Russia strikes school where civilians recieved aid in Zaporizhzhia Oblast days after Oleshky truce. Nine more bombs hit its shelter, killing at least 26

On November 2nd, Russian forces targeted a school in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, that local residents utilized to gather humanitarian aid. The attack resulted in 26 deaths, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the assault consisted of two separate bombings. Following the initial explosion, nine additional guided bombs were dropped on the shelter where people sought refuge.

Ukrainian prosecutors have identified this "double-tap" tactic, which aims to eliminate rescuers and neighbors rushing to assist the wounded. The Komyshuvakha strike took place days after a rare truce between Ukraine and Russia allowed civilians to evacuate the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky. Zelenskyy highlighted this contrast to argue that Russia lacks a genuine intent to ease the ongoing conflict.

The school housed one of the region's resilience centers, where residents living near the front line received essential support. Zelenskyy described the sequence in his evening address, stating that after the first strike of aerial bombs, a follow-up strike of nine more bombs targeted the shelter where people were. Many of the victims were civilians who had come for assistance or returned to aid others after the initial explosion.

The Russians could not have failed to recognize the site, as locals had been receiving aid there consistently. As of November 2nd, 27 individuals remained missing under the rubble, with the death toll expected to rise. Zelenskyy linked the attack to a humanitarian mission that had earlier evacuated civilians from the Russian-occupied Oleshky, the longest ceasefire during the war.

He argued that if Russia genuinely aimed to reduce hostilities, they should have acted after the Oleshky truce, but Russia continues to perpetrate such acts.