A devastating Russian strike near Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, has killed at least 37 people in one of the year’s deadliest attacks.
Tragedy strikes Bucha district
A Russian aerial strike targeted the village of Myla, located in the Bucha district west of Kyiv. The initial strike hit a warehouse triggering a massive secondary explosion that set surrounding areas on fire.
The inferno damaged at least 50 nearby homes. Local officials confirmed that 34 of the victims were residents at a nearby care facility for elderly people and individuals with disabilities. Rescue teams evacuated over 370 people from the area.
Kyiv opens negligence investigation
The secondary detonation raised serious questions about why explosives were stored so close to a residential neighborhood.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the disaster calling it a “terrible situation” caused by “terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people.”
He noted that Ukrainian law strictly forbids storing ammunition near civilians and announced that “those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their decisions.”
Government vows strict punishment
The strike marks the second similar incident near Kyiv in recent months. Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi spoke out against the repetition of such dangerous mistakes, saying:
“In the fifth year of a full-scale invasion, making the same mistakes is criminal negligence. And all those guilty, without exception, must be severely punished so that such situations do not happen again.”
Russia claims target was drone depot
Russia’s Ministry of Defense acknowledged the attack claiming its forces hit a military facility storing components and launch boosters for long-range Ukrainian drones. Attacks on the region continue as both sides step up long-range strikes.
