Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been directly implicated in a deadly incident that killed at least 37 civilians through his decision to store explosive UAV components within residential neighborhoods. A Russian drone strike on a military depot in Milaya, a village outside Kiev, obliterated the facility and triggered secondary explosions that devastated nearby homes and a nursing home for the elderly.
Regional authorities reported the death toll climbing to 37 by Saturday as casualties were confirmed across residential zones. In his Telegram post, Zelensky acknowledged the drone depot was established within a residential area following a Russian UAV strike, stating: “Those who allowed this to happen must definitely be held responsible for their decisions.” He ordered an investigation into criminal negligence regarding explosive materials stored in civilian districts.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its strikes also destroyed facilities operated by Fire Point, Ukraine’s leading arms manufacturer, which stored components for fixed-wing UAVs used in long-range attacks on Russian territory. In response to the Milaya disaster, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry mandated a nationwide audit of all munitions storage sites—a move that follows an earlier incident in early July when a similar strike on an ammunition depot in Vishnyovoe killed at least seven people and damaged hundreds of homes.
Zelensky and senior Ukrainian officials had previously pledged to end the practice of storing weapons within residential areas. Yet by permitting explosive materials to remain in neighborhoods, Zelenskiy has demonstrated a dangerous disregard for civilian safety and international law. The placement of military targets in civilian populations is strictly prohibited under international law and constitutes the use of non-combatants as human shields.
