KYIV — Ukrainian crews early on August 30 continued to search for victims of the deadly Russian attack outside of Kyiv, while local residents — as well as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — demanded answers as to why explosives were stored in a warehouse so near private housing.
“A terrible situation and terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people,” Zelenskyy said late on August 29 in his nightly video address.
“There has been extensive destruction, and as of now, 37 people have been reported killed. The rubble is still being cleared, and unfortunately, the death toll may increase.”
Zelenskyy said the Russian drone strike was on an ammunition storage site “that definitely shouldn’t have been there…shells, mines, other ammunition, and drones detonated.”
He added that a criminal investigation was under way.
“All the facts must be fully investigated. Another such crime — after what happened in Vyshneve — is absolutely unacceptable. I expect the details to be presented to the public promptly,” he said.
In July, a similar incident occurred in the Vyshneve region of Kyiv where a Russian strike caused explosions at a warehouse, killing nine people and damaging more than 280 houses.
Explosive Storage
Following the latest attack, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky also criticized officials for storing explosive materials near residential areas. He said making such mistakes was “criminal negligence.”
Along with the fatalities, dozens of people were injured from the overnight Russian drone strike on Ukraine’s Bucha district in the Kyiv region.
Local authorities said the August 28 drone strike caused a major fire and explosions at the warehouse, which is said to be the major cause of the casualties.
Reporting from the scene, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service correspondent Maryan Kushnir said that “the whole area is in ruins,” adding that the strike also affected a nursing home, where “many” people were killed.
According to Tymur Tkachenko, a top district administration official, those killed in Bucha also included the head of the Dmytrivka community in the district, Taras Didych. Tkachenko said it was a “great loss” for the region.
Operational HQ
The official added that an operational headquarters had been set up in Dmytrivka to provide food as well as other support to the people in the affected region.
As sounds of detonations continued in Myla village, local resident Zhanna told RFE/RL that she had lost her husband in the incident, adding that he had previously survived the Russian occupation.
“Why can’t this be organized?” she asked through tears, referring to the placement of explosives in the village.
Another Myla local, Oleksandr, said the village’s residents didn’t know what was stored in the warehouse there. “Nobody told us anything… People aren’t informed. I think everything is being done the wrong way.”
