Russian attack on Ukraine aid hub kills 26

Russian forces bombed a humanitarian aid centre in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on Monday, killing at least 26 people. 

Hours later, the United States announced plans for new peace talks on 10 and 11 November.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the aid centre operated out of a closed frontline school in Komyshuvakha village. It served as a shelter and weekly Monday distribution point. 

Calling it a 'vile terrorist strike', he said Russian aerial bombs hit as residents arrived before a second strike targeted the shelter.

Ukraine's emergency services said the dead included four police officers and two rescue workers, while five people, including two rescuers, were hospitalised. 

Zaporizhzhia City Council Secretary Regina Kharchenko said 27 people were missing as police and rescuers searched the rubble.

Although Moscow made no immediate comment. Zelenskyy said that Russian forces knew of the weekly gatherings. 

He also argued that Moscow rejected de-escalation and squandered an opening from last week's humanitarian mission in Russian-occupied Oleshky. The mission was brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.

Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Zelenskyy also warned that Russia planned a 'massive attack' on energy and logistics networks during Tuesday's US midterm elections. Writing on X, he said Moscow hoped global distraction would mask Ukraine's air defence and Patriot missile struggles, urging Washington to force Russia to end the war.

Meanwhile, US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Ukrainian and Russian delegations would meet in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November to discuss post-war security, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and ending the five-year war before winter. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to the three-way talks after meeting Witkoff in St. Petersburg on 21 October, marking the first US-mediated round since February before the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Following Monday's strike, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged nations on X to isolate Russia after the Court of Arbitration for Sport reinstated it in major ice hockey tournaments.

Source: Al Jazeera