More than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, millions of Ukrainian children are still living with its consequences. Some remain in Ukraine under daily threat. Others, in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, the US and beyond, are trying to rebuild their lives in safety while carrying trauma, interrupted schooling and the weight of an uncertain future. At St Mary’s Ukrainian School in London, this reality is not distant. It is in every classroom. Children arrive having lost homes, friends, familiar routines, and in many cases, fathers, brothers or grandparents. They need stability, belonging and the reassurance that their identity still has a place in the world.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Community schools like ours have become that anchor. Founded in the 1950s to preserve Ukrainian culture in the UK, St Mary’s now supports more than 2,500 displaced children. It is often the first place where they feel able to speak about what they have lived through. It is where confidence returns, where friendships form, and where learning becomes possible again. But for many children, particularly those showing clear post-traumatic stress responses, part-time provision is not enough. That is why we are preparing to launch St Sophia – a full-time Ukrainian refugee school designed specifically for children recovering from trauma. The teachers are ready. The curriculum is prepared. Local community approval is in place.