At least 26 people were killed after Russian aerial bombs struck an aid distribution centre in the village of Komyshuvakha in southern Zaporizhzhia region on Monday, according to Ukrainian officials. Regional head Mykhailo Semikin said at least nine 3,000kg bombs hit the site, with five injured and 27 initially reported missing. President Volodymyr Zelensky said a school used for humanitarian purposes was struck first, followed by a second attack on people sheltering at the location.
Ukraine's state emergencies service DSNS confirmed 24 people dead, including two rescuers and four police officers. Zelensky later said 26 people were known to have died. Fears persist that the death toll will rise as people remain under the rubble. Rescue teams have been forced to halt operations multiple times due to Russian drone attacks in the area.
Zelensky described the attack as "utterly horrific" and said residents received humanitarian aid at the centre every week. He stated the strikes signalled Russia's rejection of de-escalation, coming after a recent joint Russian-Ukrainian civilian evacuation from the occupied city of Oleshky. The Russian military has not publicly commented on the attack.
A day of mourning was declared Tuesday across Zaporizhzhia region. Peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the US are scheduled to resume next week in Abu Dhabi, with discussions to cover post-war security, de-escalation and humanitarian efforts, according to US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff.