Ukraine death toll climbs to 38 after strikes on aid centre and hospitals

Russian military strikes across Ukraine have resulted in the deaths of at least 38 civilians and injured scores of others over the past 24 hours. The most severe attack occurred in the southern Zaporizhzhia region on Monday night, where a glide bomb strike on the village of Komyshuvakha killed at least 33 people. President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that the final victim count is expected to rise, as more than 50 individuals may remain trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed building.

The target in Komyshuvakha was a school building that had been repurposed as a humanitarian aid distribution centre. Authorities reported that nine 3,000kg aerial bombs hit the site while residents were gathering to receive supplies. Local media accounts suggest that when the attack began, people sought shelter underground, but the roof gave way, trapping many underneath. Regional head Mykhailo Semikin described the scale of the tragedy as difficult to comprehend.

Zelensky characterized the strike as one of the largest mass killings committed by Russia during the war. He noted that Ukraine had recently proposed to extend and expand a ceasefire in the Kherson region, which had allowed evacuations from the frontline town of Oleshky. The Ukrainian leader stated that the attack on the aid centre was Moscow’s response to these diplomatic efforts.

In the central city of Dnipro, a Russian missile destroyed a hospice housing nearly 50 terminally ill patients. The oldest patient was 90 years old. Mayor Boris Filatov shared images of elderly residents lying in their beds amid broken glass and rubble. Filatov stated that he wanted global politicians and diplomats to see the photos, emphasizing that the victims were terminally ill people targeted by a missile.

A separate strike in Dnipro killed two people and wounded 18 others. In the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, a hospital was hit, resulting in 73 injuries, most of which were among elderly patients. Additionally, five people were killed in aerial bomb and drone strikes on the eastern Donetsk region. Russian defense officials claimed the Komyshuvakha strike targeted Ukrainian military units and killed 25 servicemen, although reports suggest no credible evidence supported the presence of major military facilities at the site.

The United Nations human rights monitoring mission stated that the highly publicised distribution of aid at the local school appeared to violate fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in nine regions have disrupted water and heating supplies. In the capital, Kyiv, the water supply was entirely cut off due to damage to energy infrastructure, and the metro network was suspended on Tuesday.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the situation surrounding the city's power supply as very difficult. As Ukraine assessed the damage, the Kremlin announced it would participate in three-way peace talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. This will be the first trilateral meeting since February, a period during which the US and Russia began more direct engagement, including a US deal to import Russian diesel.

Speaking in Berlin on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasized the need for Russia to engage seriously in negotiations for a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement. However, he noted that he had not yet seen any indication of such seriousness. Several rounds of talks late last year ended without results, and Russian officials have generally maintained a maximalist position demanding effective Ukrainian surrender.

US First Lady Melania Trump, who was credited with brokering a recent truce in Oleshky, is scheduled to host representatives from both nations at the White House on Thursday. The UN reported last month that civilian casualties in Ukraine had reached a record level as Russian forces resumed systematic attacks on energy infrastructure. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Russian advances have stalled, leading to intensified missile and drone attacks, while Ukraine faces a critical shortage of air defense systems due to stalled Western deliveries.

Zelensky acknowledged in Berlin that while the front line remains stable, the situation in the air is less positive. He specifically highlighted concerns regarding Ukraine's air defense capabilities and the protection of its civilian population.