By Islam El-Sakka
Widespread blackouts and water cuts hit Kyiv and neighboring districts Wednesday after overnight strikes on key infrastructure, while rescue teams in southern Ukraine continued clearing debris three days after a Russian-guided bomb attack on a school and shelter in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region.
Death Toll Rises in Komyshuvakha
The death toll from Monday's strike has risen to 37, with up to 38 people still feared trapped under rubble, according to acting head of the regional military administration Mykhailo Semikin. Ivan Fedorov, co-chair of the regional defense council, said 12 bodies have been identified so far.
Search Operations Hampered
Russian drone attacks are hampering search operations, officials said. The National Police of Ukraine reported that visual identification of some bodies is impossible, and DNA samples are being collected from relatives.
Pastor Describes Scene
Baptist pastor Vladyslav Makhovskyi, who joined the search, described victims unable to escape when bombs hit, with many likely killed immediately or suffocated.
Energy Infrastructure Targeted
Meanwhile, Moscow showed no sign of scaling back its aerial bombardment. On Tuesday, a large-scale attack on power plants and substations across nine regions knocked out power in several areas around Kyiv. State-owned electricity company Ukrenergo said Russia struck energy facilities more than 20 times in 24 hours.
Emergency Measures in Kyiv
In Kyiv, citizens were advised to use public drinking fountains, and emergency support centers were set up in severely affected districts to provide hot tea and charging points.
International Talks in Brussels
Officials from the United States, Germany, France, Britain, NATO, and the European Union were scheduled to meet Wednesday at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels to discuss post-war security arrangements, reconstruction, and economic opportunities. The talks precede a new round of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations next week.
Melania Trump Honored
In a separate development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded U.S. First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, 1st class, for her humanitarian support, including brokering a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky to allow a humanitarian mission.
