At least 26 people have been killed in Russian air strikes on the village of Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian officials say the attacks struck a school being used as a humanitarian aid distribution centre, as well as a nearby shelter where civilians had gathered.
The victims reportedly include two rescue workers and four police officers. Five other people were hospitalised with injuries, while emergency teams continued searching through the damaged buildings and surrounding rubble.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian forces of launching a second wave of strikes after civilians had taken shelter. He described the attack as deliberate and said the incident demonstrated the dangers facing people seeking protection during the conflict.
Authorities initially reported 27 people missing, raising fears that the death toll could increase as rescue operations continued. Emergency crews worked through the wreckage, searching for survivors and assessing the full extent of the destruction.
The attack has intensified concerns over civilian safety in Ukraine, particularly as public facilities and humanitarian locations remain exposed to the fighting.
The latest strikes have also added pressure to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war, with the prospects for a negotiated settlement remaining uncertain.
