By Salma El-Sakka
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a Russian bombing that killed at least 40 people at a school in the southeastern settlement of Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region, calling the attack “insane” and criticizing the limited international response. Search-and-rescue operations continued for a third day after Moscow dropped nine aerial bombs, some weighing up to three tonnes, on an aid distribution centre and underground shelter.
Double-tap strike hits aid recipients and rescuers
Zelensky said the strikes first targeted people who had come to receive humanitarian aid, then hit first responders and police officers who arrived at the scene. Bodycam footage released by Ukraine shows residents being directed into an underground shelter after the first explosion before a second blast struck the building. The president said more than 30 people could still be trapped under the rubble.
Russian warehouse fire and refinery attack
In southern Russia, retail giant Ozon reported a fire at a warehouse in the Adygea Republic after a drone attack, forcing the company to cancel some orders. Meanwhile, Ukraine reportedly targeted the Ryazan oil refinery, operated by state-owned Rosneft, with drones overnight, causing explosions and a large fire. The facility, one of Russia’s largest with an annual capacity of 17 million tonnes, has been hit repeatedly in recent months.
Kyiv suffers worst water outage of war
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Tuesday triggered Kyiv’s most severe water outage since the invasion began, leaving residents without water for more than 24 hours. Officials warned the situation could worsen in winter.
European troops prepare for postwar mission
Thousands of European troops are set to take part in a military exercise in Poland this month, led by Britain and France, to prepare for a hypothetical postwar mission in Ukraine. The drill aims to test deployment plans and signal resolve to Russia and the incoming Trump administration, though challenges remain over U.S. support and French elections.
Zelensky awards Melania Trump and meets U.S. envoys
Zelensky awarded U.S. First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, 1st class, citing her role in securing a six-day ceasefire to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky. The Ukrainian president also held detailed discussions with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of planned trilateral peace talks with Russia next week, emphasizing the need for air defence systems and security guarantees.
