At least 37 people were killed late Friday when a Russian drone strike hit an ammunition depot near Kyiv, marking one of the deadliest attacks in Ukraine this year. The strike was the second to target an arms depot in the vicinity of the Ukrainian capital in less than two months, exacerbating concerns over civilian safety.

The attack triggered a massive fire and a series of explosions at the depot in the Bucha district, prompting the evacuation of more than 370 residents. Dozens were injured, and at least 50 residential buildings were damaged, according to Kyiv regional governor Tymur Tkachenko. Among the dead was Taras Didych, head of the Dmytrivka community, who rushed to the scene to assist in rescue efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video address on X, described the incident as "a terrible situation and terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people." He referred to a similar attack last month in Vyshneve that killed ten, calling the latest strike "absolutely unacceptable." Zelenskyy announced that criminal proceedings had been opened on charges of official negligence, emphasizing that regulations prohibit storing ammunition near residential areas.

The drone attack came after two days of near-constant air raids on Kyiv and the surrounding region. "Kyiv is under virtually nonstop attack from jet-powered drones. Ukraine cannot be left alone in finding solutions to defend against such strikes," Zelenskyy stated, adding that Russia also struck nine other regions overnight.

The strikes are part of an intensifying pattern of long-range attacks by both sides, increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure such as logistics warehouses, oil depots, and port facilities, leading to higher civilian casualties. More than four and a half years have passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, and the conflict continues to exact a heavy toll on the Ukrainian population.

Source: www.dw.com