Kathmandu— A Russian drone struck a warehouse west of Kyiv on Friday night, igniting massive explosions and fires that spread to nearby homes and buildings, killing 37 people in what Ukrainian officials are calling the deadliest attack of the war this year. The warehouse, located in Myla, contained shells, mines, and other ammunition, according to authorities, who have launched a criminal investigation into why such materials were stored near residential areas. The strike occurred during a period of intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, with Kyiv experiencing nearly round-the-clock strikes over the past three days aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian defenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as “terrible” and blamed negligence for the disaster.

Deadly Warehouse Explosion

The attack on the warehouse in Myla sparked fires that quickly engulfed homes and damaged at least 50 residential buildings, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the local regional military administration. Thirty-four of those killed were residents of a care home for elderly and disabled people. More than 370 people were evacuated from the area as crews worked to extinguish the blazes and search for survivors. Oleksandr Vodolaz, a village resident, described hearing a drone strike followed by “detonation,” adding that he was unaware weapons were stored nearby.

Accountability and Safety Concerns

President Zelenskyy has opened criminal proceedings into the storage of ammunition near civilian populations, stating Ukrainian law prohibits such practices. “Those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their decisions,” he said. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi echoed these concerns, referencing a similar incident in July that killed 22 people and noting that failing to learn from past mistakes constitutes “criminal negligence.” Zelenskyy clarified the warehouse was a Defense Forces storage facility containing shells, mines, ammunition, and drones.

Escalating Russian Strikes

Kyiv officials believe Russia is deliberately escalating attacks by building up missile stocks and launching major offensives every few days in an attempt to exhaust Ukrainian defenses. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it targeted a warehouse storing components for long-range drones, as well as ports and logistics centers. Simultaneously, Russian strikes damaged homes in the southern Kherson region on Saturday, killing two people and wounding 27 others. Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, noted Russia is increasingly utilizing jet-powered drones, posing a challenge for Ukrainian air defenses.

Ukraine's Counteroffensive

Despite facing intensified attacks, Ukraine has vowed to increase its long-range strikes on Russian military industries and energy facilities. President Zelenskyy stated Kyiv aims to launch 1000 drones daily, increasing from an average of 300 currently, targeting sources of Moscow’s war funding and bringing the conflict closer to Russian citizens. Russia's Defense Ministry reported destroying 313 Ukrainian drones overnight, while drone attacks in Russia’s Rostov region wounded 11 people, including four children.

Ukrainian authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the warehouse strike and assess the full extent of the damage. The incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by civilians in Ukraine amid the continued conflict.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.