Newly released footage has captured the final moments before a Russian guided bomb struck a shelter in the Ukrainian village of Komyshuvakha, where residents had gathered while waiting for humanitarian assistance.
The attack took place on Monday, when multiple Russian guided bombs hit a former school building and a nearby shelter in the Zaporizhzhia region, close to the front line.
The footage shows villagers moving through the remains of buildings previously damaged by Russian strikes. An armed soldier is seen directing people towards a yellow building, one of the few structures still standing in the area.
“Go down! Why are you gathering here?” the soldier tells the group before leading them into the basement.
Police Officer’s Body Camera Captures Moment of Impact
After entering the building, the villagers separated into two rooms in the basement.
Body camera footage from a police officer who was later killed in the explosion shows two men and a woman inside a brightly lit room.
Moments later, the room suddenly goes dark as the bomb strikes the building.
The explosion killed dozens of people who had sought protection inside the shelter. The police officer whose camera recorded the scene was among those killed.
Death Toll Rises as Rescue Teams Search Through Rubble
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the death toll from the attack had risen to 40, making it one of the deadliest strikes in the area during nearly five years of war.
Mykhailo Semikin, acting head of the regional military administration, separately reported that at least 37 people had been killed. He said Russian drones were disrupting search operations, although rescue efforts would continue.
Ivan Fedorov, co-chair of the regional defence council, said 12 bodies recovered from the rubble had been identified.
Ukraine’s National Police said some victims could not be identified visually. Specialists were working with relatives to obtain DNA samples to establish the identities of those killed.
Authorities also warned that approximately 30 people could still be trapped beneath the debris.
Pastor Describes Conditions at the Bombed Shelter
Baptist pastor Vladyslav Makhovskyi joined the search for survivors on Tuesday as emergency workers continued clearing the destroyed building.
As the operation progressed, bodies covered in white plastic sheets were removed from the ruins and laid in rows while smoke drifted across the damaged area.
Makhovskyi said the force of the explosions had left many people unable to escape.
“When the bombs hit, people could no longer get out,” he said.
“I understand that many were killed immediately. Even if some were still alive, they probably couldn’t breathe,” he added.
Zelensky Condemns International Response to the Attack
Zelensky criticised what he described as the limited international reaction to the bombing.
“Unfortunately, there has been very little reaction from the world to this insane attack,” he wrote in a post on X.
He said the strike, alongside other attacks against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, required a strong international response.
“But it, like thousands upon thousands of other war crimes Russia has committed against Ukraine and Ukrainians, demands a strong response. Evil always goes further if it is left unanswered,” he added.
Russian Attacks Cause Power and Water Disruptions in Kyiv
Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian aerial attacks caused electricity and water supply interruptions across Kyiv and surrounding regions on Wednesday.
Residents in the capital were advised to use public drinking water fountains while emergency assistance centres were established in the worst-affected areas.
The centres provided hot tea and electricity for people needing to charge their mobile phones and other devices.
Kyiv’s water utility later confirmed that supplies had been restored. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, also announced that emergency electricity shutdowns in the capital had ended following repair work.
Ukraine Reports 310 Russian Drones in Overnight Attack
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 310 drones overnight, including 81 jet-powered drones.
In its daily report, the air force said Ukrainian forces had shot down or suppressed 272 drones of various types.
Such attacks have continued throughout the war, despite arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court in 2024 against two senior Russian military officers accused by prosecutors of overseeing attacks on civilian infrastructure.
US and European Officials Prepare for Ukraine Security Discussions
Officials from the United States, Germany, France, Britain, NATO and the European Union were scheduled to meet at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday.
The discussions were expected to cover security arrangements for Ukraine after the war, the country’s reconstruction requirements and potential economic opportunities associated with a peace agreement.
The meeting comes ahead of another round of US-brokered peace negotiations scheduled for the following week, more than four and a half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Six-Day Ceasefire in Oleshky Allows Residents to Leave
The Komyshuvakha bombing followed the conclusion of a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region.
The truce was described as the most significant between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022 and enabled residents to be evacuated from the heavily damaged city.
Zelensky awarded US First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, first class, in recognition of her humanitarian support and charitable activities involving human rights and Ukrainian children.
According to the Ukrainian presidential website, she was also recognised for helping secure the ceasefire that allowed people trapped in Oleshky to leave.
Kremlin Hopes Trump Will Continue Efforts to End the War
The Kremlin said it hoped US President Donald Trump would continue working towards ending the conflict regardless of the outcome of the American midterm elections.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks after Democrats secured control of Congress.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces had shot down 709 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Drone Attack Causes Fire at Russian Ozon Logistics Centre
In a separate incident, Russian online retailer Ozon reported that a Ukrainian drone attack had caused a fire at one of its logistics centres in Adygeysk, in Russia’s Adygea region.
The company said there were no casualties following the incident.
