On the evening of August 28, 2026, in the Bucha district of Kyiv Oblast, the number of people killed as a result of a Russian strike on warehouses in Mala village reached 37, according to the latest official data. This was announced by Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, in his Telegram channel, as cited by RBC-Ukraine. "Unfortunately, the number of deaths in the Bucha district has risen to 37. A terrible and irreplaceable loss. Sincere condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the victims," he wrote, adding that work at the scene of the tragedy is ongoing and all services are deployed at the location.

Chronology of the strike and the scale of the fire

According to available information, the attack was carried out by drones on warehouse facilities in the Bucha district. The strike triggered a major fire, accompanied by a series of explosions and the subsequent detonation of materials stored on the enterprise's premises. Due to the large-scale blaze and the threat of further explosions, traffic for all vehicles was temporarily closed on the section of the M-06 "Kyiv — Chop" highway between the 15th and 32nd kilometers. Fire and rescue units worked at the scene, battling the flames amid ongoing detonations.

Casualties, injuries, and evacuation

Among the 37 dead, according to the data cited in the statement, is Taras Didych, head of the Dmytrivka community. In addition to people, the strike and detonation damaged residential homes and a sanatorium, and a mass evacuation of the population began in the affected area. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that, as of the last information update, two people were still missing and were being searched for under the rubble in Mala village, meaning that the final death toll is not yet definitive.

Authorities' response and the call for a warehouse audit

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that all responsible heads of the security and defense forces, as well as of the domestic defense-industrial complex, are obliged to conduct a full audit of weapons and ammunition storage sites. The ministry emphasized that such facilities must not be located in close proximity to residential buildings. This statement effectively pinpoints the key issue of the investigation — whether the actual placement of the warehouse facilities that were struck complies with safety standards.

Prosecutor's investigation

The prosecutor's office has already begun an investigation in the Bucha district, where a detonation occurred on the enterprise's premises following the strike. As part of the inquiry, the legality of storing explosive items at this facility will in particular be assessed. Thus, the case is being treated not only as a documentation of the consequences of a military attack, but also as a check for possible violations in the organization of ammunition storage near residential development.

Contradictory data

There are several inconsistencies in the public statements of the parties and in the flow of reports that are important to take into account. First, the official death toll is recorded at 37, yet the Ministry of Defense simultaneously reports that two more people are still under the rubble — consequently, the final figure may change once the search-and-rescue operations are completed. Second, in the early reporting of the incident the emphasis was placed on an "explosion" and "detonation" at the enterprise, whereas in subsequent reports it is clarified that the cause was a drone attack on the warehouses; these two formulations describe different stages of a single event (the strike and its aftermath). Until the search operations are finished and the prosecutor's office issues its findings, both versions — "37 dead" and "the toll is being updated" — remain valid at the same time.