Komyshuvakha strike death toll rises to 53 as rescuers search school ruins for a fifth day

The death toll from Russia’s bombing of an aid distribution point in the village of Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, has risen to 53.

Mykhailo Semikin, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, announced the new figure at 10.51am Kyiv time on Friday (4.51pm AWST). Minutes earlier, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service had put the toll at 50 after rescuers recovered eight more bodies from the rubble.

The search was in its fifth day on Friday, and officials have not said how many people are still unaccounted for.

What happened at Komyshuvakha?

The attack happened on Monday 2 November, as residents gathered at a former school building for the village’s weekly humanitarian aid distribution.

Ukrainian officials said aerial bombs first struck the school. People then took cover in the building’s underground shelter, and a second strike dropped nine more glide bombs directly on it. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia dropped about ten aerial bombs on the settlement that day.

Police said one of the bombs was a three-tonne FAB glide bomb. Classes at the school had been suspended because of its closeness to the front line, and children from the village were evacuated in June, but the building continued to serve as a shelter and aid point.

“The Russians knew exactly what they were striking,” Mr Zelensky said.

Who was killed?

Officials have said at least four police officers and two State Emergency Service rescuers are among the dead. Police body camera footage released on Thursday showed officers urging residents to take shelter before the second strike.

Several other people were injured, including two emergency workers who were taken to hospital.

On Thursday, Mr Zelensky said 43 bodies had been recovered and 53 people were still missing, and warned that the final toll could approach 100. He later said one person listed as missing had been found alive.

Police are collecting DNA samples from relatives to help identify the dead.

Why is the search taking so long?

Ukrainian officials said rescue crews are working under the threat of Russian drones and shelling, and through thick smoke inside the damaged building.

The village lies about 18 kilometres from the nearest Russian positions.

What has Russia said?

Russia’s defence ministry said its strikes targeted Ukrainian military units around Komyshuvakha and two other settlements, and claimed up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen were killed. Russian military bloggers have claimed, without evidence, that the building housed a drone command centre.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.

How has the world responded?

The UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine condemned the attack this week, saying the strike likely violated international law.

Latvia, which holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in November, has called for an extraordinary meeting of the council on the attack. If it goes ahead, all 15 members would take part, including Russia, which holds a veto.

Mr Zelensky has said the international reaction has been too muted, and has urged allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences. He said the strike undermined hopes of de-escalation.

What does it mean for peace talks?

The strike came a day after a six-day, US-brokered local ceasefire expired. That truce allowed nearly 800 civilians to be evacuated from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region.

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are due to meet in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November for talks mediated by the United States.

What support is being offered to victims’ families?

Mr Semikin said the regional budget would cover funeral costs. People with moderate injuries are to receive 20,000 hryvnias, and those with severe injuries an extra 30,000 hryvnias.

VNN will update this story as more is confirmed.