At Least 31 Killed in Russian Bomb Attack in Zaporizhzhia

By Reuters Nov. 3, 2026 Rescue workers search for people buried beneath the rubble of a school that Ukraine said Russia bombed on Nov. 2, 2026. State Emergency Service of Ukraine Russian forces on Monday bombed a school being used as an aid distribution point in a village in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, killing at least 31 people, regional officials said Tuesday. Mykhailo Semikin, acting head of the regional military administration of Zaporizhzhia, said during a live broadcast on national TV that five people were also injured and almost 50 people were still missing after the attack in the village of Komyshuvakha. Two members of a rescue crew and four police officers were among those killed, emergency services said, after Russia launched a double-tap strike in the wake of the initial attack. Two more rescue workers were among those being treated for their wounds at the hospital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly video address on Monday, said Russian forces initially dropped aerial bombs on a school in the village, used as a shelter and for distributing humanitarian assistance each Monday. There were no classes at the school, Zelensky said, as the village, lying southeast of the region's main city, also called Zaporizhzhia, was too close to the front line. "The Russians struck first just as people were arriving — a few aerial bombs," he said. "Then there was a second strike — more air bombs, this time on the shelter. A vile terrorist strike." Zelensky claimed the Russian military would have known that residents remaining in Komyshuvakha gathered each week to pick up humanitarian packages at the school. Russia's Defense Ministry said the attack had targeted Ukrainian military units in areas around Komyshuvakha and two other settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. It claimed in a statement on Tuesday that up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen had been killed, with 15 vehicles and an electronic warfare station also destroyed. Zaporizhzhia region police said officers and rescue teams in Komyshuvakha were trying to reach residents believed to be trapped under rubble. Photos posted online showed smouldering rubble strewn throughout the area. The attack took place a day after the expiry of a six-day local ceasefire arranged to bring aid into Oleshky to the southwest in Kherson region and evacuate residents who wished to leave. Read more about: Ukraine war , Zaporizhzhia Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more No Sign of Russian Preparations to Restart Zaporizhzhia, IAEA Official Says Previous reports said that Russia is building power lines to connect the Zaporizhzhia plant to its own grid. 2 Min read Russia Relocates Some Displaced Kursk Residents to Occupied Ukraine Kursk authorities said they are working with Moscow-appointed officials in the Zaporizhzhia region to accommodate evacuees at resorts and health spas near... 1 Min read Russian Strikes on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Region Kill 3 – Governor Zaporizhzhia's Ukrainian governor said Russian forces struck eight populated areas in Zaporizhzhia "357 times" over the past 24 hours. 1 Min read UN Visit to Ukraine Nuke Plant Delayed – Russia The UN's nuclear chief was expected at Europe's largest atomic plant to assess any impacts to the site's safety after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam... 1 Min read