Ukraine raises death toll from Russian strike on Zaporizhia to 40 people

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkPolice officers conduct rescue operation at an underground shelter inside the compound of a local school, which was used as a humanitarian aid hub and was hit by a Russian air strike, in the Zaporizhia region, Ukraine, November 4, 2026 [Sergiy Chalyi/Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and APPublished On 4 Nov 20264 Nov 2026Ukrainian authorities have raised the death toll from a Russian attack on an aid centre in the Zaporizhia region in the southeast of the country to 40 people.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the raised toll on Wednesday, adding that some bodies had not yet been accounted for and that more than 30 people may still be under the rubble.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Russia detains minor over alleged Moscow attack plot after US warninglist 2 of 3Russia, Ukraine air raid alert apps hit by cyberattacks after truce endslist 3 of 3Grain under fire: Black Sea attacks threaten global food suppliesend of listThe strike on Monday was one of the deadliest strikes on civilians of Russia’s nearly five-year-long war on its neighbour. It came as Kyiv prepares to attend ceasefire talks with Moscow next week that have been brokered by the United States.Local officials had earlier confirmed 37 deaths, adding that they estimate about 38 people could remain trapped following the attack, in which Russia dropped several bombs on a school building in the village of Komyshuvakha, near the front line, which was being used to distribute aid.Ukraine said that a strike then hit an underground shelter filled with people in a follow-up attack. Four police officers and two members of a rescue crew were among the dead.Zelenskyy condemned the “vile terrorist strike” and declared that it showed that Russia did not want de-escalation of the conflict. He added that the attack had wasted an opportunity created by a ceasefire and humanitarian mission last week in the front-line village of Oleshky.Rescuers search the bodies of residents at the site of an underground shelter which was used as a humanitarian aid hub and was hit by a Russian air strike amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the Zaporizhia region, Ukraine, November 4, 2026 [Sergiy Chalyi/Reuters]Ukrainian police have released body-camera footage from one of the four officers killed, showing people being ushered into the underground shelter as the officer receives a radio warning of incoming guided aerial bombs.People were then seen inside the shelter before the footage cuts to black and silence.The United Nations human rights mission in Ukraine said on Tuesday that the bombing likely violated international law.Local authorities said that Russian drones were hampering the search for victims in Komyshuvakha. Mykhailo Semikin, acting head of the regional military administration, insisted, however, that operations would continue.The US has announced a new round of talks aimed at ending the war for next week. Special envoy Steve Witkoff has said delegations from Ukraine and Russia will meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 to discuss post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and ending the war.Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to the talks after meeting Witkoff in St Petersburg on October 21. However, previous such meetings have secured little progress, with Moscow refusing to compromise on hardline demands, including that Kyiv give up territory, demilitarise, and guarantee it will not seek to join NATO.The Trump administration has appeared to offer support for Russia’s position, stoking concern in Kyiv and across Europe.Zelenskyy has in the past sought to sway the US president by outlining the suffering of his country, and appeared to try to repeat the trick concerning the Zaporizhia atrocity.“Unfortunately, there has been very little reaction from the world to this insane attack,” the Ukrainian president said in a social media post. “But it, like thousands upon thousands of other war crimes Russia has committed against Ukraine and Ukrainians, demands a strong response. Evil always goes further if it is left unanswered.”