At least 26 people were killed after Russian forces struck a school being used to distribute humanitarian aid in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Monday, Ukrainian authorities told news agency Reuters.The attack hit the village of Komyshuvakha, where two rescue workers and four police officers were among those killed, according to emergency services. Five others, including two rescue workers, were hospitalised.Around 20 people were still missing, raising fears that the death toll could climb further.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the school was hit first, followed by a nearby shelter.“This is further proof that Russia wants no de-escalation,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.He later warned that Russia could intensify its attacks while Ukraine faces a shortage of missiles needed to protect itself.Rescue teams searching the rubble were also forced to deal with fresh Russian drone attacks in the area, military official Mykhailo Semikin told news agency Associated Press.
Cyberattacks trigger fake emergency warnings
Separately, cyberattacks on government-run mobile applications in Ukraine and Russia triggered fake emergency alerts in both countries.In Ukraine, residents received false warnings of high radiation levels, chemical threats and an imminent nuclear attack. One message in Russian read: “Hi! There will be a nuclear threat across Ukraine. Do not worry, the Oreshnik is incoming.”The alerts, circulated in English, Russian and Ukrainian, prompted authorities to temporarily suspend Ukraine’s emergency app. Officials later said the service had been restored and that the breach had not affected the country’s security and defence operations.Russia’s emergency situations ministry said a fake alert was sent through its app at around 2:45 am Moscow time across 33 of the country’s 89 regions. It said other public warning systems, including SMS alerts and sirens, continued to function.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “All government bodies must take steps to improve the cybersecurity of our digital resources.”
Kherson ceasefire expires
The developments coincided with the end of a limited ceasefire in the southern Kherson region. The truce, which began on October 27, was intended to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and evacuations in Russian-occupied areas.Ukraine’s general staff accused Russia of using the pause to strengthen its drone defences and replenish ammunition.Russian drone attacks also injured people in other parts of Ukraine. Twelve people were hurt in the Kharkiv region, where a refrigeration facility, greenhouses and residential buildings were damaged. Five others were injured in Odesa after a warehouse and homes were hit.Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces had shot down 212 Ukrainian drones overnight. Independent Russian media outlets reported that Ukrainian drones had targeted a major oil transport hub in the Samara region.