The school on the frontline of the war in Ukraine

School No 58 in Donetsk bears the scars of war - as do its pupils and teachers. We followed them for a year.



One of the oldest students at School No 58 makes his way to military training carrying a replica weapon. Later, they will practise with the real thing [Kyrre Lien /Al Jazeera]

5 HOURS AGO
by Per Christian Selmer-Anderssen
by Kyrre Lien

Donetsk, eastern Ukraine - It is Wednesday, May 4, 2016, and five grade 11 boys run gleefully on to the football field next to the school. In their right hand, they each carry a gun, in their left, a hand grenade.

It is the last period and the older pupils have a class in defence, patriotism and discipline. The guns they are using today are made of wood, but later they will practise with the real thing. At School No 58, the war is no game of pretend.

"Maybe the classes will inspire them to join the army when they graduate," says teacher Alexey Ivanov.
He nods towards the teenage boys. They have swapped their school uniforms for camouflage print T-shirts.

One of the boys butts his weapon against his classmate's. Another has picked a dandelion and placed it in the muzzle of his rifle.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/07/school-frontline-war-ukraine-160726123423161.html