KYIV: At least 37 people were killed after a Russian drone strike triggered a major explosion at an ammunition depot near Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday.
The blast occurred late Friday in the village of Myla in the Kyiv region. It sparked widespread fires and caused major damage to nearby residential buildings and a facility for elderly people and people with disabilities.
Zelenskiy said dozens of people suffered injuries and hundreds of residents had to evacuate the area.
Russian Drone Strike Triggers Massive Explosion
According to Zelenskiy, the military facility stored artillery shells, mines, drones and other ammunition.
The Russian drone attack hit the area and triggered a secondary detonation. The resulting fires spread across the site and surrounding areas.
More Read
Among those killed was the head of a nearby village. He had rushed to the area to help people after the blast.
Zelenskiy described the incident as a combination of a Russian attack and serious negligence in the storage of explosives.
Ukraine Opens Criminal Investigations
The Ukrainian president said authorities had already opened criminal cases over alleged official negligence.
He also called for a full investigation into how the military stored ammunition close to populated areas.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry ordered officials responsible for weapons storage to conduct a complete audit of ammunition facilities.
The incident marks the second major strike-related detonation near Kyiv in about two months.
Similar Explosion Killed 10 Last Month
A similar incident occurred in the Kyiv-area town of Vyshneve last month.
A Russian strike triggered secondary explosions there, killing 10 people and damaging hundreds of homes.
Zelenskiy said another incident of this nature was unacceptable. He also demanded that officials quickly make the investigation’s findings public.
More Read
Kyiv Faces Third Straight Day of Russian Air Attacks
The deadly explosion came as Russian air attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas entered a third consecutive day.
Zelenskiy said Russia also targeted nine other Ukrainian regions overnight.
Kyiv faced what he described as a virtually continuous drone assault. Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted some of the incoming weapons, but several strikes still caused casualties and damage.
The attacks have disrupted daily life across the capital and surrounding communities.
More Civilian Casualties Reported
Kyiv region Governor Tymur Tkachenko said a 14-year-old girl died in a morning drone attack in the Boryspil district.
In Kyiv itself, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a 2-year-old girl died after a downed drone struck the area.
Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Thursday and Friday damaged residential buildings and storage facilities belonging to major retailers.
Ukrainian officials said the repeated attacks appeared designed to disrupt life in Kyiv, a city of several million people.
Russia Intensifies Its Air Campaign
Russia has intensified its air campaign against Ukraine in recent weeks.
Ukrainian officials say Moscow has increasingly used ballistic missiles and high-speed drones. Kyiv continues to face challenges in intercepting all incoming weapons.
As a result, air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across Kyiv on Saturday. Residents also heard air defence systems operating throughout the day.
The latest attacks highlight the continuing danger faced by civilians in and around the Ukrainian capital as the war enters another prolonged phase.
