Multiple Russian strikes kill at least 26 at Ukraine aid centre

Kyiv, Ukraine (Ukraine): On Monday, Ukraine reported that Russian strikes on a school delivering humanitarian aid resulted in at least 26 deaths, casting doubt on the prospects for peace following a temporary ceasefire in the southern region. Russia resumed its attacks on the Kherson area after the expired ceasefire, marking the longest break in the conflict since Russia's 2022 invasion.

A brief pause in hostilities, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump to facilitate a mission to the Russian-occupied Oleshky city, concluded on Sunday with no reported violations. However, shortly after, Russia launched repeated strikes against a village in Zaporizhzhia, adjacent to Kherson, killing at least 26 people. Many of the fatalities were individuals who had come to receive aid at a local school.

Footage from Ukrainian emergency services depicted the building in ruins, with rescuers working on-site. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his daily address, highlighted that humanitarian aid was being distributed every Monday to the affected area, which had been struck by Russian aerial bombs. Among the fatalities were two rescue workers and four police officers, identified as Denys Konovalenko and Oleksy Sushchevsky.

Zelenskyy noted that the Oleshky truce presented an opportunity for progress towards peace, but Russia's retaliatory actions sent a contrasting message. In response to the killings, Zelenskyy called for a reaction to Russia's actions. Meanwhile, Russia bolstered its positions during the ceasefire, allegedly using the lull to strengthen its defenses, according to Ukraine's military.

Moscow denied these allegations, stating that it was customary to use ceasefire periods to regroup. The Kremlin also praised the successful evacuation of Oleshky during the truce and the cooperation between Russian and Ukrainian officials overseeing the humanitarian mission. Talks between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to resume next week in Abu Dhabi, but doubts persist due to Donald Trump's perceived alignment with Moscow.

Additionally, both nations reported cyberattacks targeting their emergency warning systems hours after the truce ended, with Ukraine suspecting its air raid alert system being compromised.