Ukraine school drone strike ‘an act of barbarianism’
A school in war-torn Ukraine linked to a Cork charity has been destroyed in a Russian drone strike in what has been described as a “calculated attack” on the country’s children.
Lyceum No 2 in the rural village of Ivankiv, about 45 kilometres south of the Belarusian border, was set alight on Saturday night in the attack.
A place of learning for the local children, as well as children from three nearby schools whose premises had been damaged, occupied or closed, Lyceum No 2 was the only school in Ivankiv with a bomb shelter.
Founder of Cork charity, The Greater Chornobyl Cause, Fiona Corcoran visits Ivankiv regularly.
Fiona said Saturday’s attack on the school was not merely an attack on bricks and mortar, but a direct attack on the future, safety, and dignity of the village’s children.
“The school was more than a building; it was a living, breathing symbol of endurance, of persistence, of belief in a better tomorrow. Its halls once rang with laughter, debate, and the ceaseless curiosity of young minds – echoes now quieted by soot and sorrow,” said Fiona.
Luckily, there were no casualties as a result of the attack which saw a large fire break out in the building. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but the damage was catastrophic and beyond repair.
“It is nothing short of an act of barbarism,” said Fiona.
“Destroying a school, a haven for children, a pillar of the community, crosses all lines of decency and international law.
It is an outrage which ought to shake the world to its foundations,” she added.
As Fiona watched footage of the blaze, she thought of the children whose artwork had filled the school’s hallways, the teachers who had lost sleep planning for each new day, and the parents who had only wished to see their children safe.
“Imagine, for just a moment, what it feels like to wake up and find your child’s school reduced to rubble, to explain to a bewildered young mind why someone would want to destroy their dreams,” said Fiona.
The Greater Chornobyl Cause has worked tirelessly for the children of Ivankiv since the Russian invasion in 2022, supplying books and materials, rebuilding destroyed classrooms, and supporting teachers. The charity has also run art therapy sessions, hosted summer camps, and delivered food and medicine to the region’s most vulnerable families.
Fiona said: “Our mission began decades ago in the wake of the Chornobyl disaster and continues today in the shadow of new tragedies. We are in Ivankiv not only as aid workers but as friends and fellow human beings. I have seen the bravery of teachers going back to the rubble of their classrooms to pull out what they can, the resolve of parents who will not allow their children’s dreams to die, and the hope that shines even on the darkest of days.
“Our latest attack is a reminder to us all to ask what kind of world we want to build. Are we going to let the destruction of children’s sanctuaries go unpunished? Or do we rise to meet hate with solidarity, violence with compassion, despair with hope?”