Russian Strike on Kyiv-Area Ammunition Depot Triggers Blast, Killing 37

KYIV: At least 37 people were killed after a Russian drone strike on an ammunition depot in the Kyiv region triggered a massive detonation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, as rescue operations continued in the aftermath of the attack.

The strike hit a military facility in the village of Myla, where artillery shells, mines, drones and other ammunition were reportedly stored. The resulting explosions caused widespread fires and significant damage to nearby infrastructure, including residential buildings and a facility for elderly people and those with disabilities. Hundreds of residents were evacuated from the area.

Zelenskiy described the incident as a case of serious negligence, questioning the storage of explosives in close proximity to populated areas. He said criminal investigations had been opened into possible official negligence and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has ordered a comprehensive audit of ammunition storage facilities following the incident. The blast was the second such strike-related detonation in the Kyiv region within two months, after a similar incident in Vyshneve last month killed 10 people and damaged hundreds of homes.

The incident occurred amid intensified Russian aerial attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas. Ukrainian officials said the capital had faced almost continuous drone attacks for three consecutive days, with additional casualties reported elsewhere in the region.