Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian forces of bombing a school being used to distribute humanitarian aid in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region, killing 26 people and injuring five.
The strikes on the village of Komyshuvakha come a day after the expiry of a six-day local ceasefire arranged to bring aid into Oleshky to the south-west in Kherson region and evacuate residents wishing to leave.
Mr Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address, said Russian forces initially dropped aerial bombs on a school in the village, used as a shelter and for distributing humanitarian assistance every Monday.
Komyshuvakha has been struck several times, with a humanitarian hub targeted. (National Police of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia region via Reuters)
There were no classes at the school he said, as the village, lying south-east of the region’s main city, also called Zaporizhzhia, was too close to the front line.
“The Russians struck first just as people were arriving — a few aerial bombs,” he said.
“Then there was a second strike — more air bombs, this time on the shelter. A vile terrorist strike.“
Mr Zelenskyy said the Russians could not have been unaware that residents remaining in Komyshuvakha gathered each week to pick up humanitarian packages.
Zelenskyy: Missed opportunity for humanitarian steps
The attack, Mr Zelenskyy said, had shown that Moscow was intent on killing people instead of building on the past week’s humanitarian mission in Oleshky, brokered by US first lady Melania Trump.
“Russians continue to demonstrate, time and again, their hatred of Ukraine and everything that exists here,” he said.
“If Russia genuinely wanted de-escalation, there was an opportunity following the situation in Oleshky to continue taking humanitarian steps.
“We proposed this. But Russia continues to kill people.”
The strikes hit the village of Komyshuvakha, in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. (Reuters: Stringer)
Regina Kharchenko, secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, said 27 people were missing in the attack.
Zaporizhzhia region police said officers and rescue teams were trying to reach residents believed to be trapped under rubble.
Preparations are underway for a new round of three-sided talks with Russia and the US, the first since early in the year before Washington turned its attention on its war with Iran.
Mr Zelenskyy said last week that he hoped that a trilateral meeting between peace negotiators would take place in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10.
ABC/Reuters
Source: www.abc.net.au
