Russian Strike Near Kyiv Kills 37 In One Of Ukraine’s Deadliest Attacks This Year

At least 37 people have been killed in a Russian strike near Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, officials said Saturday, making it one of the deadliest attacks to hit Ukraine this year and the deadliest Russian strike in the Kyiv area in 2026.

The attack struck the Bucha district west of Kyiv, triggering a massive fire and explosions that swept through nearby areas and damaged at least 50 residential buildings. Dozens of people were also injured, while hundreds were evacuated from the affected area.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a warehouse in the village of Myla was hit by a Russian drone, followed by a major detonation. He said the site appeared to have been storing explosive materials close to residential areas, prompting Ukrainian authorities to launch criminal proceedings.

Zelenskyy said a facility housing elderly people and people with disabilities was also damaged. Among those killed was the head of the neighbouring Dmytrivka community, who had rushed to the scene to help with rescue efforts.

Ukraine’s government has raised questions over how ammunition could have been stored so close to civilians. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi compared the incident with a July explosion at an ammunition depot in Vyshneve, which killed 22 people and damaged nearby homes.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had struck a warehouse in Myla containing components and launch boosters for long-range drones. Moscow also reported attacks on Ukrainian logistics and weapons-related facilities in the Kyiv region.

The deadly strike came as Russian air raids on Kyiv entered their third consecutive day, severely disrupting civilian life and economic activity. Ukraine has also warned that Russia is increasingly using jet-powered drones, posing fresh challenges to its air-defence systems.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified its own long-range drone attacks against Russian military and energy targets. Zelenskyy said Kyiv aims to eventually launch 1,000 long-range drones a day, up from an average of more than 300 currently.

The latest escalation underscores the continuing human cost of the war, more than four and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.