The death toll from a Russian attack on an aid centre in the Zaporizhia region of southeastern Ukraine has risen to 40 people, according to Ukrainian authorities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the updated figures, stating that some bodies had not yet been accounted for and more than 30 people may still be trapped under the rubble.

The deadly strike occurred on Monday when Russia dropped several bombs on a school building in the village of Komyshuvakha, near the front line, which was being used to distribute aid. A follow-up attack then hit an underground shelter filled with people. Among the dead were four police officers and two members of a rescue crew.

Local officials estimate that about 38 people could still be trapped following the attack. Rescue efforts are ongoing but have been hampered by Russian drones in the area. Despite these interruptions, Mykhailo Semikin, acting head of the regional military administration, insists that search operations will continue.

Zelenskyy condemned the “vile terrorist strike” and stated that it demonstrated Russia’s unwillingness to de-escalate the conflict. He added that the attack had wasted an opportunity created by a ceasefire and humanitarian mission in the front-line village of Oleshky last week.

The United Nations human rights mission in Ukraine has said that the bombing likely violated international law. Ukrainian police have released body-camera footage from one of the officers killed in the attack, showing people being ushered into the underground shelter before the footage cuts to black and silence.

The United States has announced a new round of ceasefire talks aimed at ending the nearly five-year-long war. Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are set to meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 to discuss post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures, and ending the conflict. However, previous meetings have secured little progress due to Moscow’s refusal to compromise on hardline demands.

Zelenskyy has sought to sway the U.S. president by outlining the suffering of his country, stating that the attack on the Zaporizhia aid centre, like thousands of other war crimes committed by Russia, demands a strong response from the international community.

As the death toll continues to rise and rescue efforts persist despite challenges posed by Russian drones, the devastating strike on the Zaporizhia aid centre serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human cost of the conflict in Ukraine.