Russia strikes Ukrainian aid school, killing at least 26

Russian forces struck a school in the Komyshuvakha community of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region on Monday, November 2. The building was no longer used for education and served as a humanitarian aid distribution center for residents who remained in the area.

At least 26 people were killed in the attacks, according to Ukrainian authorities. Among the dead were rescuers and police officers, and five people were injured.

“The attack is absolutely horrific.”

A second wave of strikes followed the initial bombing. Nine three-ton aerial bombs hit the shelter where people had gathered to protect themselves after the first attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack absolutely horrific and accused Moscow of not seeking de-escalation. He also warned that Russia is preparing another mass strike targeting mainly energy and transport infrastructure, possibly seeking to exploit international attention on the US midterm elections.

Separately, Russian attacks on energy infrastructure caused power outages in ten regions, including Vinnytsia, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Cherkasy, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv. The greatest difficulties were recorded in Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv regions.

Emergency power outages in Kyiv and the wider region affected the operation of the metro and high-speed tram lines. Overnight into Monday, Russian forces launched a total of 193 long-range drones, of which 75 were Shahed drones. Ukraine's air force said air defenses shot down or neutralized 154 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, including 58 Shahed drones.

Damage was recorded at 26 locations, while debris falls were noted in nine other places. Around 08:00 local time, six drones remained in Ukrainian airspace.