Death Toll Rises to 53 in Russian Strike on Ukraine Aid Distribution Center

The death toll from a Russian attack on a humanitarian aid distribution center in the village of Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, rose to 53 on Friday. Acting regional governor Mykhailo Smykin confirmed the increase in casualties after emergency services had previously reported 50 deaths. Rescue operations continued for a fifth consecutive day amid fears of further attacks.

The bombing took place on Monday as residents gathered to receive humanitarian assistance at a building that had previously served as a school. Classes had been suspended because of the building’s proximity to the front line, but aid distributions continued there every Monday. The site also contained a shelter.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian forces initially struck the building before targeting the shelter where residents had sought refuge. Body-camera footage recovered from a police officer killed in the attack and verified by Reuters shows the moments leading up to the second strike. Following the initial bombardment, residents took shelter after receiving a warning over the radio. However, Russian forces subsequently struck the shelter as well, destroying it.

Four police officers and two rescue workers were among those killed. On Thursday, Zelenskyy announced that a missing person had been found alive after three days. Efforts to identify the victims are continuing alongside search and rescue operations. Ukrainian police reported that the attacks also involved a FAB glide bomb weighing approximately three tons.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claimed that its forces had targeted Ukrainian military units in the area and near two other settlements, killing up to 25 soldiers. Smykin said Russian drones had hindered rescue efforts as early as the evening of the attack.

The strike, one of the deadliest attacks on civilians this year, occurred shortly before the end of a local ceasefire in Kherson intended to facilitate humanitarian assistance and evacuations from Russian-controlled Oleshky.

Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Russian and Ukrainian delegations would hold talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11 to discuss reducing hostilities and establishing postwar security arrangements.