Russian bombs kill at least 24 at Zaporizhzhia aid centre

Russian aerial bombs struck a school being used as a humanitarian aid distribution centre in Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on Nov. 2, killing at least 24 people, Ukrainian officials said. The strike is developing, and the toll has differed between reports.

The attack came eight days before the next round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, which U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said will be held in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10, the Kyiv Independent reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strike dampened hopes of progress toward peace.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) said the dead include two rescue workers and four police officers, and that five other people were injured, according to the Kyiv Independent and Euronews. The Kyiv Independent put the death toll at 24. Euronews, in a report carrying AP copyright, said the DSNS toll was at least 26. The difference had not been explained in either report.

The DSNS named the two rescue workers as Denys Konovalenko and Oleksii Sushchevskyi, both 44, the Kyiv Independent reported. The attack destroyed a gymnasium, an outbuilding and a fire truck, and damaged the school building.

Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov said Russian forces fired at least nine KAB-3000 guided aerial bombs on Komyshuvakha during the day, Euronews reported. Zelenskyy said on X that after the first bomb strike, a second strike with nine more bombs targeted the shelter where people were taking cover.

“Exceptionally horrific strike,” Zelenskyy said, according to the Kyiv Independent. “Russian forces could not have been unaware that local residents who remained in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian aid there every week,” he said.

Zelenskyy said the attack was “sending an entirely opposite signal” to the peace effort and that Russia was “counting on more killings,” Euronews reported. Neither report included a Russian response. The claims have not been independently verified by Canada News Media.

The Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center said Komyshuvakha lies about 20 kilometres from the front line, the Kyiv Independent reported.

The strike followed a rare local pause in the fighting. Canada News Media reported on Oct. 28 that a truce around Oleshky held for 30 hours while an aid operation began. The Kyiv Independent reported on Nov. 2 that the Kremlin ruled out further humanitarian operations like the Oleshky evacuation for now.

Washington announced the new round of talks earlier this week. Our earlier report covered how the U.S. is set to mediate Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi, and a separate report looked at how the UN described Russian strikes on the power grid as crimes against humanity.

For Canadians, the war is close to home through one of the largest Ukrainian communities outside Ukraine. Canadians planning travel to Ukraine can check the federal government’s advisory at travel.gc.ca.

Next, the Abu Dhabi talks on Nov. 10 will test whether either side changes its approach after the strike. The toll was still being reported differently when this story was published.

Via the Kyiv Independent and Euronews.

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