Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on social media Sunday that the death toll from a Russian attack on a warehouse near Kyiv, marking the deadliest assault this year, has reached 38, with four individuals still unaccounted for. The strike, which occurred on Friday night at an ammunition storage facility, triggered massive explosions and fires that ravaged numerous nearby homes and structures. Efforts are ongoing to extinguish fires and identify and neutralize explosive devices at the site in the village of Myla, where Zelenskyy reported 20 injuries, including two children.
Zelenskyy described the incident in Myla as a “terrible situation,” attributing it to “terrible negligence” by those who stored explosives in close proximity to civilians. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the ammunition being stored there.
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced its intention to launch “massive strikes” targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in response to a drone campaign by Ukraine against a retailer known as “Russia’s Amazon” and the nation’s oil and gas sector. The Kremlin spokesperson warned of an “appropriate response” to what he termed Ukraine’s “path of escalation” and its targeting of Russia’s civilian economy.
In recent months, Ukraine has carried out deadly strikes on the facilities of Russia’s leading online retailer, Wildberries, alleging that the company sells dual-use goods aiding the Kremlin’s war effort. Ukrainian drones have also targeted Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure, leading to a fuel crisis in one of the world’s major energy-producing countries.
Ukraine’s new Defense Minister, Yevhen Khmara, addressing reporters in his first briefing since assuming the position, outlined plans to address the significant funding shortfall inherited from his predecessor. Khmara, a former special forces officer turned civilian minister, emphasized the need to prevent battlefield shortages, ensure soldiers receive proper compensation, and meet essential requirements amid mounting financial pressures on Kyiv’s war effort.
Russian forces claimed to have downed or neutralized nearly 500 Ukrainian drones launched overnight, with reports suggesting drone strikes caused a fire at a major oil refinery in Kirishi, Russia. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Kyiv resulted in casualties, including a child, while Ukrainian attacks in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine led to fatalities and injuries.
