The head of one of the SBU units has been served with a notice of suspicion over the way ammunition was stored in the village of Myla in the Bucha district. The depot that detonated after the strike of 28 August had been placed in a former vegetable store.

This was announced by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

What the investigation established

From the very start of its use the vegetable store had no required certificate and did not meet the safety requirements for storing explosive materials. On top of that, it stood less than a hundred metres from residential buildings.

According to the investigation, the rules on the permitted quantity of ammunition and on keeping it dispersed were not observed either. Dispersal was meant to reduce the risk of simultaneous detonation and damage to surrounding sites — that is, of exactly what happened.

The depot was to have been cleared before the strike

Work to wind down the depot in Myla and remove the ammunition began after the tragedy in Vyshneve, where on the night of 6 July a russian missile hit a defence plant and the ammunition stored there began to detonate. As of 28 August the removal had not been completed.

The investigation is also examining whether the site was properly guarded and whether steps were taken to strengthen its air-defence cover. Forensic explosives and fire examinations have been ordered in the case.

What happened on 28 August

At around 20:10 russian forces attacked the warehouse buildings of one of the enterprises with drones. Part of those buildings was used by an SBU unit. After the hit, the ammunition began to detonate, and the explosions and fire spread to neighbouring sites.

According to the prosecutors, 35 people were killed and one more is considered missing. Twenty-one people were injured, among them two children, police officers and rescuers. The greatest destruction was suffered by the care home for elderly people next door. Fourteen apartment blocks and 191 private houses were damaged, some buildings destroyed completely, along with 24 vehicles, including police and emergency service transport.

These figures differ from those given in the first days. On 29 August the head of the Kyiv regional military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, reported 38 killed and 42 injured. The prosecutors give 35 killed, one person missing and 21 injured.

Earlier we reported that rescuers worked at the site of the strike in Myla for several days.

What the suspect faces

The actions have been qualified under part 4 of article 426 of the Criminal Code — deliberate failure by a military official to carry out duties required of them, committed under martial law and causing grave consequences. A pre-trial restraint has already been imposed on the suspect.

The pre-trial investigation continues. The prosecutors say they are also identifying other people whose decisions, actions or inaction may have affected the scale of the consequences of the russian attack.

Under article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt is proven by a court verdict.

Earlier we reported that drinking water from wells in Myla was banned — even the artesian borehole turned out to be contaminated.

Nota bene

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