In a display of extraordinary bravery, Ukrainian emergency responders saved 48 children from a kindergarten hit by a Russian drone in the eastern city of Kharkiv on Saturday morning. The drone strike, part of a wave of overnight attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, left the building engulfed in flames moments after impact.
According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES), the strike occurred in the Saltivka district around 8:30 a.m. local time, when classes were already in session. Quick-thinking staff and rescue officers managed to lead all the children and teachers to safety through a rear exit as the roof began to collapse.
“Thanks to the swift response of our emergency teams and the courage of the kindergarten staff, no children were harmed,” said SES regional spokesperson Natalia Humenyuk. “We are proud to call them the Heroes of Kharkiv.”
Authorities confirmed that four adults — including two teachers and two rescue workers — sustained injuries from debris and smoke inhalation. They were taken to a nearby hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
Local officials said the kindergarten was among several civilian structures struck in the attack, which also damaged residential buildings and power lines. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the drone assault as “another act of terror against the city’s most vulnerable citizens.”
In an emotional statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the rescuers’ actions: “Our brave emergency workers once again proved that humanity shines brightest amid darkness. They saved the future — our children — from the hands of war.”
The incident comes amid escalating Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine, with Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa among the hardest hit in recent weeks. Ukrainian air defense units reported shooting down 34 out of 41 drones launched overnight, though several evaded interception.
International observers have condemned the strike, calling for renewed pressure on Moscow to halt attacks on civilian infrastructure. The United Nations reiterated that targeting schools and hospitals violates international humanitarian law.
As cleanup operations continue, volunteers have begun rebuilding efforts and providing psychological support for the rescued children, many of whom were reportedly traumatized by the explosion.
Sources: BBC News, Reuters, The Guardian, Kyiv Independent, Associated Press.
