Russian airstrikes kill at least 26 at Ukraine aid centre

At least 26 people have been killed in a Russian airstrike on a school and shelter being used to distribute humanitarian aid in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. The attack came just hours after the end of a six-day locally brokered ceasefire, casting fresh doubt on hopes for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The strike took place on Monday (November 2) in the village of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country’s emergency services confirmed the casualties. Acting regional governor Mykhailo Semikin said the dead included two rescue workers and four police officers. Five people were taken to hospital with injuries. Rescue teams also searched the rubble for others reported missing.

The local ceasefire was brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Oleshky and allow civilians to be evacuated. The six-day truce, which began on October 29, ended on Sunday. Neither side accused the other of violating the ceasefire during that period.

Video released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed the school building reduced to rubble, with rescue workers searching through the debris. The two rescue workers killed in the strike were identified as Denys Konovalenko and Oleksii Sushevskyi, both aged 44.

Zelensky said humanitarian aid was distributed among local residents at the school every Monday. Russian forces dropped bombs from several aircraft in an initial wave as people were arriving to collect assistance. A second wave of strikes then targeted the shelter, he said. Zelensky accused Russian forces of deliberately attacking the site despite knowing that civilians were present.

Paying tribute to the rescue workers, Ukraine’s emergency services said they had worked every day in dangerous conditions to help people and save lives. The agency said they had lost their own lives while carrying out their duties.

Zelensky said the ceasefire in Oleshky had created an opportunity to make further progress towards peace. The subsequent attack, however, sent a message in the opposite direction, he said. Accusing Russia of pursuing further bloodshed rather than easing tensions, he added that the incident required a response.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military accused Russia of using the ceasefire to strengthen its military positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said attempts to reposition military forces during a ceasefire were normal in such circumstances. He also accused Ukraine’s armed forces of having used previous pauses in fighting to regroup. Moscow, however, considers the humanitarian aid operation in Oleshky a success.