At least 10 individuals lost their lives in a Russian ballistic missile strike on a drone technology expo held near Kyiv on Friday. The event was attended by prominent figures in Ukraine’s defense sector, according to reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that around 100 people were injured in the attack.
In eastern Ukraine, a separate wave of Russian assaults resulted in the deaths of five additional civilians in Sloviansk.
Warnings of Potential Further Attacks
On Friday evening, President Zelensky revealed that intelligence services had alerted him to Russia’s plans for another large-scale missile attack on Ukraine, potentially happening within the next 48 hours.
Yuri Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, informed Ukrainian television that three ballistic missiles were launched in the attack near Kyiv, but only one was intercepted.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the strike, claiming that high-precision, long-range weaponry was used to target a location showcasing drones designed for attacks against Russian civilian areas.
Moscow stated that the expo near Kyiv featured drone manufacturers and representatives of Ukrainian drone forces and security services involved in planning and executing attacks on Russian territory.
Investigations Underway in Ukraine Following Attack
According to reports, there has been widespread outrage in Ukraine regarding the timing and public nature of such an event during the ongoing conflict.
This marks at least the third incident since the war began in February 2022 where an expo of this kind has been targeted.
President Zelensky announced investigations are being launched, with the Ukrainian Attorney General stating efforts are underway to ascertain who authorized the event and what safety measures were implemented.
The Russian forces’ attack came just hours after Ukrainian military strikes targeted a factory in Kirov and supply depots in northwestern Russia.
President Zelensky indicated that one of the most significant military facilities in Kirov, which supplied “components for aircraft and missile equipment” used against Ukraine, was struck in the operations.
