At least 18 people were killed on Monday when Russian forces launched a series of aerial bomb strikes on a school in the village of Komyshuvakha, located in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the facility was being used for humanitarian purposes, with local residents gathering there weekly to receive aid.
According to the Ukrainian president, the attack involved a "double-tap" strategy. After the initial aerial bomb strike, nine additional bombs were dropped specifically targeting the shelter where civilians were taking cover. Zelenskyy stated that the Russian forces could not have been unaware that the building was used as a humanitarian distribution point.
Regional governor Mykhailo Semikin confirmed that the casualties included a police officer and two rescuers from the State Emergency Service. In addition to the 18 confirmed deaths, five people were reported wounded, and 27 others remain missing. Footage released by Ukrainian emergency services showed the school building reduced to smoldering rubble, with rescue teams working through the debris.
The strikes in Komyshuvakha occurred as Moscow resumed military operations in the neighboring Kherson region following a brief local truce intended for evacuations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. Reflecting on the attack, Zelenskyy criticized the move as a clear signal that Russia is not interested in de-escalation or justice, noting that the country appears to be counting on further violence rather than pursuing peace.
