Death toll from Russian strike on Zaporizhia aid centre rises to at least 50, with many still trapped

The death toll from a Russian attack on an aid distribution centre in the village of Komyshuvakha in Ukraine's Zaporizhia region has risen to at least 50 people. Ukraine's emergency service announced on Friday that the toll rose after eight more bodies were recovered from the rubble.

Acting regional governor Mykhailo Semikin later said the death toll had reached 53 people, as rescuers continued searching for the missing for a fifth day. That figure of 53 could not be independently verified.

Monday's strike hit a former school building in the village, which civilians used for weekly aid handouts. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the first aerial bomb strike, nine more bombs were dropped specifically targeting the underground shelter where people had taken cover, causing most of the destruction.

Local police said on Wednesday that 59 people were listed as missing, though some of them might be among the bodies already found. Police said as many as 39 people may still remain trapped under the debris.

Specialists have been taking DNA samples to identify the bodies. Ukrainian officials said continuing Russian attacks remain a constant threat to the rescue operation while the search goes on.

Four police officers and two rescue workers are also among the dead.

Zelenskyy called the attack a vile terrorist strike and said it signalled Moscow's refusal to stop the fighting. The UN human rights mission in Ukraine also said the strike was likely a breach of international law.

Monday's attack came only a day after a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky ended.

Separately, Russia and Ukraine traded drone attacks on Thursday, injuring several people on both sides, including a child. On Wednesday, Russian attacks in the eastern Donetsk region killed four civilians and injured five others.

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are expected to meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 for US-brokered talks, though previous rounds made little progress.