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Deadly Strike Triggers Secondary Explosions
KYIV — At least 37 people have been killed and more than 40 injured after a Russian drone strike struck a weapons storage facility near a residential area on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack late on Friday triggered a series of powerful secondary explosions as shells, mines and drones stored at the facility detonated, causing extensive damage to nearby buildings.
Almost 400 people were evacuated from the surrounding area, including residents of a care home for elderly and disabled people that was damaged in the blast.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the weapons storage site should not have been located so close to residential communities and announced an investigation into what he described as serious negligence.
"The storage site definitely shouldn't have been there," Zelensky said, adding that authorities would investigate the circumstances surrounding the storage of explosive materials near civilian homes.
Regional authorities said four children were among at least 42 people injured in Friday night's explosion.
Emergency teams continued search and rescue operations on Saturday at the site in Kyiv's Bucha district, where the initial drone strike was followed by multiple explosions from stored military equipment.
Officials warned that the situation remained dangerous because unexploded ammunition and debris were scattered across parts of the affected area.
The incident is the second major attack involving a munitions depot near Kyiv in recent months, raising renewed concerns about the location and security of military storage facilities close to populated areas.
Authorities are now examining both the circumstances of the Russian strike and the decision to store large quantities of explosive weapons near residential neighbourhoods.
The blast damaged surrounding properties and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of residents as emergency services worked to secure the area.
The latest incident highlights the continuing risks faced by civilians living near military infrastructure as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, with attacks on strategic facilities often creating secondary dangers for surrounding communities.
Rescue operations remained ongoing on Saturday, and officials said the casualty figures could change as teams continued working through the affected area.
