Russia Drops Nine 3-Ton Bombs on Ukraine Aid Center, Killing at Least 26

Russia bombed a Ukrainian aid center, killing at least 26 people, the BBC reported on the 2nd local time.

According to the BBC, at least nine 3,000-kg bombs were dropped from the air on a humanitarian aid distribution center in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in southern Ukraine that day.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a school building used for humanitarian purposes was struck first, followed by a second attack on the place where people had evacuated.

President Zelenskyy initially announced the death toll from the incident as 18, but later confirmed that 26 people, including rescue workers and police officers, had died.

According to Ukrainian authorities, 5 people were injured and around 20 are estimated to be missing in the bombing, raising concerns that the death toll could rise further.

President Zelenskyy criticized the airstrike as "another proof that Russia does not want a de-escalation," stating, "Russia could not possibly have been unaware that local residents in Komyshuvakha visited the facility every week to receive humanitarian aid."

According to the Associated Press, the airstrike took place shortly after a localized ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump, wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, expired in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied area in southern Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy pointed out that while there was a moment when the localized ceasefire took effect and civilians were evacuated, showing that peace was once possible, "Russia is sending the exact opposite signal through such acts of slaughter."

Mykhailo Semykin, the head of administration for Zaporizhzhia Oblast, said, "People are still trapped under the rubble," calling Russia's attack "a horrible tragedy."

He reported that rescue operations are underway, but have been suspended several times due to continuing Russian drone attacks.

Ukraine has declared three days of mourning across Zaporizhzhia to honor the victims.

Ukraine is scheduled to resume peace talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), mediated by the United States, within a few days.

However, it is generally observed that the prospects for a meaningful breakthrough in the talks remain dim due to the wide gap in views between the warring parties over the conditions for ending the war.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.