On the night of August 28–29, 2026, a large-scale detonation of ammunition occurred in the village of Mila in Buchanskyi Raion of Kyiv Oblast as a result of a Russian drone strike on facilities in the area. The fire at the impact site was accompanied by a chain of explosions of shells, mines, other munitions, and drones. As of August 29, according to figures cited in the president's address and confirmed by regional reports, the number of fatalities rose to 37, with more than 200 residents among the injured and evacuated. The head of state described the situation as “terrible” and linked it to the illegal or unsafe storage of explosives in the immediate vicinity of residential homes.

Course of Events and Scale of the Detonation

According to information set out in Volodymyr Zelensky's address and reported by RBC-Ukraine, the first impact in the village of Mila hit an ammunition storage site that, in the president's words, “should not be there” at all. It was from that moment that a detonation of significant scale began: shells, mines, other munitions, and drones exploded. The strike was carried out by drones on the evening of August 28 against warehouses in Buchanskyi Raion; the fire and subsequent explosions led to the evacuation of more than 200 people from the impact zone. Local authorities and rescue services worked on site throughout the night and into the morning of August 29.

The President's Reaction: “Terrible Negligence”

In a public address, Volodymyr Zelensky stated: “A terrible situation, terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people.” He emphasized that, following the incident in Vishnove, this was already the second such “crime,” which he called “completely unacceptable.” The president expressed hope that the details of the incident would be promptly presented to the public. He separately thanked the rescuers and everyone who is helping people on site and at other points of Russian impacts.

Investigation and the Question of Accountability

According to Zelensky, he discussed the situation with the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the SBU, and the Commander-in-Chief, emphasizing that all the necessary tools for the investigation are available to these bodies. The prosecutor's office has already begun checking the legality of placing explosive items at the site in question. In parallel, as Ukrainian media report, the Ministry of Defense called on the heads of defense-industrial complex enterprises to conduct a full audit of ammunition storage sites to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Contradictory Data

The statements of the parties and fact-checking materials contain inconsistencies in the classification of the storage facility itself and in the allocation of responsibility. On the one hand, Zelensky points out that the first impact hit an “ammunition storage site” of the Defense Forces, while insisting that such a warehouse “should not be there” next to people, effectively accusing the placement of being illegal or unsafe. On the other hand, the Ministry of Defense's call to the heads of the defense-industrial complex to audit storage sites shifts the focus of responsibility onto the defense-industrial enterprises and their logistics. Thus, until the investigation is complete, the question remains open: was this a legal Defense Forces storage facility placed in violation of safety norms, or an object for which defense-industrial structures are responsible, or an outright illegal warehouse. Both versions appear in the public domain and require verification by the investigation.

Casualties and Consequences

As of August 29, the number of people killed in the detonation in the village of Mila stood at 37, among the victims being Taras Didych, the head of the Dmytriivka community. There are also reports of the injured; more than 200 people were evacuated from the impact zone. The investigation continues to work on establishing the circumstances of storing explosives next to people and the responsibility of specific individuals and structures. The number of fatalities and casualties may be revised as rescue operations and the prosecutor's work are completed.