Zelensky says 26 killed in Russian strikes on Ukrainian aid site

The reported death toll in Komyshuvakha rose from 18 to 26 on Monday, Zelensky said, with people still trapped under rubble. He said five people were in hospital and rescue work was continuing.

Zelensky said the school building and a shelter inside it were used to distribute humanitarian aid every Monday. He said Russian forces first struck the school after people had arrived, then dropped another nine bombs on the shelter.

Ukraine’s emergency service said rescuers and police arrived after the first strike. Rescuers took cover because of the threat of another attack, but the same site was then struck again, the service said.

In an earlier update, the emergency service said two rescuers and four police officers were among the 24 people reported dead. Zelensky later said most of the victims were civilians who had come for aid or people who had come to help after the first strike.

Regional broadcaster Suspilne reported at least ten people injured. It also reported that a local official had put the number missing at 27.