On Monday, the city of Mariupol - just like the rest of Ukraine - celebrated the beginning of the school year.
Early in the morning, pupils flocked into their schools for an elaborate ceremony of the 'first bell'.
The celebrations were happening against the backdrop of pro-Russian rebels gaining more ground in eastern Ukraine.
Just when parents were proudly taking pictures of their children going to school, the Ukrainian military had to abandon the strategic point of Luhansk airport, as they were no longer able to defend it.
Neighbouring Novoazovsk, only 35km away, is under separatists' control. They have promised that Mariupol will be 'liberated next'.
On their first day of school, children wore their best clothes and accessories in the colours of the Ukrainian national flag.
Blue and yellow flower bouquets, ribbons and balloons were especially popular.
Arrows marking the bomb shelter in a nearby building and teachers' speeches were the only reminders of a war fought a few kilometres away.
Children dressed in their best clothes and carried flowers
Inside the playground there were 40 families who fled fighting in rebel-held Donetsk, where many schools did not open today due to the drastic humanitarian crisis.
For the last few weeks Mariupol hospital has been treating soldiers injured at the front.
Sky News interviewed 19-year-old Ivan, who volunteered to fight for the Ukrainian army three months ago.
He was injured by an explosion at the frontline, shrapnel cutting into his shoulder and thigh.
At first Ivan did not want to be interviewed. He was worried his mother, who thinks he is taking part in military exercises near the Polish border, would see him.
Ivan told Sky he thinks they were fighting against the Russian army, not just pro-Russian separatists.
For many months now Kiev has claimed Russia is participating in the war in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin vehemently denies any military involvement.
In recent weeks there has been mounting evidence of the Russian army's involvement, including mysterious disappearances and deaths of Russian paratroopers as well as a border crossing by a military convoy that Moscow claims happened by accident.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, September 1, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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