Zelenskyy: 18 people killed in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhia, as result of Russian attack

On November 2, Russian forces carried out a bombing attack on a school in the village of Komyshuvakha, located in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, resulting in the death of 24 people, according to Ukraine's emergency services. Two members of a rescue team were among the victims.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the attack, stating that Russian forces had initially targeted the school, which served as a distribution center for humanitarian aid. He noted that a subsequent strike involved nine additional bombs, this time directly on the shelter where people had gathered for safety. Zelenskiy also emphasized that Russia was well aware that residents of Komyshuvakha were regularly receiving assistance in the area, further demonstrating Russia's unwillingness to engage in de-escalation or seek justice.

The village is situated southeast of the regional capital, also named Zaporizhzhia. Regina Kharchenko, secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, reported that 27 individuals were missing following the bombing.

Local police stated that their officers and rescue teams were currently working to reach those believed to be trapped under the debris. Images circulating online depicted smoldering rubble scattered across the region.

This attack came a day after a six-day ceasefire, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, was set to expire. The truce aimed to facilitate the delivery of aid to the city of Oleshky, located southwest in the Kherson region, and to enable residents to evacuate the area.