Ukraine: Russian raid on ammunition depot leaves 37 dead near Kyiv. Tusk: Moscow is preparing for an escalation
There is a previous incident involving a deadly attack that took place in July in Vyshneve, near Kyiv, targeting another ammunition depot
The death toll from the Russian air strike that hit a depot near Kyiv has risen to 37, according to the region’s governor, Tymur Tkachenko. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russian drones struck a warehouse, triggering an explosion that caused widespread damage in the area. “Ammunition cannot be stored near homes or other residential areas,” he said, announcing the launch of an investigation.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has claimed that its forces struck an arms depot where equipment used in the manufacture of drones was being stored.
Further details were subsequently released. The warehouse appeared to contain ‘explosive devices’, Ukrainian prosecutors said when announcing the launch of an investigation into criminal negligence. The authorities did not provide any details on the nature of the building, which is still ablaze. Among the victims was Taras Didych, mayor of the village of Dmytrivska, the governor of the Kyiv region added.
“An unmanned aerial vehicle crashed or struck a company’s premises in the town of Myla,” said the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office. Myla is a town on the western outskirts of Kyiv. “A major fire broke out on the company’s premises and explosions began,” it added. The prosecutor’s office specified that the investigation would focus on the “legality of the storage of explosive objects and materials on the company’s premises”, as well as on whether the company – whose name has not been disclosed – possessed the “necessary permits and authorisations”. Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky expressed regret that no ‘lessons’ had been learnt from the previous deadly attack in July on an ammunition depot in Vyshneve, near Kyiv. That investigation had revealed serious failings on the part of the state-owned company, which had failed to comply with standards despite the proximity of residential buildings.
Speculation continues, meanwhile, about Russia’s next moves. The next seven to eight months could be crucial for the security of Ukraine, Poland and the entire region, said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, noting that there are signs that Russia is seriously preparing for a further escalation. This was reported by Ukrinform and Ukrainska Pravda.
