Deadly Russian attack near Kyiv: 27 killed and 42 injured

At least 27 people were killed and 42 others injured after a Russian drone attack triggered a major fire and subsequent explosions at a warehouse in the village of Myla in Ukraine's Bucha district near the capital Kyiv.

KYIV: At least 27 people were killed and 42 others injured after a Russian drone attack triggered a major fire and subsequent explosions at a warehouse in the village of Myla in Ukraine’s Bucha district near the capital Kyiv.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack caused a large fire at the warehouse. The situation became more dangerous when materials stored inside the facility exploded increasing the scale of the destruction and causing additional casualties.

Children were among those injured in the incident officials said.

More than 370 people were evacuated from the surrounding area and moved to safer locations following the attack. Several residential buildings were also damaged while a facility providing care for elderly people was affected.

The incident took place in an area close to residential communities raising concerns over the safety of civilians living near sites where potentially hazardous materials are stored.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said explosive materials should not be stored close to residential areas. He added that authorities would determine responsibility for the incident.

The attack has added to the continuing devastation caused by Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, with civilian areas repeatedly facing risks from missile and drone strikes.

Russia’s Defence Ministry, however, said the operation targeted warehouse facilities used to store components for drones and missiles. The ministry did not describe the site as a civilian facility and maintained that the strike was directed at military-related infrastructure.

The conflicting accounts could not be independently verified immediately.

The deaths and injuries have prompted renewed concerns over the risks posed by military-related storage facilities located near populated areas. Emergency crews were deployed to deal with the fire, explosions and aftermath of the strike.

Local authorities also worked to evacuate residents from potentially dangerous areas as emergency services assessed the damage.

The incident is among the latest attacks to cause casualties and disruption in Ukraine amid the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Officials are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the warehouse explosions, including the nature of the materials stored at the facility and the exact cause of the secondary blasts.

Authorities have also been assessing damage to nearby homes and other civilian infrastructure while providing assistance to those affected by the attack.