--- title: "Zelensky Accuses Russia of Turning Children into Participants of the War After Strikes on Kyiv on Knowledge Day" description: "Zelensky accused Russia of turning children into participants of the war after overnight strikes on Kyiv on Knowledge Day, in which seven people were killed. The president also criticized the \"vacation-like\" approach of European partners to sanctions pressure." date: 2026-09-01T11:02:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-russia-strikes-kyiv-knowledge-day-children-war tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelensky Accuses Russia of Turning Children into Participants of the War After Strikes on Kyiv on Knowledge Day ![Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at a microphone after strikes on Kyiv on Knowledge Day, accusing Russia of turning children into participants of the war](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/01/zelensky-rossiya-udary-kiev-den-znaniy-det-i-voyna/zelensky-rossiya-udary-kiev-den-znaniy-det-i-voyna-1.webp) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a sharp statement on Friday, September 1, 2026, accusing the Russian side of deliberately involving Ukrainian children in the war. According to the head of state, Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities on Knowledge Day demonstrate a complete lack of any moral restraint. "The Russians are simply finished. September 1st, children. Even among any enemies, there is an understanding that children are children. And the Russians are making children participants in the war," Zelensky said while addressing journalists, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. ### Scale of the Attack on Kyiv: Five Districts Hit From the night of September 1, Russian forces carried out a massive strike on Kyiv and the Kyiv region using drones and missiles. According to available data, enemy shells hit residential buildings and critical infrastructure facilities. In the morning, it became known that the strike damaged five districts of the capital at once: Holosiivskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Solomianskyi. The highest number of casualties was recorded in the Darnytskyi district, where, according to data at the time of the president's statement, seven people were killed. In the Solomianskyi district, a drone hit a residential building and partially destroyed it. ### Shelling of Other Regions of Ukraine In addition to Kyiv, Odesa and the Odesa region came under enemy shelling. According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian occupiers attempted to hit energy facilities in the region. In parallel, attacks were recorded on the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as on other territories of Ukraine. Thus, the strikes on September 1 were characterized by simultaneous pressure on several directions, which is typical of the tactics employed by the Russian side throughout the conflict. ### Criticism of European Partners' "Vacation" A separate part of Zelensky's statement was devoted to the reaction of international partners. The President of Ukraine expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that, in his words, over the past two weeks, "the whole world, Europe, and the world that is helping us — are on vacation." "And this is a very unpleasant aftertaste. I cannot help but share… the feeling of, you know… 'diplomacy by the plan.' That is, if it's vacation, then it's vacation," he commented. Zelensky also emphasized that Russia will continue such actions "until they are put in their place," linking further escalation to insufficient pressure from Western countries. ### Context and Background The president's statement came against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict in which, in his own words, "Europe, America, and Ukraine want to stop the war; only Putin does not want this." Earlier, in August 2026, the Ukrainian side reported strikes on Russian infrastructure facilities, including the naval base in Novorossiysk, using "Palianytsia" drones and "Neptune" missiles. Thus, September 1, 2026, became yet another episode of mutual strikes, in which, according to Kyiv's assessment, the Russian side deliberately chose a date symbolizing the start of the school year, which, in Zelensky's view, underscores the absence of any ethical boundaries on the part of the adversary. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Zelensky Blamed Europe for Its "Vacation" While Russia Terrorizes Kyiv with Drones](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-doriknuv-evropi-cherez-kanikuli-1788260082.html) - Подтверждено по источнику rbc.ua - [Military Drones Tried to Interfere with the Landing of Volodymyr Zelensky's Plane in Dublin — Media](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B0/20251205-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5-%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D0%BF%D1%8B%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BA%D0%B5-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%B2-%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B8) - Подтверждено по источнику rfi.fr - [Zelensky: "Palianytsia" Drones and "Neptune" Missiles Struck Russia's Naval Base in Novorossiysk](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/08/12/8048350/) - Подтверждено по источнику pravda.com.ua - [Europe, America, and Ukraine Want to Stop the War; Only Putin Does Not Want This, — Zelensky on ...](https://ukranews.com/news/1167573-evropa-amerika-i-ukraina-hotyat-ostanovit-vojnu-ne-hochet-etogo-tolko-putin-zelenskij-ob-atake-rf) - Подтверждено по источнику ukranews.com