A series of Russian strikes hit central Kyiv on 28 September, damaging civilian infrastructure. Among the buildings affected were the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a Ministry of Education and Science building and the Dobrobut Medical Centre, highlighting that even the heart of the capital remains under constant threat.
The attacks also directly hit the immediate vicinity of the office of one of CBM’s international NGO partners.
A Russian drone also struck a building in Kyiv where our partner National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) stores its archive, computer equipment and assistive devices. The strike caused a fire and extensive damage, and the full extent of the losses cannot yet be assessed.
The damage may affect the organisation’s ability to deliver assistance to persons with disabilities in Kyiv and other affected areas. More than 15 enterprises of the Ukrainian Society of the Blind have already been destroyed since the start of the war, costing thousands of jobs for blind people.
Till Küster, Director of Inclusive Humanitarian Action at CBM:
“These incidents are part of a sustained pattern of attacks on civilian areas across Ukraine, which increasingly affect humanitarian organisations and CBM partner organisations, their staff and their assets.”
Since 2022, CBM has worked with 20 Ukrainian and international organisations, including organisations of persons with disabilities, to provide humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. Through these partnerships, more than 113,000 people have received rehabilitation services, health care, mental health and psychosocial support, cash assistance and protection services.
Organisations of persons with disabilities play an essential role in this response. They help identify and reach persons who often face barriers to humanitarian assistance.
Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by such attacks. Inaccessible warning systems, shelters and evacuation procedures may prevent them from reaching safety. Damage to humanitarian facilities may interrupt essential assistance, including health services, assistive devices and other essential support.
International humanitarian law protects humanitarian staff, premises, and supplies, as well as the civilians they serve. Despite all this, local organisations continue to deliver assistance under these conditions every day. Their ability to do so depends on sustained, flexible support, including resources for staff safety, security measures, and replacing damaged or destroyed equipment and supplies.
CBM remains committed to standing with all our partners in Ukraine, and to ensuring that persons with disabilities continue to receive accessible and inclusive humanitarian assistance.