26 killed as Russian forces strike Ukrainian school distributing aid

At least 26 people have been killed in Russian attacks on a school in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, where civilians had gathered to collect humanitarian supplies, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday.

The reported strikes came shortly after the expiration of a ceasefire in southern Ukraine, raising fresh concerns over prospects for peace. Kyiv said Russian forces resumed attacks in the southern Kherson region after the truce ended.

The ceasefire, which was the longest observed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reportedly lasted from Tuesday until Sunday.

It was said to have been brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump to allow a humanitarian operation in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. Neither Russia nor Ukraine reported violations during the period.

However, hours after the truce expired, Russian forces launched repeated strikes on a village in the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region, killing at least 26 people, according to acting regional governor Mykhailo Semikin. Several of the victims were civilians who had gathered at a local school to receive humanitarian assistance.

Videos released by Ukraine's emergency services showed the school building reduced to smouldering rubble, with rescue workers searching through the wreckage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks were carried out as residents arrived at the facility to collect their regular weekly supplies.

“Every Monday humanitarian aid was distributed to people there. The Russians carried out the first strike just as people arrived — several aerial bombs. Then there was a repeat strike — more aerial bombs, this time targeting the shelter,” Zelensky said in his daily address.

Semikin disclosed that two rescue workers and four police officers were among those killed in the attack.

Ukraine's emergency services identified the deceased rescue workers as Denys Konovalenko and Oleksy Sushchevsky, both aged 44.

“Every day they went out to help people, working in dangerous conditions and risking their own lives to save others,” the service said in a statement.

Zelensky said the ceasefire in Oleshky had offered an opportunity to demonstrate that efforts towards ending the war could yield results.

“After the Oleshky truce, there was a moment when the next steps could have shown that progress toward peace was possible,” he said.

He added that the latest killings suggested Russia was pursuing further violence rather than peace, insisting that the attacks must attract a response.

“With these killings, Russia is sending an entirely opposite signal: Russia is counting on more killings. There must be a response to this,” the Ukrainian president said.

26 killed as Russian forces strike Ukrainian school distributing aid