Back-to-School Day 2026: Ukrainian Celebrities Took Their Kids to School and Shared Festive Photos
On September 1, the new school year began in Ukraine. As is customary, Ukrainian celebrities shared family photos from the first day of school and talked about how their children started school amid a full-scale war.
Dmytro Monatik
Singer Dmytro Monatik took his two sons—Danylo and Platon—to school this year. In the celebratory photos, the artist posed with his children and his wife, Iryna.
“Happy Knowledge Day, everyone! Despite everything, we’re off to school,” the artist wrote.
Jamala
Singer Jamala also has two schoolchildren this year. Her sons, Emir and Selim, started school.
In the photo, the artist appeared with her children and her husband, Seyt-Bekir Suleimanov.
“You know everything yourselves. You teach me to be even stronger. Thank you for your strength and patience. Have a great school year! And we’ll do everything we can to make sure you still get to experience childhood, even in these difficult times,” the singer wrote.
Natalka Karpa
For the family of singer Natalka Karpa, this Knowledge Day was special: her daughter Zlata started first grade.
The singer, along with her husband, military officer Yevhen Terekhov, took their daughter to school.
“Please welcome Zlata Karpa—officially a schoolgirl! My dear daughter, may God bless you for a great school year! Wisdom, patience, and lots of love to all of us in this journey! May everything go well!”—wrote Natalka Karpa.
Grigory Reshetnik
The sons of TV host Hryhoriy Reshetnik, Ivan and Dmytro, also started school. And the showman’s youngest son, Oleksandr, started first grade this year.
“So, parents, are you ready? We have our third first-grader, and it feels like the first time all over again—how about you?” the TV host posted.
Nataliya Denysenko and Andriy Fedinchik
Andriy, the son of former acting couple Natalka Denysenko and Andriy Fedinchik, started third grade this year. His parents attended the ceremony together.
“Third grade. May your mind and heart be enlightened, and may you have strength, diligence, and a love of learning, son!” Fedinchik wished him.
Denysenko noted that her family spent September 1 under air raid alerts.
“Of course, we spent September 1 under air raid alerts… I so want to give my children a real childhood, joy, and adventures, but under our current circumstances, that’s becoming increasingly difficult. But as a mom, I won’t give up! I love you, my little son,” the actress added.
Oleksandr Pedan
Entertainer Oleksandr Pedan took his son Mark to his fourth-grade class. However, the schoolboy had to celebrate the first day of school in a shelter due to an air raid alert.
“This year, we’re celebrating the first day of school right here in the shelter. Instead of the school assembly—a shelter. But despite everything, we continue to believe in victory and in Ukrainian education! Mark is already in fourth grade. And even Valeria Pedan brought him to the first day of school,” Pedan noted.
Anna Koshmal
Actress Anna Koshmal took her son Mishka to third grade.
“It’s hard to say for whom the start of the school year is more of a celebration—for the children or for the parents (I think it’s the latter). We congratulate everyone involved and wish you success, no matter what. With renewed energy, on to new achievements,” the actress noted.
Anna Salivanchuk
For actress Anna Salivanchuk, September 1 was a double celebration. Her son Nikita is celebrating his sixth birthday today and is also starting first grade.
“My Nikita, you’re six years old today! And you’ve started first grade. My sunshine, my laughter, my inspiration! It’s thanks to you that I was able to get through the quarantine and the start of the war much more easily. Precisely because you were so little and didn’t understand anything, I had to keep smiling and stay strong; you were the one who kept me going when I wanted to cry into my pillow—I’d hug you, and we’d laugh, because you’re always laughing. With your childlike innocence, you’re my inspiration to strive for the best; you don’t see a lot of things, but you see what matters most—love and happiness,” noted the celebrity mom.
Lyubava Greshnova
Actress Lyubava Greshnova also visited school on September 1 with her son, who started third grade.
“Class 3-A went to class. Our very own best school in the universe. After a night in a shelter, all of this was especially touching, precious, and heartwarming,” the actress wrote.
Olena Svitlytska
Actress Olena Svitlytska has two daughters—Vira and Maria. This year, both girls went to school together.
“Happy First Day of School, my dears! This year, this holiday feels especially difficult; I took the little ones to school with extra caution. I wish for all of us to get through this challenging time and remember that life is what matters most! Our children don’t know a childhood free from anxiety and shelters, but I have great respect for those who continue to create comfortable conditions for learning in Ukraine as much as possible,” Svitlytska wrote.
Svitlana Tarabarova
The daughter of singer Svitlana Tarabarova started first grade this year.
“Time, where are you going? We bow deeply to the teachers who, under such conditions, continue to educate our children, support them, and give them knowledge and care. May our children, despite everything, have a childhood—filled with dreams, friends, first lessons, and faith in the future,” the star wrote.
As a reminder, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated first-graders, schoolchildren, their parents, and educators on Knowledge Day.
The head of state emphasized the importance of Ukrainian children having the opportunity to study and receive an education in their own country.
On Knowledge Day, Zelenskyy visited a school in the Kyiv region that was completely destroyed by Russian occupiers in 2022 and later rebuilt. During the visit, the president spoke with students and the school’s administration.
