Death toll from Russian bombing of aid site in Zaporizhzhia region reaches 42, with dozens missing
Ukrainian officials say a Russian aerial bombing on November 2 killed at least 40 people at a school-turned-aid-point and shelter in Komyshuvakha, while Russia says it hit military targets.
Russian aerial bombs struck the village of Komyshuvakha in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on Monday, November 2. One target was an underground school building used to hand out humanitarian aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the first bombs hit people who had come to collect aid, and that more bombs then struck a shelter nearby.
The Ukrainian death toll rose over several days. Zelensky put it at 40 on Wednesday, and Reuters reported that Zaporizhzhia police raised it to 42 on Thursday. Officials said the dead included four police officers and two members of a rescue crew. Zelensky said more than 30 people might still be under the rubble. Another regional official had given a higher missing figure of 59 on Wednesday.
Russia's Defence Ministry said the strike hit Ukrainian military units around Komyshuvakha and two other settlements, and that up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen died. Reuters reported that Moscow and Kyiv both deny deliberately targeting civilians. Reuters verified bodycam footage from one of the police officers killed. It shows a radio warning of incoming glide bombs shortly before the final blast. The UN human rights mission in Ukraine said the bombing likely violated international law.
The attack came a day after a six-day, U.S.-brokered local ceasefire around Oleshky expired. It also came shortly before U.S.-hosted talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi, set for November 10–11. Rescue work was continuing on Thursday, and local authorities said Russian drones were hampering the search.
Key points
- A Russian bombing on Nov. 2 hit an underground school building used for aid distribution in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region.
- Ukrainian officials put the toll at 40 on Wednesday and Zaporizhzhia police put it at 42 on Thursday. Many people remain unaccounted for.
- Russia says it targeted Ukrainian military units and killed up to 25 servicemen. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.
- The UN human rights mission in Ukraine said the strike likely violated international law.
- The strike followed the end of a short local ceasefire and preceded planned talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10–11.
Cited facts
A Russian bombing on Monday, Nov. 2, hit a school building used as an aid distribution point in Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.
Zelensky said Russian forces first bombed people arriving to collect aid and then struck a shelter with more bombs.
Zelensky announced a toll of 40 dead on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Zaporizhzhia police raised the figure to 42 on Thursday, Nov. 5.
The dead include four police officers and two members of a rescue crew.
Dozens of people are still unaccounted for. Zelensky said more than 30 may be under the rubble, and police said up to 33 remained buried.
Russia's Defence Ministry said the strike targeted Ukrainian military units around Komyshuvakha and two other settlements and that up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen were killed.
Reuters reported that Moscow and Kyiv both deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Ukrainian police released bodycam footage from one of the officers killed. Reuters verified it, and it shows a radio warning of incoming glide bombs before the final explosion.
The village is about 17 km from the nearest Russian positions. Classes at the school were long suspended, but it served as a shelter and handed out aid every Monday, according to Zelensky.
The strike came a day after a six-day, U.S.-brokered local ceasefire to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky expired. U.S.-hosted Ukraine–Russia talks in Abu Dhabi are scheduled for Nov. 10–11.
The UN human rights mission in Ukraine said the bombing likely violated international law.
Russian drones over the area have complicated the search, but officials said rescue operations are continuing.
Where reports differ
Death toll: Zelensky and Reuters cited 40 on Nov. 4, while Zaporizhzhia police cited 42 on Nov. 5. Earlier figures were 33 (Zelensky, Nov. 3) and 37 (local officials).
Number missing or trapped: Ivan Fedorov of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Defense Council said 59 were missing. Zelensky said more than 30 may be under the rubble, and police said up to 33 remained buried. Local officials earlier estimated about 38 trapped. These are different measures and the totals are not reconciled.
CBS's headline says the attack 'may have killed 70 people'. The article body reports 40 confirmed dead plus 30 or more possibly under the rubble, so 70 is a projection and not a confirmed count.
Russia's claim that the strike hit military units and killed up to 25 servicemen is reported only as a Defence Ministry statement. None of the outlets read independently verified it, and Ukrainian officials describe the dead as mostly civilians seeking aid, plus police and rescuers.
Zelensky said Russian forces could not have been unaware that aid was handed out at the site every week. This is Ukraine's characterization of intent, and Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians.
Weapon and bomb counts differ. CBS calls it a 'missile strike' with nine bombs on the school. The Kyiv Independent reports a first strike on the school and then nine more bombs on a shelter. Ukrainian police cite a 3-ton FAB glide bomb. The Kyiv Independent says it carries over 1,000 kg of explosives, while Reuters cites defence intelligence websites for about 1.4 tons.
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