to dance their waltz against the ruins.
With love for 🇺🇦 in my heart & hatred for orcs. https://t.co/HOphU40HLP
The graduates of School 134 danced a waltz & took photos in front of their destroyed school in
On 13 June, will release a new investigation into the destruction caused by the relentless Russian shelling of Kharkiv https://t.co/Z7ZShlC8Wa pic.twitter.com/2uCOG4ozLl