Russian Strike on Ukrainian Arms Depot Kills 37, Kyiv Probes Possible Negligence

Kyiv: A Russian strike on an arms depot near Kyiv triggered a massive fire and a series of explosions, killing at least 37 people and injuring dozens, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.

The overnight attack hit a military facility in Myla, on the western outskirts of the capital. The depot reportedly stored drones, shells and other ammunition. The explosions forced hundreds of residents to evacuate and damaged nearby homes, as well as a care facility for elderly and disabled people.

Kyiv regional governor Tymur Tkachenko said the dead included the mayor of the nearby town of Dmytrivka. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the storage of ammunition close to residential areas as “horrific negligence” and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

The incident has triggered a criminal negligence investigation. Prosecutors said they would examine whether explosive materials had been legally stored at the facility and whether the required permits and safety approvals were in place.

The blast came less than two months after another deadly attack on a munitions depot near Kyiv. Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky criticised authorities for failing to address safety concerns raised after the earlier incident.

The strike was part of a wider Russian assault involving at least 267 drones and two missiles, according to Ukraine's air force. Three other people, including a two-year-old child and a 14-year-old girl, were reportedly killed in separate Russian attacks.

Ukrainian strikes also killed three people in Russia's Belgorod region and caused a fire at a warehouse ownedby Russian retailer Ozon. One person was killed in an attack on Sevastopol, according to Russian-installed authorities.

Meanwhile, US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled, with Moscow demanding territorial and political concessions that Kyiv has rejected.