Ukraine raises death toll from Russian strike on Zaporizhia to 40 people

Dozens may still be under the rubble in Komyshuvakha, say officials, noting that rescue efforts are continuing despite interruptions by Russian drones. Ukrainian authorities have raised the death toll from a Russian attack on an aid centre in the Zaporizhia region in the southeast of the country to 40 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the raised toll on Wednesday, adding that some bodies had not yet been accounted for and that more than 30 people may still be under the rubble.

The strike on Monday was one of the deadliest strikes on civilians of Russia’s nearly five-year-long war on its neighbour. It came as Kyiv prepares to attend ceasefire talks with Moscow next week that have been brokered by the United States. Ukraine said that a strike then hit an underground shelter filled with people in a follow-up attack.

Four police officers and two members of a rescue crew were among the dead. Zelenskyy condemned the “vile terrorist strike” and declared that it showed that Russia did not want de-escalation of the conflict.