Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia aid centre kills 26

At least 26 people were killed and five injured after a Russian airstrike hit a humanitarian distribution centre in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian authorities reported. Officials said attackers dropped at least nine aerial bombs, each weighing three tonnes.

Authorities warned the death toll could rise because some people remain missing or are still trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue teams are working at the site but their efforts have been repeatedly interrupted by drone strikes in the area.

Strike hit a school used for aid, then a shelter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as "horrific," saying the first strike hit a local school that had been repurposed for humanitarian needs and that a second strike struck the location where civilians had taken shelter.

Zaporizhzhia regional authorities declared a day of mourning following the strikes. Emergency services continue clearing debris and searching for survivors despite the ongoing security threats.

Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States will continue in Abu Dhabi next week. The meetings are expected to cover post-war security guarantees, measures to de-escalate, and humanitarian issues.

Photo: press material from the event