Kathmandu [Nepal], November 4 – At least 33 people have been killed and 50 others remain missing after Russian forces dropped at least nine powerful bombs on a school building in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as one of the deadliest strikes of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The building located in Komyshuvakha was being used as a shelter for civilians and a humanitarian aid distribution centre after the school stopped operating because of the war. Residents had gathered there to collect relief supplies when the attack took place.
The building had an underground shelter constructed last year with financial support from the European Union. Designed to withstand most air attacks the reinforced concrete structure collapsed under the impact of the powerful bombs triggering a fire.
Rescue workers and police officers were also among those killed. Local officials said two rescue workers died after arriving at the site following the initial strike while Ukrainian police reported that four officers were killed while helping civilians reach safety.
Police said a second attack struck people attempting to escape and those who had arrived to assist survivors.
Zelenskyy also said Russia later launched hundreds of drones and dozens of cruise and ballistic missiles targeting energy infrastructure across Ukraine.
