At least six killed and dozens injured in Russian strike on arms exhibition in Kyiv Oblast
At least six people have been killed and dozens injured as a result of a Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast on the afternoon of 24 July. An arms exhibition has been hit.
Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter); Ukrainska Pravda; Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry
Quote: "A rescue operation is currently underway in the Kyiv region following a Russian missile strike. As of now, dozens of people have been reported injured. It has also been confirmed that, tragically, sіх people were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Efforts to determine exactly what happened and the fate of those affected are ongoing. All necessary emergency services are on the scene."
Details: At 11:25, the Air Force warned of the threat of ballistic weapons use from the north. This was followed by a report of high-speed aerial assets heading towards Kyiv Oblast and the capital.
Valerii Borovyk, founder of defence manufacturer First Contact and ex-serviceman, reported that Russia has struck a training ground where a weapons exhibition was taking place.
The Telegram channel Taras Hryhorovych Reports posted screenshots of messages naming the event. It was a practical demonstration event, Defense Demo Day & Defense Expo Critically Protected, organised by ARMADA, the Association of Manufacturers of Unmanned Systems and Associated Technologies. The stated purpose of the event was to present comprehensive solutions for protecting critical infrastructure from modern aerial threats.
Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, indirectly confirmed that the weapons exhibition has been struck. "Thanks, friends, I'm fine. The team is alive," he wrote on Facebook.
Update: The Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry has confirmed that Russian forces carried out a missile strike on a site in Kyiv Oblast where representatives of Ukraine's defence industry had gathered.
According to the Council, the location of the gathering had not been made public.
The relevant authorities are investigating the circumstances of the strike.
"We call on everyone to refrain from publishing photos or videos from the scene, geolocation data, information about those affected, the companies involved, or any other details that could jeopardise people's safety, the work of the defence forces or the ongoing investigation.
The Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry was not involved in organising the event. However, we are in close contact with our colleagues and are providing the necessary assistance."
Background:
- In August 2023, Russian forces launched a missile strike on a drama theatre in central Chernihiv, which was hosting a gathering of drone manufacturers and air reconnaissance training schools as part of the Fierce Birds demo day, although only participants of the event knew the exact location.
- A Russian Iskander missile hit the roof of the Taras Shevchenko Chernihiv Regional Academic Music and Drama Theatre, killing seven people and injuring hundreds on the street, and causing extensive damage.
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