A Russian glide bomb attack on a school serving as a humanitarian hub in the village of Komyshuvakha killed at least 31 people, Ukrainian officials said. The school was distributing food and medicine when it was hit on Monday, and dozens of people remained missing as emergency workers searched the site on Tuesday.
Rescue efforts were limited by the threat of further Russian strikes, with workers able to operate only in short bursts. Officials warned that determining the final death toll could take days. The attack was described as the deadliest against civilians in the southern Zaporizhzhia region in nearly five years of war and could be among the conflict’s deadliest overall.
Ukrainian officials said Russia struck the village with at least nine glide bombs, each carrying around 3,000 pounds of explosives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack showed Russia’s intention to continue the war.
Hours after the strike, U.S. peace envoy Steve Witkoff said talks involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine would take place early next week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The meeting will be the first involving all three countries since February and is expected to address postwar security arrangements and steps toward peace. Russia and Ukraine confirmed on Tuesday that they would send negotiators.
The attack also highlighted the limits of a local cease-fire in the neighboring Kherson region, which ended one day before the strike.
Sources: The New York Times World.