Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian forces of bombing a school being used to distribute humanitarian aid in the settlement of Komyshuvakha in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region, killing 24 people and wounding five. The report attributes the strike accusation to the Ukrainian president and casualty reports to the regional governor; Russia has not commented.
Regional governor Mykhailo Semikin said on Telegram that a police officer and two State Emergency Service rescuers were among those killed, that five people had been wounded and that another 27 were considered missing. Footage posted by Ukrainian emergency services showed a building reduced to piles of smouldering rubble, with rescuers working at the site.
The strikes came as Moscow resumed fighting and attacks on the neighbouring Kherson region, after a rare local truce brokered to evacuate the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky.
Zelenskyy said on social media that Komyshuvakha had been hit several times since early Monday by aerial bombs. "After the first aerial bomb strike, there was a double-tap strike with nine more bombs, specifically targeting the shelter where people were taking cover," he wrote, describing it as "an utterly horrific Russian attack on the settlement of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region".
He said the bombed building was where "every week, local residents who had remained in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian aid", and that "the Russians could not have been unaware" of that. He described the target as a school used for humanitarian purposes, where people were receiving aid.
The Ukrainian president referred to the humanitarian operation in Oleshky. “After the humanitarian operation in Oleshky, there was a moment when the next steps could have shown that progress toward peace was possible. With these killings, Russia is sending an entirely opposite signal: Russia is counting on more killings,” he said. The strikes were, he added, “further proof that Russia wants no de-escalation and no real justice”.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The reported death toll makes this one of the deadlier single incidents of the war in recent months, and Ukraine is presenting it as evidence that Russia has no interest in de-escalation.
- The timing matters: it follows a rare local truce arranged to evacuate Oleshky, and Ukrainian officials say fighting has resumed in neighbouring Kherson.
- The 27 people listed as missing mean the casualty picture could still change.
Background
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and fighting has since centred on the country's east and south. The Zaporizhzhia region, parts of which are held by Russian forces, has been the scene of repeated strikes through the war, as has neighbouring Kherson. Local ceasefires arranged to allow civilians to leave contested areas have been rare and, as here, have not held.
What to Watch
- Whether Russia issues any response to the Ukrainian account of the Komyshuvakha strike.
- Whether the number of dead and missing is revised as rescuers continue work at the site.
- Developments in the Kherson region, where Ukrainian officials say attacks resumed after the Oleshky evacuation truce.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe headline attributes the figure of 24 killed to Zelenskyy.BBC News: “Zelensky initially put the death toll at 18, but Ukraine's state emergencies service DSNS later said 24 people, including two rescuers and four police officers, were confirmed to have been killed.”
- Partly supportedThe report attributes the casualty reports, including the total of 24 killed, to regional governor Mykhailo Semikin.BBC News: “Zelensky initially put the death toll at 18, but Ukraine's state emergencies service DSNS later said 24 people, including two rescuers and four police officers, were confirmed to have been killed.”
- SupportedSemikin said another 27 people were considered missing.Just In: ““Five people have been wounded. Another 27 are considered missing,” Mr Semikin said.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said there was a double-tap strike with nine more bombs targeting the shelter.Just In: ““After the first aerial bomb strike, there was a double-tap strike with nine more bombs, specifically targeting the shelter where people were taking cover.””
- SupportedSemikin said a police officer and two State Emergency Service rescuers were among those killed, and five people were wounded.Just In: “Among the killed are “a police officer and two State Emergency Service rescuers”, regional governor Mykhailo Semikin said on Telegram. “Five people have been wounded.””
- SupportedEmergency-services footage showed smouldering rubble and rescuers working at the site.Just In: “Footage posted by Ukrainian emergency services shows a building reduced to piles of smouldering rubble and rescuers working at the site.”
- SupportedThe strikes came as fighting and attacks resumed in neighbouring Kherson after a rare local truce brokered to evacuate Oleshky.Just In: “The strikes on Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region come as Moscow resumed fighting and attacks on the neighbouring Kherson region after a rare local truce brokered to evacuate the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said local residents remaining in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian aid there every week.Just In: “Mr Zelenskyy said the bombed building was where “every week, local residents who had remained in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian aid””
- SupportedZelenskyy said the Russians could not have been unaware that aid was received there weekly.Just In: “Mr Zelenskyy said the bombed building was where “every week, local residents who had remained in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian aid” and that “the Russians could not have been unaware” of that.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said that after the Oleshky humanitarian operation, progress toward peace seemed possible, but Russia was signalling it intended more killings.Just In: ““After the humanitarian operation in Oleshky, there was a moment when the next steps could have shown that progress toward peace was possible. With these killings, Russia is sending an entirely opposite signal: Russia is counting on more killings,” he said .”
- SupportedZelenskyy called the attack “an utterly horrific Russian attack” on Komyshuvakha.Just In: ““An utterly horrific Russian attack on the settlement of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region,” he posted on X.”
- SupportedRussia has not commented on the strikes.Just In: “Russia is yet to make any comment.”