- Russian ballistic missile strike in Ukraine’s Kyiv region has killed 10 people and injured almost 100 at the site of a defence industry event that Volodymyr Zelenskyy said should never have taken place.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attack was caused by Russian missiles, describing it as nothing but Russian terror.
- Approximately 100 people were injured in the daytime attack on the exhibition, which was attended by prominent members of the defence sector.
- Three ballistic missiles were involved in the attack, with only one being intercepted, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat.
- Russia confirmed the attack, stating that high-precision long-range weaponry was used on a site where drones for use in targeting civil sites in Russia were being demonstrated.
- Pictures posted online by the Ukraine Emergency Services showed teams sifting through piles of rubble at the site north of the capital, adjacent to several houses, after Friday’s attack.
- A day of mourning would be observed on Saturday in the Kyiv region, as announced by the acting governor Ruslan Oliynyk.
- This is at least the third time since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 that an exhibition of this kind has been hit.
- President Zelensky stated that the incident was being investigated, with efforts underway to establish who decided to hold the event and what safety measures were in place.
A Russian ballistic missile strike on a drone exhibition near Kyiv resulted in 10 fatalities and nearly 100 injuries. The attack occurred during a defense industry event, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized as unacceptable under current wartime conditions.1
The missile strike, confirmed by Russia's Defense Ministry, involved three ballistic missiles, with only one intercepted. Zelenskyy stated, “Of course, the cause of this attack is Russian missiles, nothing but Russian terror.” He emphasized the dangers of holding such exhibitions near residential areas, especially during ongoing conflict.24
The event was organized by a drone manufacturers’ association and attended by key figures in Ukraine's defense sector. Following the attack, the acting governor of Kyiv region, Ruslan Oliynyk, announced a day of mourning.7
This incident marks at least the third attack on a similar exhibition since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. Zelenskyy has ordered an investigation into the event's safety measures and the decision to hold it.
As tensions escalate, Zelenskyy warned of potential further missile strikes, stating he had received intelligence indicating that Russia was preparing another attack within the next 48 hours.
The attack also resulted in additional casualties, with five people killed in Sloviansk and two in Sumy, highlighting the ongoing violence in Ukraine amidst the conflict.
“Zelensky called the attack 'absolutely unacceptable' and said the exhibition should never have taken place; a day of mourning was declared. Russia confirmed it targeted drone producers, while separate attacks killed seven in Sloviansk and Sumy, and Zelensky warned of another strike within 48 hours.”
The Guardian
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