Russia attacked a Ukrainian ammunition depot with a drone in the village of Mila, located in Kyiv's Bucha district, leading to significant explosions and a large fire. Officials confirmed fatalities resulting from the strike, though the exact number was not immediately released. At least six individuals were injured.
This attack occurred during the third consecutive day of Russian efforts to disrupt Kyiv. Air raid sirens were activated 11 times within a 24-hour period, with further drone and missile attacks anticipated. The depot fire spread to residential areas, destroying one home and damaging seven others, along with a care home, a fire engine, five other houses, and a restaurant. The M-06 Kyiv-Chop highway was temporarily closed as firefighters worked to control the blaze.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky called for an investigation into why explosives were stored in proximity to residential areas, drawing parallels to a previous incident in Vyshneve in July that resulted in casualties. Prosecutors are examining whether the explosives were stored legally and with the necessary permits.
"Making the same mistakes in the fifth year of the full-scale invasion is criminal negligence. Everyone responsible, without exception, must face severe punishment," Koretsky stated.
Pro-Russian sources claimed the targeted depot contained depleted supplies of Patriot air-defense missiles or Flamingo cruise missiles, but provided no evidence. These attacks follow reports of a secret visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, which fueled speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have issued threats against the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. However, experts have noted no signs of the large-scale military build-up that preceded the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In retaliation, Ukrainian forces targeted Russia's Rostov region overnight, striking warehouses owned by the retail chain DNS and the online marketplace Ozon with drones. Residents reported numerous explosions, with the DNS depot catching fire. A shipbuilding plant was also reportedly hit. Ukrainian strikes have previously impacted the region's ports, affecting agricultural exports and leading to a state of emergency due to a sharp decline in wheat prices.
Drones intercepted by Russia reportedly caused damage to tower blocks in Aksay, Rostov-on-Don, injuring seven people. Additionally, Ukrainian strikes on power plants in the occupied Kherson region resulted in widespread blackouts.