Investigation Opened After Deadly Drone Strike Near Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced an investigation into potential official “negligence” following a Russian drone strike that hit a warehouse near Kyiv. The attack led to a significant detonation, resulting in at least 27 deaths.

“There are regulations in place; ammunition cannot be stored near homes or other residential areas,” Zelenskyy stated on social media. The president did not clarify what triggered the explosion or what the warehouse contained at the time.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the local regional military administration, reported that the attack damaged at least 50 residential buildings. It also caused a massive fire that extended to homes and a restaurant.

The drone strike resulted in evacuations from the region, reflecting the severity of the incident.

Included in the casualties was Taras Didych, head of the Dmytrivka community, who was aiding in rescue efforts according to President Zelenskyy. “Appropriate conclusions will certainly be drawn,” he added.

The office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general indicated that a drone “fell on or struck the grounds of an enterprise in the town of Myla.” The attack led to a large-scale fire and subsequent detonations.

Investigations will assess “the legality of the… storage of explosive objects and materials on the enterprise’s grounds” and whether the company had “necessary permits and approvals.” The company involved remains unnamed.

Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky expressed disappointment over the unlearned “lesson” from a previous attack in July. The earlier incident occurred in Vyshneve near Kyiv, targeting a munitions depot. That investigation exposed substantial shortcomings by the state-owned company, failing to meet standards despite residential proximity.