Russian missile kills 10 at Ukraine defence event after a ballistic missile struck a defence industry gathering in Ukraine’s Kyiv region on Friday, leaving nearly 100 others injured. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the attack while also questioning why such an event was held during an active war.

According to Ukraine’s Emergency Services, rescue operations at the site north of Kyiv have been completed. Images released by the agency showed emergency workers searching through debris around damaged residential homes.

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Why did Zelenskyy question the defence event?

While blaming Russia for the attack, Zelenskyy said holding a defence-related exhibition attended by large crowds during wartime was a serious mistake.

“Of course, the cause of this attack is Russian missiles, nothing but Russian terror,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

He added that it was “absolutely unacceptable” to organise weapons exhibitions with large gatherings, particularly near residential areas, while Ukraine remains under constant missile threat.

The event was reportedly organised by a drone manufacturers’ association near the outskirts of Kyiv. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s General Staff said the venue was not under military control but acknowledged that any such event should have been conducted with maximum security measures.

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Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said a criminal investigation has been launched to determine whether officials were negligent in planning and conducting the event.

The Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry confirmed that representatives from the defence sector attended the gathering but said it was not the organiser. Meanwhile, Valerii Borovyk, founder of drone company First Contact, told local media that the missile struck a training ground hosting the exhibition.

The acting regional governor of Kyiv, Ruslan Oliynyk, revealed that Saturday would be declared a day of mourning.

Russian missile kills 10 at Ukraine defence event
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Russian ballistic missile struck a defence industry event in Ukraine’s Kyiv region/ X, Iuliia Mendel

On Friday, Russia also carried out strikes in other regions of Ukraine. According to regional officials, a Russian aerial bomb resulted in five deaths in Sloviansk, while two persons died in the Sumy region due to a Russian drone attack.

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In Zaporizhzhia, reports suggest that a strike from the Russians resulted in an incident where a shopping centre caught fire and also several injuries.

Ukraine defence event
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s attack while also questioning why the event was held during wartime/ X, Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Both Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of killing civilians since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

FAQs

Q1. How many people were killed due to the missile strike by Russia in the Ukrainian defence event?


A minimum of 10 individuals were killed, and almost 100 others were wounded when the ballistic missile struck the defence industry event held in Ukraine’s Kyiv region.

Q2. Why does President Zelenskyy criticise the defence event?


Zelenskyy stated that although Russia was to blame for the attack, it is unacceptable to arrange a defence event during wartime with large numbers of people near residential areas.