Zelenskyy Says 40 Dead in Southern Village After Russian Bombs Hit Shelter
Power and water outages in Kyiv accompany the death toll update as EU officials meet in Brussels to plan postwar reconstruction.
By Rebecca Foster ·
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that the death toll in the village of Komyshuvakha in Zaporizhzhia region has risen to 40. He indicated that 30 more individuals may remain buried beneath the rubble of the site. This strike represents one of the deadliest incidents in that area during the five years of war.
Russian guided bombs struck a former school and an adjacent shelter on Monday. Residents were reportedly waiting for humanitarian aid at the time of the impact. Mykhailo Semikin, the acting head of the regional military administration, confirmed that Russian drones have hindered rescue operations. He noted that search efforts will continue despite the ongoing aerial threats.
Ivan Fedorov, co-chair of the regional defense council, reported that 12 bodies removed from the debris have been identified. The National Police of Ukraine stated via Telegram that visual identification was not possible for all victims. Specialists are currently collecting DNA samples from relatives of the deceased to complete the identification process.
Zelenskyy criticized the global response to the attack in a post on X. He described the strike as insane and argued that it demands a strong reaction. He warned that evil progresses if it is left unanswered. Zelenskyy also noted that the incident occurred in a zone near the front line.
In Kyiv, Russian attacks caused power and water outages across the capital and surrounding areas on Wednesday. Residents were advised to use public drinking water fountains while utilities were restored. Emergency centers were established in hard-hit districts to provide hot tea and electricity for charging devices.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 310 drones overnight. This group included 81 jet-powered drones. The air force said it downed or suppressed 272 of these aircraft. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it shot down 709 Ukrainian drones during the same period.
Officials from the United States, Germany, France, Britain, NATO, the World Bank, and the European Union met at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. The closed-door session focused on scenarios for Ukraine’s postwar economic development. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the discussions addressed European demands for Russian concessions in potential negotiations.
Zelenskyy awarded U.S. First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, 1st class. The presidential website cited her humanitarian support and role in brokering a ceasefire in the occupied city of Oleshky. This truce allowed for the evacuation of residents from the Kherson region. The Kremlin expressed hope that President Donald Trump will continue his efforts to end the war regardless of the U.S. midterm election results.
