Ukraine says 55 killed as Russian drones strike rescuers in Zaporizhzhia
Emergency workers were hit in a second wave of attacks on a village near the front line, leaving dozens missing and prompting a call for new sanctions.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 55 people were killed in the village of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region following a series of Russian strikes. The attacks occurred in two phases, with the second wave targeting emergency workers already on the scene.
The initial assault involved multiple guided bombs that struck an old school and a nearby shelter used by residents seeking humanitarian aid. The following day, a Russian drone hit the site again while rescue crews were conducting operations. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine stated that the specialized rescue team suffered damage, though no one was reported injured in that second impact.
The military intelligence agency of Ukraine, the HUR, indicated that approximately 50 people remain missing. Many of the recovered bodies have not been identified, and DNA analysis is ongoing. The HUR said it had identified specific Russian military personnel involved in what it described as a double-strike attack.
Mykola Krasnov, a 72-year-old resident, told The Associated Press on Saturday that he was still searching for his wife. He said she went to the location to receive help. “She went to look for humanitarian aid and there they dropped a three-ton bomb. Where is she?” Krasnov said. He added that she did not return home, her body was not found at the site, and she was not in the morgue.
On Saturday, police officers and families gathered in Zaporizhzhia for the funeral of six officers killed in the attacks. Four of the officers died near the old school. Andrii Khomenko, a police lieutenant colonel who worked with the victims, said the officers used all available skills to protect themselves. He noted that when an enemy deliberately gathers civilians in one place and attacks them, no skill is sufficient.
Yuliia Nykonenko, a senior police lieutenant, said the agents risked their lives to save others, including children. The community also bid farewell to three neighbors who were killed. Yurii Karapetian, a community leader, lost his wife, Natalia, who was distributing bread in the shelter when the bombs hit. “This pain, I would say, is unbearable,” Karapetian said. He urged the international community to act, stating that if Russia is not stopped, it will not stop anywhere.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack on emergency teams an act of absolute cynicism and brutality on Sunday. He said Russian night strikes on energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region left more than 600,000 people without electricity. Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched 115 missiles, 1,900 guided aerial bombs, and more than 3,000 drones at Ukraine in the previous week. He urged partners to sanction entities involved in missile production and called on the European Union to impose a 22nd package of sanctions.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, controlled by Russia, lost its external power supply on Sunday. The plant administration said a damaged power line named Ferosplavna was disconnected for safety, forcing the facility to rely on backup diesel generators. The plant requires external power to maintain essential cooling systems.
