On the evening of November 8, 2026, the Russian military launched an attack on Kremenchuk in the Poltava region using strike unmanned aerial vehicles. The first explosions in the city rang out at around 7:45 PM. Among the facilities hit by the fire was the specialized children's center «Kolibri», which had provided rehabilitation and educational assistance to children with disabilities and special needs for nine years. According to the center's founder, Anna Andrienko, a Russian drone directly hit the building. There were no military personnel on the premises at the time of the attack, but a powerful fire broke out following the impact.
What Was Destroyed at the 'Kolibri' Center
The fire completely destroyed classrooms, correctional therapy rooms, methodical materials, and specialized rehabilitation equipment used to work with children. In addition, three residential apartments located in the same building sustained damage. According to Anna Andrienko, head of the public association «Inclusion Without Limits», over nine years of operation, the center had built a support system covering a child's entire journey—from early intervention to preparation for studying in inclusive classes of regular schools. The destruction of the material base effectively deprives dozens of children of access to rehabilitation and correction programs at a time when the city is already experiencing the consequences of war.
Scale of the Attack on the City
According to Vitaliy Dyakovnych, Head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration, the evening shelling affected more than just the children's center. Direct hits were recorded on a multi-apartment residential building and a hotel building, with fires breaking out in both cases. As of the evening of November 8, the number of injured stood at seven people. Among the victims is a 16-year-old teenager who was rushed to a medical facility with severe injuries. Final data on destruction and potential casualties had not been published at the time of publication.
Context: Series of Strikes on the Poltava Region
The attack on Kremenchuk on November 8 became another episode of systematic strikes by Russian forces on civilian infrastructure in the Poltava region. The use of strike drones against residential and social facilities—including institutions designed for children with special needs—emphasizes that the war affects not only military and industrial targets but also the humanitarian sphere. The destruction of the «Kolibri» center deprives the city not just of a building, but of a long-standing support system for a vulnerable category of citizens, the restoration of which will require significant resources and time.
Reaction and Next Steps
The center's founder, Anna Andrienko, publicly reported the incident on the Threads social network, drawing attention to the scale of the losses. The «Poltavshchyna» publication and RBC-Ukraine confirmed the information about the destruction and casualties. At the time of publication, official authorities had not presented a plan for restoring the center or compensation measures for affected residents. The question of when and how the rehabilitation infrastructure for children in Kremenchuk will be restored remains open.
