At least 37 people have been killed following a Russian strike close to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, officials reported Saturday, marking one of the deadliest attacks against Ukraine this year.
The assault ignited a fire in the Bucha district, located west of Kyiv, which spread through homes and damaged at least 50 residential buildings, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the local regional military administration.
This strike occurs as near-constant Russian air raids on Kyiv enter their third day, straining the economy of the Ukrainian capital and severely disrupting civilian life more than four and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
However, the nature of the strike, which was followed by explosions at the site, has also raised serious questions for Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as "terrible," citing "terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people."
### Kyiv Investigates Warehouse Targeted in Attack
Zelenskyy stated in a message that a warehouse was struck in the village of Myla, followed by a detonation.
While he did not provide site details, the same message noted that Ukrainian law prohibits storing ammunition near civilian homes and confirmed that criminal proceedings had been initiated.
"Those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their decisions," Zelenskyy asserted.
The Ukrainian leader also mentioned damage to a care home for elderly people and individuals with disabilities, noting that an evacuation from the area was underway.
Regional head Tymur Tkachenko later told Ukrainian media that 34 of those killed were residents at the care facility.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi did not provide information on the targeted warehouse but referenced an attack in early July on the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve, where an ammunition depot was hit, resulting in 22 deaths and large detonations and fires that affected nearby homes.
"Unfortunately, we can already see that the terrible tragedy in Vyshneve did not become a lesson," Koretskyi commented. "In the fifth year of a full-scale invasion, making the same mistakes is criminal negligence. And all those guilty, without exception, must be severely punished so that such situations do not happen again."
Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that it struck a warehouse in Myla containing components and launch boosters for long-range drones. It also claimed attacks on the ports of Mykolaiv and Izmail, as well as logistics centers and warehouses storing parts for Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missiles in the Kyiv region.
Zelenskyy subsequently announced that two officials from state-owned companies, including Ukroboronprom, Ukraine's largest arms producer, had illegally permitted weapons storage at the Vyshneve site and would face accountability.
### Russia Bombards Kyiv During Third Day of Nearly Non-Stop Attacks
Drone attacks across Ukraine have become nearly constant since Thursday, occurring during both daylight and nighttime hours. Ukrainian officials claim Russia is accumulating missile stocks and launching major assaults every few days, attempting to exhaust Ukrainian defenses through sheer volume.
Russian strikes in the southern Kherson region on Saturday killed two people and wounded 27 more, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the regional administration, stated via a social media post.
He reported that attacks damaged homes and apartment blocks, and one child was among those injured.
Earlier this week, Prokudin said Russia has intensified attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which is approximately 70% under Russian control. He also urged tens of thousands of residents to relocate to safer areas due to the potential for extended power and heating outages during the winter.
Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, told journalists Friday—with comments embargoed until Saturday—that Russia has significantly increased its use of jet-powered drones, and their numbers are expected to continue rising as Moscow recognizes their effectiveness.
"Means of attack always outpace means of defense. We will certainly need to adapt. It will take time," Palisa said. He noted that interceptor drones currently available to Ukraine, which could theoretically engage jet-powered drones, have not yet shown the anticipated effectiveness, although Ukraine is developing solutions.
### Ukraine Vows to Increase Long-Range Strikes on Russia
Meanwhile, Ukraine has escalated its long-range attacks against Russian military industries and energy facilities in recent months, utilizing domestically produced drones. The aim is to reduce Moscow's revenue from the invasion and make Russians experience the consequences.
In his evening address to the nation Friday, Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv aims to increase its long-range strikes on Russia to reach 1000 drone launches daily.
"Right now, we average over 300 of our long-range sanctions," Zelenskyy said, referring to Kyiv's preferred term for these attacks, which have recently also targeted large Russian online retailers. "There must be more. We have a very specific goal, and we will achieve it."
Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that its forces destroyed 313 Ukrainian drones overnight on Saturday.
Governor Yuri Slyusar stated on social media that Ukrainian drone attacks wounded 11 people in Russia's Rostov region, noting that nine individuals required hospitalization, including four children.