At least 26 people have been killed after Russian bombs struck a humanitarian aid distribution centre in Ukraine, in an attack described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “utterly horrific”.

Five people were injured, while 27 were initially reported missing after at least nine 3,000kg aerial bombs hit the village of Komyshuvakha in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, regional head Mykhailo Semikin said.

Zelensky said the first strike targeted a local school being used to distribute humanitarian aid. A second attack then hit the area where people had gathered for shelter.

Following Monday’s attack, he shared a video showing a massive crater at the site, while rescue workers searched through the debris for survivors.

The Russian military has not issued any public comment on the attack.

Zelensky initially reported that 18 people had been killed. However, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) later confirmed that 24 people, including two rescuers and four police officers, had died. In his video address late Monday, the president raised the confirmed death toll to 26.

Earlier, Zelensky said Russian forces could not have been unaware that residents who remained in Komyshuvakha regularly received humanitarian assistance at the location every Monday.

“This is yet another proof that Russia does not want any de-escalation,” he said.

Referring to a recent joint operation by Russia and Ukraine to evacuate civilians from the Russian-occupied southern city of Oleshky during a temporary ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, Zelensky said there had been an opportunity to demonstrate that peace was possible.

“Instead, with such killings, Russia is sending the exact opposite signal—Russia is counting on further killings,” he added.

Meanwhile, Semikin described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” for the village, confirming that people were still trapped beneath the rubble.

Rescue teams continued their operations at the scene but were forced to suspend their work several times because of Russian drone attacks in the area.

A day of mourning was declared across the Zaporizhzhia region for Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Meanwhile, peace negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, next week, according to US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

In a post on X, Witkoff said the upcoming discussions would focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and further steps towards peace.

He also said US representatives would meet European and NATO officials in Brussels this week.

The talks have remained suspended since February, while Moscow has intensified its attacks as Kyiv faces a shortage of Western-supplied missile interceptors for its air defence systems.

However, no major breakthrough is expected from the upcoming negotiations.

Sun News/ rabbi