Kyiv, 25 July (H.S.): At least 10 people were killed and around 100 others injured after Russia carried out a strike on an arms exhibition near Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukrainian officials said.

The attack targeted an event showcasing military equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), raising concerns among Ukrainian officials over safety measures during wartime gatherings.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced a criminal investigation to determine who approved the event and whether adequate security risks were assessed before allowing it to take place under martial law.

A local official said emergency teams found several bodies at the site following the strike. Promotional stalls displaying drones and military equipment remained at the venue after the attack, while debris and damage were reported across the area.

Russia confirmed that it had targeted an arms exhibition, claiming that the event displayed Ukrainian and foreign-made drones allegedly used for attacks on civilian targets inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strike involved a ballistic missile and criticised the decision to hold such an event during an ongoing war.

In such wartime conditions and against such an enemy, it is absolutely impossible to hold any arms exhibitions -- with large crowds of people, and certainly not near residential buildings, Zelensky said.

The attack triggered criticism from several officials and members of Ukraine’s defence sector, with some questioning whether proper safety protocols were followed.

Presidential adviser Sergiy Beskrestnov criticised organisers of events that do not provide adequate shelters and promote public gatherings online despite security risks.

Andriy Grytseniuk, head of Ukraine’s state-supported defence innovation group Brave1, urged defence organisations to immediately review and strengthen their safety procedures.

Local residents also expressed anger over the location of the event. Alla Lakhmaniuk, a municipal official, said authorities had not approved the gathering and questioned why such an exhibition was held close to residential areas.

The strike caused significant damage to nearby homes, with several buildings suffering broken windows and structural damage. Residents described scenes of destruction, including scattered debris and burnt trees.

One resident, Natalia Perevalova, said her house was damaged in the attack but expressed relief that her grandchildren were not present at the time.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar