A Russian bombardment on an aid distribution site in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region has become one of the deadliest attacks on civilians this year, with officials saying the number of confirmed fatalities has climbed to 37 and dozens of people remain unaccounted for.
The strike hit a former school in the village of Komyshuvakha on Monday, where rescuers were still combing through debris for survivors, according to a spokesperson for the regional military administration.
Ivan Fedorov, the co-head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Defence Council, said in a Telegram post that 59 people were missing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces first dropped aerial bombs on the school building as people arrived to collect humanitarian assistance, then followed up by striking the shelter with additional bombs.
Although lessons at the school had been suspended long ago because of its proximity to the front line, it continued to operate as a shelter and a hub for aid distribution every Monday, Mr Zelensky said. Emergency services reported that the dead included two members of a rescue crew and four police officers.
The strike was one of the deadliest on civilians so far this year
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the operation was aimed at Ukrainian military units in and around Komyshuvakha and two other settlements, and claimed up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen were killed.
Russia and Ukraine both deny deliberately targeting civilians.
The bombing came one day after a six-day ceasefire, intended to enable civilian evacuations from the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky, expired.
The truce, brokered by US first lady Melania Trump, led to the evacuation of nearly 800 people, according to the first lady. Mr Zelensky awarded her a state honour for her role.
The United States will convene delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November for talks on ending the conflict, postwar security agreements and de-escalation, US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Monday.
