Zaporizhzhia Strike Death Toll Rises to 33 as Ukraine Condemns Attack

The death toll from a heavy Russian airstrike on the village of Komyshuvakha in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region has risen to at least 33, Ukrainian officials reported on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that dozens more remain trapped under the rubble, warning that the final casualties could climb significantly higher.

The targeted building was a local school that had reportedly been converted into a humanitarian aid distribution center. According to Kyiv, Russian forces dropped nine heavy bombs, each weighing approximately three tons, directly on the facility as residents gathered to receive weekly provisions. The assault involved a double-tap strike, killing two rescue workers and four police officers who arrived at the scene following the initial explosion.

Speaking in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelenskyy condemned the bombing as one of the deadliest mass casualty incidents of the conflict. He argued that Moscow deliberately targeted civilians despite knowing the humanitarian nature of the gathering. Zelenskyy added that Russia rejected proposals to extend a temporary humanitarian truce in the besieged Kherson region city of Oleshky, demonstrating a continued refusal to de-escalate.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed carrying out strikes in the Komyshuvakha area but claimed the target was a concentration of Ukrainian military units, asserting that 25 servicemen were killed. Moscow has consistently denied targeting civilian infrastructure since the invasion began in February 2022.

The escalation unfolds as US diplomatic efforts intensify. Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, announced that a trilateral meeting involving representatives from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi next week, marking a renewed push for peace talks.