Russian forces on Monday bombed a school being used as an aid distribution point in a village in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, killing 26 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country's emergency services said.
Ukraine's emergency services said two members of a rescue crew and four police officers were among the dead in the village of Komyshuvakha. Five people were being treated for their wounds in hospital, including two rescue workers.
Zelensky, in his nightly video address, said Russian forces initially dropped aerial bombs on a school in the village, used as a shelter and for distributing humanitarian assistance on Mondays.
There were no classes at the school, he said, as the village, lying southeast of the region's main city, also called Zaporizhzhia, was too close to the front line.
"The Russians struck first just as people were arriving — a few aerial bombs," he said. "Then there was a second strike — more air bombs, this time on the shelter. A vile terrorist strike."
Zelenskyy claimed the Russian military would have known that residents remaining in Komyshuvakha gathered each week to pick up humanitarian packages at the school.
Zaporizhzhia region police said officers and rescue teams were trying to reach residents believed to be trapped under rubble. Photos posted online showed smouldering rubble strewn throughout the area.
The attack took place a day after the expiry of a six-day local ceasefire arranged to bring aid into Oleshky to the southwest in Kherson region and evacuate residents who wished to leave.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
