At least 26 people were killed after a school distributing humanitarian aid in Ukraine was struck by Russian forces on Monday, November 2, 2026. The attack occurred shortly after a local ceasefire in southern Ukraine ended, raising fresh concerns about the chances of progress towards peace.
The ceasefire, reportedly brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, was intended to support a humanitarian mission in Oleshky. It lasted from October 27 to November 1 and was described as the longest truce since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
However, shortly after the ceasefire ended, Russian strikes hit a village near Kherson. At least 26 people, including humanitarian aid workers and police officers, were reportedly killed. Video footage from the scene showed the school building reduced to rubble.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as a tragedy and criticised Russia for continuing its military operations. He called for action in response to the killings.
The humanitarian mission in Oleshky helped evacuate people from the Russian-occupied city. However, Russia reportedly rejected Ukraine’s proposal to extend the ceasefire. Kyiv also accused Moscow of using the pause in fighting to strengthen its military positions.
Meanwhile, cyberattacks reportedly targeted emergency warning systems in both Ukraine and Russia on November 2. Ukraine suspected that its air raid alert systems had been hacked, while Russia reported a security breach involving its own warning application. These incidents added to concerns about security threats following the ceasefire.
U.S.-led peace talks are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi next week. However, the possibility of reaching an agreement remains uncertain, as both sides continue preparing for further fighting.
With the war approaching its fifth year, the latest attack has renewed concerns about civilian safety and the challenges facing efforts to end the conflict.