Bodycam footage shows moments before second Russian strike
Officials in Ukraine say over 30 others could remain trapped after glide bombs struck an aid point and shelter in Zaporizhzhia region.
Key points
- Russian bombs killed at least 40 people in Kamyshuvakha, according to Ukraine
- Ukrainian police released bodycam footage showing the moments before a shelter was hit
- Zelensky believes over 30 people could still be buried in the debris
- Russia's military has not publicly commented on the attack
Ukrainian police have published bodycam footage that they say captures the seconds between two Russian bomb attacks on the village of Kamyshuvakha, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The strikes left a death toll of at least 40, according to the BBC, and hit an aid point and a nearby shelter. Ukraine said the bombs were dropped as people had gathered to receive humanitarian aid.
The clip was recorded by a camera worn by one of the officers who died. It shows villagers making their way underground after the first strike on Monday. Moments later, a loud blast can be heard and flames appear as the refuge is hit, and then the footage abruptly ends.
What the footage shows
Early scenes show heavy wreckage after the first bomb landed in the southern village, with stunned residents standing among the debris. Badly damaged buildings are also visible. A military official’s voice comes through a two-way radio, warning officers on the ground that further glide bombs were on their way toward the village.
An officer then urges residents to reach the shelter quickly. The refuge sits at least two floors below ground. Ukrainian authorities say it stood close to a local school that had been handing out humanitarian aid.
The footage was released by Ukraine’s national police on Wednesday, two days after the attack. BBC Verify has confirmed that the bodycam clip was filmed at the same location as separate footage published by the State Emergency Service, known as DSNS, which shows the aftermath of Monday’s strike. DSNS has also posted a video of a large crater left by the blast.
Rescue work and official reactions
Rescue teams have continued searching through the rubble since the attack. Zelensky believes over 30 people could still be buried in the debris. Searchers have now been working for three days.
In a social media post, Zelensky said nine aerial bombs fell on the village. He wrote that the first strikes targeted people who had come for aid, and the next hit rescuers and officers who had arrived at the scene.
Zelensky also said the world had reacted only minimally. He described the attack as insane and called it another of what he said were thousands of war crimes committed by Russia. Ukraine has said some of the bombs weighed around 3,000kg.
Wider background
The Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, when Vladimir Putin ordered the large-scale offensive. The Russian military has not made any public comment on the Kamyshuvakha attack. The final death toll and the number of people still trapped have not been confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed in the Kamyshuvakha attack?
The BBC reports a death toll of at least 40 from the two strikes on the aid point and shelter. Zelensky said over 30 others might still be under debris.
What does the bodycam video show?
The video released by Ukraineu0026#039;s national police shows villagers entering an underground refuge after the first blast. Shortly after, the footage cuts off as the refuge is struck.
Has Russia responded to the claims?
The Russian military has not publicly commented on the attack, according to the BBC.
Sources
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