A Russian drone struck a weapons depot near the village of Myla in Ukraine's Bucha district late Friday, triggering massive explosions that killed at least 37 people, injured 42 more, and damaged roughly 50 residential buildings. The site sits about 20 miles northwest of Kyiv. Among the dead was Taras Didych, the head of the Dmytrivka community, who had rushed to the scene to help rescue people.
According to reports by CBS News and ABC News, approximately 381 people were evacuated from the area, including 59 children. Four children were among those injured. Seven of the 42 injured were hospitalized. An operational headquarters was established in Dmytrivka to handle inquiries from residents, with hot meals and psychological support available.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike Saturday morning and announced that criminal proceedings had been opened. He pointed directly at those responsible for storing the weapons so close to civilian buildings. "There are regulations in place — ammunition cannot be stored near homes or other residential areas," Zelenskyy said. "Those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their decisions."
Zelenskyy later announced that two officials from state-owned companies, including Ukraine's largest arms producer, Ukroboronprom, had illegally permitted the storage of weapons at the site and would face consequences. "Criminal proceedings have been opened on charges of official negligence," he said.
Ukraine's office of the prosecutor general confirmed it was examining the legality of placing and storing explosive materials near residential buildings. The investigation will focus on whether the company involved held the necessary permits and approvals, and on the actions of officials who made the relevant decisions.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said its forces had targeted an ammunition depot in Myla storing components and launch boosters for long-range Ukrainian drones. It also claimed strikes on the ports of Mykolaiv and Izmail, as well as logistics facilities storing parts for Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missiles.
Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky said a "lesson" had not been learned after a similar incident in July, when a deadly strike hit a munitions depot in Vyshneve, also near Kyiv. That earlier investigation found serious safety failures by the state-owned company operating the site.
Beyond the Bucha strike, Zelenskyy reported overnight Russian attacks across 10 regions, including Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainian army said it had shot down 233 Russian drones. In Kyiv, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that a two-year-old died after a Russian drone crashed in the Obolonskyi district, and a 14-year-old was killed in a separate attack in the Boryspil district. Five people were also injured in fresh strikes on the capital Saturday morning, including an 18-year-old.
In Russia, local officials reported two people killed and 25 injured in strikes on the Belgorod and Rostov regions over the past day. Russian online retailer Ozon confirmed one of its logistics centers was hit in an overnight Ukrainian drone strike, and it suspended operations at a second facility. Ukraine has been targeting Russian economic infrastructure for weeks, including repeated strikes on Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, which Kyiv describes as a legitimate military target.
Rescue, firefighting, and building inspection operations remained ongoing in the Bucha district on Saturday, with emergency crews still working the site.
