In brief
A late‑Friday drone strike on a weapons depot near Kyiv resulted in 37 deaths and the evacuation of almost 400 people. The blast ignited ammunition, shells and mines, causing fires and damaging 130 homes in the neighbouring village of Myla. President Zelensky condemned the storage of explosives so close to residential areas, launching criminal investigations into alleged negligence. The incident is the second munitions depot hit in Kyiv in recent months, sparking anger over repeated military oversights. Ukrainian officials report that 42 were injured, including four children, and that the blast left the community shocked and fearful of future attacks.
A Russian drone attack on a Kyiv weapons depot near the residential village of Myla late on Friday caused a catastrophic explosion that resulted in 37 fatalities and forced the evacuation of almost 400 residents.
The blast ignited shells, mines and ammunition, leading to widespread fires and damaging an estimated 130 homes in the village, as reported by local authorities and journalists on the ground.
Zelensky condemned the placement of explosives so close to homes, calling it "absolutely unacceptable" and announced criminal proceedings for those deemed responsible.
The incident follows an earlier attack on the Vyshneve ammunition depot in July that killed nine people and damaged 280 homes, illustrating a pattern of repeated mistakes in ammunition storage near populated areas.
The Minister of Defence’s office confirmed that the depot stored components and boosters for FP‑1/FP‑2 unmanned aerial vehicles, while the prosecutor general’s office has begun a review of the legality of storing explosives near residential buildings.
Local resident Liubov Pavlenko, who lives about 200 meters from the depot, described the damage as “total” and expressed shock at how a single blast could compromise multiple homes.
In the aftermath, special investigative teams have been dispatched to Myla and the Bucha district to assess structural damage, collect evidence, and identify any negligence in security protocols.
The situation underscores the ongoing risk to civilian populations amid intensifying aerial attacks, and calls for stricter oversight on ammunition storage near urban areas.
