Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday accused Russia of torpedoing any "progress towards peace" after a strike that killed at least 29 people during a distribution of humanitarian aid in the southeast of the country. “Working negotiations” are to be held on November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi under American mediation.
Published on: 03/11/2026 - 06:51 Modified on: 03/11/2026 - 07:57
The strikes continued during the night of Monday November 2 to Tuesday November 3 across Ukraine, notably affecting a hospital in Kherson, in the northeast, where 46 people were injured and 200 patients evacuated. Energy installations have also been targeted in several regions.
Read alsoIn Ukraine, Russian strikes during a distribution of humanitarian aid kill more than 25 people
On the eve of the American mid-term elections, American envoy Steve Witkoff assured in the evening that “working negotiations” between Russia and Ukraine would be held on November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi under American mediation.
“Discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps towards peace,” he detailed on X.
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But the last meeting of this type, which took place in mid-February in Geneva, Switzerland, ended without tangible results, with Russia sticking to maximalist positions, according to kyiv.
And the outlook has further darkened with the attack on the Komyshuvakha distribution center in the Zaporizhia region.
“Every Monday, humanitarian aid was distributed there. The Russians launched the first strike just as people were arriving — several aerial bombs. Then there was another strike — more aerial bombs, this time targeting the shelter (...), where people had taken refuge,” Volodymyr Zelensky described in his daily address.
Read alsoThe Multinational Force for Ukraine will hold its first exercise in Poland in November
Three-ton bombs
These strikes destroyed "all hope of progress towards peace", the leader further underlined, pointing to "further proof that Russia wants neither de-escalation nor real justice".
The head of the local military administration, Mykhaïlo Semikine, specified that “at least nine FAB-3000 guided bombs”, three-ton devices, had been used. The death toll rose to 29 on Tuesday, compared to 26 previously announced.
Russia also resumed bombing in the neighboring region of Kherson (south), after a rare local truce negotiated to evacuate the town of Olechky, occupied by the Russians.
After this humanitarian operation, "there was a moment when we could believe that new steps towards progress towards peace were possible. With this massacre, Russia is sending a completely opposite signal: it is banking on new murders", wrote Volodymyr Zelensky on social networks.
In this context, kyiv's allies united within the Multinational Force for Ukraine announced that they would conduct a full-scale exercise in Poland from November 9 to 22 intended to test their ability to deploy and operate together on the ground.
Some 2,800 soldiers from ten countries will be deployed on this occasion under the leadership of France and the United Kingdom.
On the Russian side, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported 493 Ukrainian drones neutralized overnight while flying towards the capital. A strike hit a refinery in Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, according to local governor Mikhail Yevraiev.
With AFP
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