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Russia Strikes Disrupt Kyiv Water,Power11/04 06:46
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Overnight attacks on critical infrastructure triggered
power and water outages across Kyiv and surrounding regions Wednesday as
rescuers combed through rubble in southern Ukraine, still searching for
survivors three days after one of the deadliest attacks there in nearly five
years of war.
On Monday, multiple Russian guided bombs had slammed into a school and
shelter in the village of Komyshuvakha, near the front line in the Zaporizhzhia
region. Authorities have confirmed 37 deaths and say some 38 may still be
trapped.
Moscow showed no signs of letting up its aerial assaults elsewhere.
In Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, residents were urged to use public drinking
water fountains, and emergency centers were being hastily set up in the
worst-hit areas, offering hot tea and power points where people could charge up
electrical devices.
On Tuesday, a large-scale Russian attack on power plants and substations
across nine regions knocked out power in several areas in and around Kyiv. The
state-owned electricity company Ukrenergo said Russia had struck energy
facilities more than 20 times in 24 hours.
Talks about post-war support for Ukraine are planned in Brussels
Officials from the United States, Germany, France, Britain, NATO and the
European Union were to meet later Wednesday at the European Commission's
headquarters in Brussels.
Their discussions are expected to focus on security arrangements for after
the war ends, the massive reconstruction effort that will be required and also
various "economic opportunities" that peace could bring.
The Brussels talks come ahead of a new round of U.S.-brokered peace
negotiations next week, more than 4 1/2 years after Russia's all-out invasion
of its neighbor.
Search teams comb through the rubble, looking for survivors
The death toll from Monday's strike on Komyshuvakha has risen to 37, said
the acting head of the regional military administration, Mykhailo Semikin.
Earlier, he had warned that Russian drone attacks were hampering the search
but that the operations would continue.
Ivan Fedorov, co-chair of the regional defense council, said Wednesday that
12 bodies pulled from the rubble had been identified so far. Preliminary
estimates suggested there may still be a further 38 people trapped under the
rubble, he said.
It was unclear if anybody was still alive.
The National Police of Ukraine also gave the same somber figures. In a post
on Telegram, police said visual identification of some of the bodies was not
possible and that specialists were working with relatives of the deceased to
collect DNA samples for analysis.
On Tuesday, Baptist pastor Vladyslav Makhovskyi had joined the search for
survivors in the wreckage of the school and underground shelter where villagers
from Komyshuvakha had sought safety.
But as the day wore on, bodies wrapped in white plastic sheets were carried
from the ruins and laid in rows as smoke drifted across the shattered landscape.
"When the bombs hit, people could no longer get out," Makhovskyi told The
Associated Press. "I understand that many were killed immediately. Even if some
were still alive, they probably couldn't breathe."
First lady Melania Trump honored for humanitarian support to Ukraine
Monday's attack came after a six-day ceasefire had ended in the
Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, more than 245 kilometers (150 miles) away to
the southwest.
It was the most significant truce between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022, and
allowed the evacuation of residents from the shattered remains of the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded first lady Melania Trump the
Order of Princess Olga, 1st class -- an honor awarded to women who have made an
outstanding contribution to the Ukrainian state.
The U.S. first lady was recognized for her "significant personal
contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine," including support for human
rights and charitable activities aimed at helping Ukrainian children, according
to a post from the presidential website.
She was credited with brokering a successful six-day ceasefire to mount a
humanitarian mission to help those stranded in the Russian-occupied city of
Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region.
Moscow says it downs hundreds of drones as Ukraine strikes back at Russia
Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defense said that it shot down 709 Ukrainian
drones overnight.
The major online retailer Ozon said that a drone attack caused a fire to
break out at its logistics center in Adygeysk, in Russia's Adygea region, but
that there were no casualties.
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