The Mayor of Odessa congratulated students and educators on September 1:
"September 1 is always a significant day. It marks the occasion when millions of children return to their desks, open notebooks, and embark on a new chapter of their lives. Even now, during these hard times, this tradition continues. I want to express my deepest respect to our teachers. You are true heroes. You conduct lessons amidst sirens, in shelters, online, often under challenging conditions. Yet, you continue to educate. Because you understand that knowledge is our future. You are shaping a generation that will rebuild Ukraine. I am proud of our children. You demonstrate incredible strength - the desire to learn despite everything. You open textbooks during air alerts, master online classes, study in shelters, and resume lessons in classrooms after the all-clear. You prove to all of us that Ukrainian children cannot be frightened or broken. Today, I congratulate all Odessa residents on Knowledge Day. I wish inspiration, wisdom, and strength to teachers, patience and support to parents, and a thirst for knowledge along with self-belief to our children. Together, we hold the future in our hands. And together, we approach the day when every school will operate under peaceful skies," said Gennady Trukhanov.
