Russian Strike Near Kyiv Leaves at Least 38 Dead

A Russian strike near Kyiv has killed at least 38 people after a drone hit an ammunition storage facility and triggered a devastating chain of explosions in the village of Myla.

The attack occurred at about 8.10pm on 28 August 2026, roughly five kilometres west of Kyiv along the Kyiv-Chop highway. Ukrainian authorities say the initial Russian drone strike ignited a major fire at the facility, after which stored shells, mines, drones and other ammunition began exploding.

The casualty figure initially stood at 27 and later increased to 37. By 30 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 38 people had been confirmed dead, while at least 20 others were injured, including two children. Four people were still missing.

More than 300 emergency workers were deployed to the site as firefighters tackled blazes, searched damaged buildings and attempted to neutralise unexploded ammunition.

The disaster has also triggered difficult questions inside Ukraine because the ammunition depot was located close to civilian homes.

Zelenskyy has called for accountability, while Ukrainian authorities have opened investigations into whether officials were negligent in allowing such dangerous material to be stored near residential areas

Where Did the Russian Drone Strike Happen?

The deadly attack occurred in Myla, a village in the Bucha district of Kyiv Oblast.

The community lies west of the Ukrainian capital and close to a major highway connecting Kyiv with western Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian officials, a Russian drone struck a military ammunition depot situated near civilian areas.

Ukraine’s Security Service said the facility was hit by a Geran-4 jet-powered drone, one of a newer generation of faster unmanned aircraft increasingly used by Russia.

The strike itself was only the beginning of the disaster.

Once the ammunition caught fire, explosions continued for hours.

Residents described repeated blasts shaking buildings and sending fragments through the surrounding area.

One witness told the Kyiv Independent that explosions continued every few minutes even after the original air-raid warning had ended. Another witness said the fire looked like an enormous mass of flames rising into the sky.

Massive Secondary Explosions Caused Much of the Destruction

The extraordinary scale of the casualties appears to have resulted not simply from the drone’s warhead but from what happened afterwards.

President Zelenskyy said the initial strike caused a chain reaction involving ammunition stored at the facility.

Shells, mines, drones and other explosive material detonated as the fire spread.

That created repeated secondary explosions capable of throwing dangerous debris across a large area.

Residents reported windows shattering, buildings shaking and pieces of metal falling around the village.

One local described the experience as sounding like “metal rain.”

The continuing detonations also made the emergency response far more dangerous.

Firefighters and rescuers could not simply enter the site immediately because unexploded ammunition remained scattered throughout the area.

That slowed search operations and increased concern that the casualty toll could rise further.

At Least 130 Residential Buildings Damaged

The destruction extended far beyond the depot.

Local authorities say the blast waves, fires and flying debris damaged at least 130 residential buildings.

The blast waves also damaged a care facility that serves elderly people and people with disabilities.

Homes in neighbouring communities suffered broken windows, damaged roofs and structural destruction.

Some residents returned to find rooms covered in shattered glass and debris.

The explosions also disrupted local electricity and water supplies, adding to the difficulties facing families attempting to return to damaged homes.

For many people in Myla, surviving the initial attack was only the start of the crisis.

They now face the challenge of repairing homes while authorities continue clearing explosive material from the surrounding area.

Zelenskyy Blames Russia — But Also Demands Ukrainian Accountability

Ukraine has placed responsibility for the initial attack firmly on Russia.

But President Zelenskyy has also taken the unusual step of publicly demanding answers from Ukrainian officials responsible for the ammunition depot.

The central question is straightforward:

Why was such a large quantity of ammunition stored so close to civilian homes?

Ukrainian law restricts the placement of military or industrial ammunition storage facilities near populated residential areas.

Zelenskyy said criminal investigations had begun and warned that he would hold those responsible for negligence accountable.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Koretskyi went further, describing repeated failures involving ammunition storage during the fifth year of the full-scale invasion as potentially criminal negligence.

That makes this tragedy politically sensitive inside Ukraine as well as militarily significant.

Two People Reportedly Detained in Storage Investigation

The investigation into how the depot came to be located near civilian homes is already producing consequences.

The Guardian reported that Ukrainian investigators have detained two individuals while examining responsibility for the storage arrangements.

Authorities are trying to determine whether safety rules were ignored and whether officials knew civilians could be exposed to catastrophic secondary explosions if the depot was attacked.

The issue is particularly serious because this is not the first similar incident

The Attack Has Become the Deadliest in Ukraine This Year

With 38 confirmed fatalities, the Myla strike has been described as the deadliest Russian attack in Ukraine so far in 2026.

That grim distinction underlines the destructive potential created when a drone strike hits a site containing large quantities of explosives.

The initial weapon does not have to contain an enormous warhead if the target itself can produce a much larger secondary detonation.

This is why military storage safety has become such an urgent issue.

Every ammunition depot is an obvious Russian target.

If such sites are close to neighbourhoods, civilians can become casualties even if the military facility is the intended target.

Ukraine Orders Audit of Ammunition Storage

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has reportedly ordered a full audit of ammunition storage practices following the disaster.

That audit will likely examine where ammunition is stored, how close facilities are to populated areas and whether safety regulations are being properly followed.

Moving ammunition farther from civilians sounds straightforward.

In practice, wartime logistics are complicated.

Ukraine needs ammunition close enough to transport efficiently to military units while simultaneously protecting stockpiles from Russian surveillance and attack.

But the Myla disaster demonstrates the enormous cost when that balance fails.

Rescue Effort Continues

Emergency work has not ended simply because the main fire is under control.

The latest major update still reported four people missing, meaning rescuers continue searching for victims.

Specialist teams are also locating and neutralising explosive debris.

That could take considerable time.

Investigators will meanwhile collect evidence from the impact site to establish exactly how the drone reached the depot and determine the full sequence leading to the explosions.

For affected residents, recovery will take much longer.

Some homes can be repaired.

Others may require extensive rebuilding.

And families who lost relatives face consequences that reconstruction money cannot fix.

Kyiv Region Declares Day of Mourning

Kyiv Oblast declared 30 August a day of mourning for the victims.

Flags were lowered and communities remembered those killed in the strike and subsequent explosions.

The Ukrainian government has also promised financial assistance for affected families and communities.

Funds from the state reserve budget are expected to help compensate residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed.

But anger remains alongside grief.

People in Myla have criticised both Russia for carrying out the attack and Ukrainian officials for allowing dangerous explosives to be stored so close to their homes.

That dual anger is likely to shape the political response to the tragedy.

Conclusion

The Russian strike near Kyiv has become one of the deadliest incidents in Ukraine this year.

A Russian drone struck an ammunition depot in Myla on 28 August, setting off a catastrophic chain of secondary explosions.

The latest official toll stands at 38 people killed, with at least 20 injured and four still missing.

Hundreds of people evacuated the area; at least 130 residential buildings sustained damage, and emergency crews spent days dealing with fires and unexploded ammunition.

But the disaster has also exposed a serious Ukrainian safety problem.

Russia carried out the strike, yet Ukrainian authorities are now investigating why they located such a dangerous ammunition stockpile near civilian homes.

That question carries added urgency because a similar ammunition-depot explosion occurred in the Kyiv region only weeks earlier.

Meanwhile, Russia’s broader assault continues.

Drone attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas have now stretched into a fifth consecutive day, with Zelenskyy saying approximately 1,500 drones were launched over just four days.

For the people of Myla, however, the scale of the war is measured far more personally: destroyed homes, shattered windows, missing relatives and a village that spent the night listening to ammunition explode.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people died in the Russian strike near Kyiv?

The latest confirmed death toll is 38, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At least 20 people were injured and four were still missing.

Where did the attack happen?

The strike hit an ammunition storage facility in Myla, in the Bucha district of Kyiv Oblast, about five kilometres west of Kyiv.

What caused the massive explosion?

A Russian drone struck the ammunition facility, causing stored shells, mines, drones and other explosives to detonate in a chain reaction.

What type of drone was used?

Ukraine’s Security Service identified the weapon as a Russian Geran-4 jet-powered drone.

How many homes were damaged?

At least 130 residential buildings were damaged, along with a care facility and other local infrastructure.

Why is Ukraine investigating its officials?

Authorities are investigating whether ammunition was improperly stored too close to civilian homes. Zelenskyy has demanded accountability, and Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has ordered an audit of ammunition-storage practices.

Datele Institutului Național de Statistică (INS) confirmă discrepanțe uriașe în piețele agroalimentare din România, prețul aceleiași sacoșe de legume variind masiv în funcție de județ. Cea mai frapantă diferență raportată recent este la cartofi, care au ajuns să coste de peste 4 ori mai mult în anumite regiuni (de exemplu, 10,33 lei/kg în Bistrița față de doar 2,30 lei/kg în Slatina)

Aceeași sacoșă de legume poate costa cu zeci de lei mai mult, în funcție de orașul în care mergem la piață. Datele INS pentru …

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Nepal Floods Rescue Operation Intensifies

The Nepal floods have triggered a huge search-and-rescue operation as emergency teams race to find thousands of people still missing following catastrophic flash flooding across the Himalayan border region.

The disaster struck on Wednesday, 26 August, sending an enormous surge of water, mud, ice and rock through river valleys and communities in Nepal and neighbouring Tibet.

By Saturday, the confirmed death toll had reached 676 across Nepal and Tibet, according to AP reporting, including 669 deaths in Nepal and seven reported by Chinese authorities in Tibet. Nearly 3,000 people remained missing across the affected region.

The numbers have changed repeatedly as rescuers reach previously inaccessible areas, so the final scale of the disaster may remain unknown for some time.

More than 3,700 people had been rescued in Nepal by Saturday, while helicopters continued carrying survivors from isolated communities and delivering food and other emergency supplies.

Nepal’s government says locating those who remain unaccounted for is now a national priority.

What Happened in the Nepal Floods?

The catastrophe began high in the Himalayas near the Nepal-Tibet border.

Scientists examining the disaster say a huge collapse involving rock and glacier ice sent material crashing down the mountain and into the river system below.

The resulting surge travelled through valleys with extraordinary force, carrying water, rocks, ice, trees and other debris.

In some locations, the disaster overwhelmed settlements and infrastructure before residents had much opportunity to escape.

The Trishuli River rose dramatically, while communities across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading were among those badly affected.

The US Geological Survey initially examined whether an earthquake had triggered the disaster. Subsequent analysis indicated that the seismic signal detected at the time was generated by the enormous landslide itself rather than an earthquake causing the collapse.

The disaster damaged or destroyed roads, bridges, homes and hydropower infrastructure.

Death Toll Continues to Rise

Establishing an accurate death toll has been particularly difficult.

Figures increased sharply as rescuers recovered bodies from mud, debris and rivers and gained access to previously isolated communities.

By Saturday, AP reported 669 confirmed deaths in Nepal, while Chinese authorities reported seven deaths in Tibet.

Nepal’s Foreign Ministry had reported earlier on Saturday that 626 bodies had been recovered and approximately 2,400 people were still unaccounted for, demonstrating how quickly the situation was changing.

That is an important point for anyone following the Nepal floods: casualty figures should be treated as provisional while rescue and recovery operations continue.

Some victims may also have been swept considerable distances downstream, further complicating identification and recovery.

Nearly 3,000 People Remain Missing

Perhaps the greatest concern is the enormous number of people who remain unaccounted for.

By Saturday, authorities had reported nearly 3,000 people missing across Nepal and Tibet.

The missing include local residents, hydropower employees, tourists, foreign workers and pilgrims.

Hundreds of foreigners were in the region when the disaster occurred, partly because routes through the area are used by people travelling towards Mount Kailash, which is considered sacred by Hindus, Buddhists and followers of other religions.

Families are now desperately searching for information.

At hospitals and relief centres, relatives have gathered around lists containing the names of people reported missing, rescued, injured or dead.

In Kathmandu, families have placed photographs and details of missing relatives around hospital areas as they search for any information about loved ones.

Dramatic Rescue From Hydropower Tunnels

One of the most difficult parts of the rescue operation has involved workers trapped inside hydropower tunnels.

Floodwater and huge quantities of mud and debris struck several energy projects along the river corridor.

There was some remarkable positive news on Saturday when the Nepali Army reported rescuing 208 people alive from the Trishuli-III Hydropower tunnel, including 43 foreign nationals.

The rescued foreigners included 38 Chinese nationals and five Indians, according to Nepal’s state broadcaster.

The authorities have deployed thousands of military personnel across the affected districts.

Other tunnel sites remain a major focus for rescuers, and specialist teams and equipment are arriving to determine whether people remain trapped underground.

Difficult Terrain Makes Rescue Operation Dangerous

The geography of Nepal makes disaster response particularly challenging.

Many affected communities sit between steep mountains, narrow valleys and fast-flowing rivers.

Roads have been buried under mud or washed away completely.

Bridges have been damaged, while landslides and enormous boulders block access to some communities.

That means helicopters have become essential.

Poor weather, however, has repeatedly complicated aerial operations.

Helicopters were temporarily prevented from flying in parts of Nuwakot on Saturday before conditions improved enough for operations to resume. Aircraft have subsequently carried survivors out and transported rice, noodles, clothes and other emergency supplies into affected areas.

Thousands of Soldiers and Emergency Workers Deployed

Nepal has mobilised a large number of personnel in response to the catastrophe.

The Nepali Army said more than 7,000 military personnel were involved in operations across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, working on searches, rescues, emergency medical treatment and recovery of victims.

The government has also been coordinating police, disaster-response agencies, medical personnel and private helicopter operators.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that 16 army and private-sector helicopters were conducting shuttle flights between affected locations.

International assistance is also arriving.

India has supplied substantial quantities of relief materials, while assistance has also come from China and several other countries. In particular, Nepal has sought specialist expertise for difficult operations, such as tunnel rescues and technology capable of locating survivors.

Threat of Another Flood Complicates Search

Rescuers are not only dealing with the aftermath of the first disaster.

Authorities have also been watching a newly formed lake high in the mountains.

The original collapse changed the landscape dramatically and created a body of water held back by unstable debris.

Concerns that this natural barrier could fail forced rescue workers in some locations to temporarily move away from dangerous areas.

The situation later improved enough for operations to resume, while monitoring indicated the lake’s water level was falling.

Nevertheless, authorities continue to monitor the area closely.

Another sudden release of water could put survivors and rescue teams at serious risk.

More Than 90,000 People May Be Affected

The humanitarian impact extends far beyond those killed or missing.

The Red Cross estimates that the disaster may have affected around 90,000 people or more.

The disaster has destroyed homes, displaced families and damaged vital infrastructure.

Some survivors escaped with little more than the clothes they were wearing.

Communities now require drinking water, food, temporary shelter, medical assistance and sanitation facilities.

Damage to healthcare facilities also raises longer-term concerns about access to treatment and the possibility of disease spreading among displaced populations.

Once the immediate rescue phase ends, Nepal will face the enormous challenge of rebuilding roads, bridges, homes, electricity networks and damaged public services.

Climate Change Raises Questions About Himalayan Glaciers

The disaster has also renewed concern about the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to climate change.

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is warming rapidly, contributing to major changes in glaciers, snow cover, permafrost and mountain stability.

Scientists caution that warming can create interconnected hazards. Retreating glaciers can create unstable lakes, while changes in ice and permafrost can destabilise steep mountain slopes.

Reuters reported that Nepal has lost nearly a third of its glacier ice during the past three decades.

It would be premature to attribute every individual element of this disaster solely to climate change. However, scientists have repeatedly warned that warming is increasing instability across high-altitude environments.

Nepal’s foreign minister has also warned that the catastrophe demonstrates the growing climate threat facing the Himalayan region.

Families Wait for News of Missing Loved Ones

Behind the enormous casualty figures are thousands of families waiting for answers.

Some are searching hospitals. Others are checking lists at military camps and relief centres.

Many still do not know whether missing relatives escaped, remain trapped in inaccessible areas or were swept away by the flood.

That uncertainty is one of the most painful consequences of the catastrophe.

Even four days after the disaster, rescuers were continuing to find survivors, providing families with some reason to maintain hope.

But with such a large number of people still missing, officials have warned that the death toll could rise further as teams reach areas previously inaccessible because of damaged roads, deep mud and unstable terrain.

What Happens Next?

The immediate priority remains finding survivors.

Search teams will continue working through destroyed settlements, riverbanks, hydropower facilities and areas buried beneath mud and debris.

Specialist tunnel-rescue teams are particularly important because workers may have survived underground in spaces protected from the initial flood.

At the same time, humanitarian agencies must provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to displaced communities.

The longer-term challenge will be enormous.

Nepal will need to rebuild critical infrastructure and examine how to better protect communities vulnerable to glacial floods, landslides and other Himalayan hazards.

Conclusion

The Nepal floods have become one of the country’s most devastating natural disasters in recent years.

By Saturday, authorities had reported 669 deaths in Nepal and seven in Tibet, while nearly 3,000 people remained missing across the border region. Thousands have nevertheless been brought to safety, including people rescued from flooded and mud-blocked hydropower tunnels.

Rescue workers are now under intense pressure.

Difficult terrain, damaged infrastructure, poor weather and the continuing possibility of further flooding are making their work extraordinarily challenging.

Yet survivors are still being found.

For thousands of families waiting for news, every successful rescue provides a reason to keep hoping while Nepal continues one of the largest search-and-rescue operations in its recent history