The death toll from a Russian attack on a warehouse located west of Kyiv, which is considered the most fatal attack this year, has climbed to 38 individuals, with four others still unaccounted for, as stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media on Sunday. The strike, which occurred on Friday night at the warehouse identified as an ammunition storage facility by Ukrainian authorities, triggered significant explosions and fires that spread to numerous nearby homes and structures.
Efforts by emergency responders are ongoing to extinguish fires and identify and neutralize explosive devices at the incident site in the village of Myla, according to Zelenskyy. He mentioned that 20 individuals sustained injuries, including two children. Zelenskyy referred to the attack in Myla as a tragic event caused by negligence on the part of those responsible for storing explosives in close proximity to civilians. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances leading to the storage of ammunition at the site.
In response to the escalating situation, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced preparations for “massive strikes” against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This decision follows Ukraine’s drone campaign targeting a retailer known as “Russia’s Amazon” and the nation’s oil and gas sector, which Kyiv alleges finances and directly supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pledged an appropriate response to what he characterized as Ukraine’s path of escalation and deliberate targeting of Russia’s civilian economy.
Ukraine has carried out lethal strikes in recent months on facilities belonging to Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, citing the company’s sale of dual-use products aiding the Kremlin’s military efforts. Ukrainian drones have also launched attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure, leading to an unprecedented fuel crisis in a country renowned for its energy production.
Yevhen Khmara, Ukraine’s new defense minister, addressed the significant funding shortfall inherited from his predecessor, outlining strategies to bridge the multibillion-dollar gap, including seeking increased support from allies. Khmara, a former special forces officer who transitioned to a civilian minister, emphasized the importance of preventing shortages on the battlefield, ensuring soldiers receive payment, and meeting other essential requirements amid mounting financial pressures on Kyiv’s war efforts.
Furthermore, on the same day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the downing or neutralization of nearly 500 Ukrainian drones deployed overnight. Unconfirmed reports from independent news sources suggested that drone strikes ignited a major oil refinery in Kirishi, southeast of St. Petersburg. The facility, Kirishi Petroleum Organic Synthesis, represents one of Russia’s primary oil refineries and the sole one in the country’s northwest. Local authorities reported a fire in Kirishi’s industrial zone following the drone attacks, with a total of 62 drones intercepted in the surrounding area.