The death toll from Russia's airstrike on a village in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region has risen to 26. A school serving as a humanitarian aid center was struck by a large bomb, followed by a secondary attack on the shelter area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned Russia after an airstrike on the village of Komyshuvakha in Zaporizhzhia region, southern Ukraine, on Monday, which caused at least 26 deaths, five injuries, and initially left 27 people missing.
Mikhailo Semikin, governor of Zaporizhzhia region, revealed that the Russian military used at least nine 3,000-kilogram bombs in the airstrike on the area. Zelensky stated the first target was a local school used as a humanitarian aid distribution point before Russia launched a second attack on the area where civilians were sheltering.
Zelensky released a video showing a large crater from the strike and rescue teams searching for victims amid the rubble. The death toll rose from an initial 18 to 24, confirmed by Ukraine's State Emergency Service, including two rescue workers and four police officers, before Zelensky announced the latest figure of 26 dead.
The Ukrainian leader said Russia surely knew that civilians in this village regularly came to receive humanitarian aid weekly. He condemned the attack as horrific and further proof that Russia does not intend to de-escalate the war.
Semikin described the incident as a major tragedy for the village, with people still trapped under debris. Rescue teams continue searching for survivors but have had to pause multiple times due to Russian drones attacking nearby areas.
Authorities declared Tuesday a day of mourning throughout the Zaporizhzhia region to remember the victims of this attack.
Meanwhile, Zelensky expressed hope for ending the war, noting earlier positive signs after Russia and Ukraine cooperated to evacuate civilians from the Russian-occupied southern city of Oleshky during a temporary ceasefire, coordinated by Melania Trump, the U.S. First Lady. However, the latest attack signals the opposite, with Russia continuing to target civilians.
Regarding peace efforts, Steve Witkoff, special envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, revealed on platform X that representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to resume talks next week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Negotiations have been suspended since February while Russia has increased attacks amid Ukraine's shortages of Western-supplied interceptor missiles to defend against missile strikes.
Witkoff said the upcoming discussions will focus on post-war security guarantees, de-escalation, humanitarian aid, and pathways to peace. U.S. negotiators will also meet with European and NATO officials in Brussels this week.
. BBC
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