Two killed and 60 feared dead in Russian bomb attack on Ukraine school

8 May 2022, 09:44 | Updated: 8 May 2022, 15:04

The burning building in the village of Bilohorivka.
The burning building in the village of Bilohorivka. Picture: Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration

By Sophie Barnett

At least two people have been killed and 60 more are feared dead after Russian bombs hit a school in eastern Ukraine, officials in Ukraine said.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Around 90 people were sheltering at a school in the village of Bilohorivka, in Luhansk, which was allegedly bombed by Vladimir Putin's troops.

Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region, said Russia dropped a bomb on the school on Saturday afternoon, causing a fire that engulfed the building.

Authorities have rescued thirty people from the rubble so far.

Read more: UK pledges extra £1.3bn in military support for Ukraine ahead of G7 meeting

Smoke billows out of Azovstal steel plant as attack by Russian forces continues

The fire was extinguished after nearly four hours, then the rubble was cleared, and, unfortunately, the bodies of two people were found,” Mr Gaidai wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

“Sixty people were likely to have died under the rubble of buildings.”

Mr Gaidai said rescuers were unable to work through the night due to the threat of new shelling.

The rescue operation was reported to be underway on Sunday morning.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has condemned the attack and said Putin's regime will be held accountable.

She wrote on Twitter: "Horrified by Russia's latest attack on a school in Luhansk, resulting in the deaths of innocent people sheltering from Russian bombardment. Deliberate targeting of civilians & civilian infrastructure amounts to war crimes. We will ensure Putin’s regime is held accountable."

There was no immediate response from Russia following reports.

Emine Dzheppar, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said the attack was "inhumane" and "barbaric".

She shared devastating photos of the destruction on Twitter, with rescuers seen desperately searching through the rubble.

Sir Howard Morrison, the former International Criminal Court (ICC) judge who's been appointed to assist the Ukrainian government, told LBC more than 20 people have been identified as possible defendants of Russian war crimes.

He told LBC's Swarbrick on Sunday: "I'm afraid international law doesn't work with lightning speed, but that's because of the enormity of the cases and the extreme difficulty under which the investigators operate.

"This is more difficult than some other cases as it's an ongoing conflict."

He said new incidences are happening every day, and even on an hourly basis, making it "much more complicated" and "more dangerous".

He said it will be months before defendants are brought before the courts.

Over 20 people identified as possible defendants of war crimes

News of the devastating shelling comes as it was confirmed all women, children and the elderly had been evacuated from a steel mill in Mariupol.

Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Iryna Veheshchuk, said: "The president's order has been carried out, all women, children and the elderly have been evacuated from Azovstal.

"This part of the Mariupol humanitarian operation has been completed."

Russian news agency Tass reported another 50 had been evacuated from the plant on Saturday, following roughly 500 others who were allowed to leave the plant and other parts of the city in recent days.

Meanwhile, in Mariupol, Russian troops were aiming to complete their conquest in time for Victory Day celebrations on Monday,

However, Putin's forces continued to face dogged resistance from defenders within the bunkers beneath the factory.

Ukrainian leaders warned that attacks would only worsen in the lead-up to Victory Day, when Russia celebrates Nazi Germany's defeat in 1945 with military parades.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is believed to want to proclaim some kind of triumph in Ukraine when he addresses the troops in Red Square on Monday.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
The incident happened on Santa Monica Boulevard, near Hollywood

Several critical as more than 20 injured after vehicle 'ploughs into crowd in Los Angeles'

A woman and three men

Essex students killed after drink-driver lost control doing 90mph in 30mph zone

Rene Graham

Horrifying moment gunman who fatally shot boy, 15, opens fire in broad daylight near busy London play park

Government gagged media over MoD leak that endangered 100,000 Afghan allies

Afghans named in MoD data leak are unlikely to receive any compensation

Overlooking Harrogate from the train station

70-year-old man dies after car crashes on to railway track

A gloved hand puts a needle into a woman's face

Health warning issued after UK cases of life-threatening condition linked to aesthetic procedure

Kate Shemirani, conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer and former nurse

Doctor's concerns that a conspiracy theorist influenced her daughter's refusal of cancer treatment, an inquest heard

Lightning in the sky

New weather warnings in place as heavy rain and thunderstorms to continue until Monday

Soham monster murderer Ian Huntley has sparked outrage by wearing a number 10 Man Utd-style football shirt in an apparent reference to his victims - 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Soham monster Ian Huntley 'wears Man Utd-style top' in apparent sick reference to 10-year-old victims

Dozens of Russian spies have been sanctioned by the Government - including 18 military intelligence officers who the Foreign Office says are responsible for malicious cyber-attacks on Britain.

Revealed: Russian spies sanctioned for cyber attacks including on Salisbury Novichok victim Yulia Skripal

Demonstration on the eve of parliament voting to proscribe Palestine Action.

Five charged over break-in at weapons firm Elbit Systems UK during Palestine Action protest

A fund has been launched in memory of the two men who were found dead in the holiday pool

Sister pays tribute to drowned Briton who ‘died trying to save his friend’ in Portugal

The tech firm whose CEO was caught seemingly having an affair with his colleague on the kisscam at a Coldplay gig has broken its silence after a fake statement from the CEO went viral.

Tech firm launches investigation into CEO caught 'having an affair' on kisscam with HR chief at Coldplay gig

Distressing footage Body worn footage shows PC Lydia Ward being comforted by colleagues as she is bleeding from the nose after she tried to arrest an assault suspect at Manchester Airport.

Student tells court he 'did not know' police officers he hit at Manchester Airport were women

Sandie Peggie is the claimant in the tribunal case against NHS Fife.

NHS Fife calls in cops over threats to staff in controversial tribunal case

Arsenal unveil new signing Noni Madueke at Sobha Realty Training Centre on July 18, 2025 in London Colney, England.

Arsenal complete £50m transfer of Chelsea forward amid ‘bullying’ claims from fans