Russian missile strike kills 10 at defence event near Kyiv

A Russian ballistic missile strike has killed 10 people and injured almost 100 others at a defence industry event in Ukraine's Kyiv region, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack hit a site where representatives of the defence sector were present, and rescue work was still under way on Friday. Authorities said the exact target was not immediately identified, but preliminary information pointed to a private training ground where events were taking place.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said efforts to establish what happened were continuing and confirmed that emergency crews were responding in the Kyiv region. Kyiv region acting governor Ruslan Oliynyk said the missile appeared to have struck a private training ground. The Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry said representatives of Ukraine's defence industry were at the site when it was hit, but added that it had not organised the event and that the participants' exact location had not been made public.

Ukraine's prosecutor-general, Ruslan Kravchenko, said a criminal investigation had been launched into whether officials improperly carried out their duties in organising and conducting the event. Valerii Borovyk, founder of the Ukrainian drone company First Contact, told Ukrainian media that a missile struck a training ground where a defence industry exhibition was being held. The reported death toll and the scale of the injuries make this one of the more serious single strikes reported in the region in recent weeks.

The attack is significant because it hit a gathering linked to Ukraine's defence industry rather than only a military position or infrastructure site. That raises questions about security at events connected to weapons production, procurement and training during the war. It also comes at a time when Moscow says it will continue fighting while waiting for new peace proposals, underlining the gap between battlefield pressure and diplomatic efforts.

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The strike also fits a wider pattern of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian territory during the war, with the Kyiv region remaining a frequent target because of its military, political and industrial importance. Defence industry activity has become increasingly sensitive as Ukraine seeks to sustain domestic production and attract support from partners. Any breach in security at such an event could have implications for how future gatherings are organised and protected.

What remains unclear is the exact nature of the event, the precise target of the missile and whether the investigation will identify failures in planning or protection. Officials have not publicly detailed the full list of those killed or injured, and the condition of the wounded was not immediately specified. Further updates are likely as investigators examine the site and authorities clarify who was responsible for organising the gathering.

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