A Russian strike on a military ammunition depot in the village of Myla killed 38 people and injured 52 others in Kyiv region, local authorities said.
The attack on August 28 triggered secondary explosions of stored munitions that continued into August 29, devastating nearby residential areas.
Regional military administration officials reported that five children were among the injured. Emergency crews remain on site working to clear debris in the village, which is located in Bucha district.
Around 300 properties were damaged across Myla and neighboring settlements. The destruction affected more than 200 private houses and 14 multi-storey apartment buildings, with several completely destroyed.
The incident has sparked public anger after revealing that military ammunition was stored directly adjacent to civilian housing. The weapons warehouses hit during the attack belonged to the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Investigation into depot location
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Koretskyi both commented on the disaster as scrutiny grew over the placement of military storage sites. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reminded commanders that positioning ammunition depots near residential buildings is inadmissible.
National police officers, working alongside the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office, have launched a formal criminal investigation to determine how the tragedy occurred.
The Security Service of Ukraine functions as the nation's principal internal security agency, overseeing counter-intelligence and domestic threat prevention. The General Staff directs strategic planning and operational command for Ukrainian military forces, while the Prosecutor General's Office oversees state criminal investigations.
Lawmakers address storage and security
Solomiia Bobrovska, a member of parliament from the Holos party, confirmed to Radio Free Europe that the destroyed facilities belonged to Ukrainian forces. She said finding a solution that balances military needs with civilian safety is complex and affects communities across Ukraine.
Bobrovska noted that military units use locations nationwide to carry out defense tasks. She said authorities must distinguish between state negligence and instances where local informants deliberately betray military positions to Russian forces.
Bobrovska serves as a lawmaker for Holos, a pro-European opposition party in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. Ukrainian authorities have frequently managed military logistics while defending against long-range Russian strikes.
Volodymyr Kreidenko, an MP from the ruling Servant of the People party, said accountability rests with those responsible for the depot balance sheet. He said standing orders exist, but certain military personnel acted negligently, putting civilian lives and infrastructure at risk.
Kreidenko represents Servant of the People, the majority political party founded by President Zelenskyy. The party holds the primary legislative mandate in the Rada.
Journalists from Radio Free Europe visited Myla to document the devastation and interview local residents for a report on the Svoboda Live program. Law enforcement officers continue gathering evidence at the scene as the criminal probe moves forward.
