27 killed in Russian attack near Kyiv: "Explosives warehouse hit, then an explosion occurred"
More than 370 residents were evacuated following the strike on a warehouse in the Bucha district, 50 residential buildings were damaged, and a large fire spread to homes and a restaurant. Volodymyr Zelensky announced the opening of an investigation into suspected negligence: "It is forbidden to store ammunition near residential areas." In Russia, reports simultaneously emerged of deaths in Ukrainian drone attacks in the Belgorod region and the Crimean Peninsula.
At least 27 people were killed in Ukraine following a Russian attack on Friday on the Bucha district, near Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a warehouse in the village of Myla was hit, "and then an explosion occurred." He did not provide further details on the facility that was hit, but noted that criminal proceedings had been opened on suspicion of negligence by officials.
"There are regulations on this matter — it is forbidden to store ammunition near houses or other residential areas," said Volodymyr Zelensky.
He added that nursing homes, an institution for the care of the elderly and people with disabilities, and residential buildings were damaged. "More than 370 people have already been evacuated, and the evacuation is continuing," he said, promising to punish those responsible for the secondary explosion caused by the Russian attack.
Timur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration, said that 42 people were injured and at least 50 residential buildings were damaged in the attack, which also sparked a fire that spread to homes and a restaurant. The almost non-stop air strikes on Kyiv have now entered their third consecutive day, paralyzing the economy in the Ukrainian capital and disrupting the lives of citizens who have been living in the country under war for more than four and a half years since the Russian invasion.
Meanwhile, in Russia, it was claimed today that three people were killed and nine others injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Belgorod region; local authorities noted that three of the wounded are in serious condition. At the same time, it was reported that one person was killed and three others were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula.
Russia and Ukraine have increased their long-range attacks in recent months, which have caused fires and led to a record number of civilian casualties. Correspondents from the Agence France-Presse (AFP) testified that they saw a huge column of black smoke rising over the western suburbs of Kyiv.
"Since last night, efforts have been underway in the village of Myla near Kyiv to deal with the consequences of the Russian drone attack," Volodymyr Zelensky reported. "One of the dead was the head of the Dmytrivka community, who was involved in rescuing people. Those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their decisions."
