Russian bombing kills 26 people at Ukraine aid centre

A deadly bombardment struck Ukraine as Russian forces launched at least nine heavy aerial bombs, each weighing 3,000 kilograms, hitting the village of Komyshuvakha in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. The massive explosions caused severe destruction and left a giant crater at the site.

Mykhailo Semikin, head of the regional administration, reported that five individuals sustained injuries while 27 were initially listed as missing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the primary strike hit a local school which was actively utilized for humanitarian needs, followed immediately by a secondary attack targeting the shelter area where local residents had gathered.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

President Zelensky initially reported 18 deaths before Ukraine's State Emergency Service (DSNS) confirmed 24 fatalities, which included two rescue workers and four police officers. In a video address late on Monday, the Ukrainian leader confirmed that the death toll had climbed to 26.

"The Russians could not have been unaware that the local residents who remained in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian aid there every week."

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine

Condemning the attack, President Zelensky stated that the incident demonstrates Russia's unwillingness to pursue any de-escalation. He noted that the bombing came closely on the heels of a successful joint evacuation operation of civilians from Oleshky during a temporary ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, which had offered a glimpse of potential peace before Russia signaled the exact opposite.