Russian strike on Komyshuva school shelter kills at least 55
At least 55 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on the Dzherelo gymnasium and underground shelter in Komyshuva, Zaporizhzhia region, on 2 November. The attack occurred while residents were receiving humanitarian aid. Rescue and identification work continued on 7 November, with the death toll likely to rise.
Key points
- The strike occurred at 09:45 on 2 November 2025 in Komyshuva, Zaporizhzhia region.
- Two guided bombs struck the Dzherelo gymnasium, destroying its sports hall and utility building.
- About an hour later, a FAB-3000 was dropped on underground premises housing a resilience point and civilian shelter.
- Rescuers recovered 55 bodies by the morning of 7 November, including nine victims found over the preceding day.
- Ukrainian intelligence identified six aircrew members, four Su-34 aircraft and the alleged planner of the strike.
- The attack was described as the deadliest in Zaporizhzhia region by fatalities in nearly five years of full-scale war.
Why it matters
The attack killed at least 55 people in a civilian setting and appears to have been the deadliest strike in Zaporizhzhia region by death toll in nearly five years of full-scale war. The destruction of an underground shelter and the possibility of more victims under the rubble underscore the scale of the loss. Identifying the alleged planner, participating unit, aircraft and aircrew is also important for efforts to establish responsibility for an alleged war crime.
What happened
Russian forces struck the Dzherelo gymnasium in Komyshuva at 09:45 on 2 November 2025 while local residents were receiving humanitarian assistance. Two guided bombs destroyed the sports hall and utility building. About an hour later, Russian forces dropped a FAB-3000 on the school’s underground premises, where a resilience point and shelter for local residents were located. The heavy bomb caused the concrete structure to collapse and left people trapped under debris.
The confirmed death toll rose from 53 to 55. By the morning of 7 November, rescuers had recovered 55 bodies, including nine victims found over the preceding day. Search and rescue operations had lasted at least six days, with rescuers and canine teams continuing to dismantle destroyed structures and search the site despite the danger of further strikes. Some remains had not been identified, and relatives of people missing without trace provided DNA samples.
Ukrainian military intelligence said four Su-34 aircraft and tactical aviation group No. 5 of the Special Combat Group of the aviation reserve of the Russian General Staff took part in the strike. GUR identified six participating aircrew members: Captains Serhii Yelisieiev and Dmytro Zvieriev, Senior Lieutenants Rodion Plotnikov, Nikita Ignatiev and Maksym Sokolenko, and Lieutenant Vadym Perekhrest. The crew of another aircraft was still being identified. GUR attributed the planning of the strike to Colonel Fedir Volodymyrovych Zubakov, head of the fire-strike group of the Dnipro military formation’s headquarters.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the confirmed death toll of 55, the continued recovery and identification efforts and the danger of repeated strikes during the search operation. It emphasizes that residents were receiving humanitarian aid when the attack occurred and that the underground shelter was subsequently hit. Ukrainian officials and international organizations characterize the strike as a targeted Russian war crime, while Russian authorities deny deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Where reporting differs
Sources disagree on the number of bombs used. Some reports describe two initial guided bombs followed by a FAB-3000, while others say nine additional bombs were dropped on the shelter or give ten guided bombs in total. Estimates of possible additional casualties also vary: about 30 people may have remained under the rubble, while as many as 100 people may have been at the site when the attack occurred.
Background
The FAB-3000 is described as a three-tonne bomb containing nearly 1.5 tonnes of explosives. Initial reports cited 53 fatalities. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations describe such attacks on civilian infrastructure as targeted Russian war crimes, whereas Russian authorities deny that the army deliberately targets civilian infrastructure or kills civilians.