Key Highlights
- Attack Location:Russian drone strike hits Kolibri Specialized Children's Center in Kremenchuk.
- Casualties:At least seven civilians injured, including a teenager.
- Community Response:Local and international efforts underway to support affected families.
KREMENCHUK, UKRAINE — A devastating night-time air attack destroyed a crucial lifeline for children with special needs after a Russian strike drone targeted a civilian area in Ukraine’s Poltava region. The direct hit completely engulfed and destroyed the Kolibri Specialized Children's Center, a renowned community facility that had provided remedial, psychological, and rehabilitation support to 50 children with disabilities and special educational needs.
The strike triggered a massive fire that swept through the building, destroying specialized rehabilitation equipment, speech therapy tools, sensory rooms, and educational materials built up over nearly a decade of operation. "Nine years of hard work. Everything has been burnt down… There were NO soldiers there! A children's center for children with disabilities," shared Hanna Andrienko, the center’s founder and head of the Inclusion Without Limits NGO.
The center employed a staff of 20, half of whom were internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had relocated to the region to rebuild their lives and support vulnerable children. Local authorities confirmed that the strike was part of a wider wave of Russian loitering munitions hitting non-military infrastructure across the Poltava region.
The attack left at least seven civilians injured in the immediate vicinity, including a 16-year-old teenager who sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. As firefighters fought the blaze, emergency crews evacuated 15 residents from neighboring structures, with the blast wave and fire causing damage to three nearby apartments.
Despite the total loss of their physical location and equipment, staff members expressed their determination to find temporary space to keep supporting the children. However, restart efforts face severe hurdles until specialized therapy tools and sensory equipment can be funded and replaced. Local officials and humanitarian groups are assessing the damage and organizing emergency aid for affected families and staff as clean-up operations continue.
In response to the tragedy, international aid organizations and civil society groups have begun launching emergency fundraising campaigns to help rebuild the Kolibri center. Community volunteers have also stepped forward to clear the debris and create space for temporary workshops, underscoring a shared commitment to ensure these children are not left without essential care and community support during an already perilous time.
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