Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the death toll from a Russian attack on a warehouse near Kyiv has reached 38, making it the deadliest incident in the ongoing conflict this year, with four individuals still unaccounted for. The strike, which occurred on Friday night, targeted an ammunition storage site, leading to extensive explosions and fires that engulfed numerous nearby residences and structures.
Efforts by emergency personnel to quell fires and detect and disarm explosive devices at the location in the village of Myla are ongoing, as stated by Zelenskyy. He mentioned that 20 people sustained injuries, including two children.
Describing the attack in Myla as a tragic event, Zelenskyy attributed it to gross negligence by those responsible for storing explosives in close proximity to civilians. He announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the storage of ammunition at the site.
Russia Plans ‘Massive Strikes’ on Ukraine’s Energy Sector
The Russian Defence Ministry announced its intention on Sunday to launch significant strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in response to a recent Ukrainian drone campaign targeting a retailer known as “Russia’s Amazon” and the country’s oil and gas sector. Kyiv alleges that these sectors finance and directly support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asserted that an appropriate retaliatory action is warranted due to Ukraine’s perceived escalation and its targeting of Russia’s civilian economy.
In recent months, Ukraine has conducted lethal attacks on facilities belonging to Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, citing the sale of dual-use goods aiding the Kremlin’s military efforts. Ukrainian drones have also struck Russian oil refineries and other energy installations, leading to an unprecedented fuel crisis in a country renowned for its energy production.
Ukraine’s New Defence Minister Aims to Address Funding Gap
Yevhen Khmara, Ukraine’s new defence minister, outlined strategies for closing the substantial funding shortfall inherited from his predecessor, including seeking increased contributions from allies. Khmara shared these insights during his initial briefing with the press after assuming office on Saturday.
His appointment followed a period of protests subsequent to Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal, which triggered a reorganization within the military in Kyiv and culminated in a video message from Fedorov advocating for elections. Khmara’s statements were released for publication on Sunday.
As Kyiv faces mounting financial strains in its war efforts, Khmara, a former special forces officer turned civilian minister, emphasized the importance of preventing shortages on the battlefield, ensuring soldiers receive their salaries, and meeting other critical requirements.
Kyiv Deploys Numerous Drones into Russia
The Russian Defence Ministry disclosed that its forces had intercepted or disabled nearly 500 Ukrainian drones deployed overnight. Unconfirmed reports from independent news sources on Russian and Ukrainian Telegram platforms suggested that the drone attacks resulted in a fire at a major oil refinery in Kirishi, located southeast of St Petersburg.
The Kirishi Petroleum Organic Synthesis facility is a significant oil refinery in Russia’s northwest. Local authorities reported a fire in Kirishi’s industrial zone following the drone strikes, with a total of 62 drones downed in the surrounding area.
In unrelated incidents, Russian airstrikes in Kyiv claimed the life of a two-year-old girl and injured 12 individuals, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Furthermore, attacks in eastern Ukraine resulted in the deaths of a 13-year-old and an adult in Bilbasovka. Conversely, a Ukrainian strike on a mine in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine resulted in the death of a female employee and injuries to five others across the region.
Additionally, Ukrainian drone strikes in Russia’s border regions of Kursk and Belgorod caused injuries to at least four individuals on the same day.
