In Ukraine, the organizer of an arms exhibition hit by a missile attack by Russian forces has been detained. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced that an unnamed organizer has been charged with 'negligence of duty' in connection with the attack on July 24 in the Bucha district of Kyiv, which killed 10 people. The offense carries a sentence of five to eight years in prison.
Russian forces had fired two ballistic missiles at the exhibition site on the afternoon of July 24. Approximately 100 people were also injured in the attack. Ukraine’s Air Force said the missiles struck a private sports complex not belonging to the armed forces.
According to Prosecutor General Kravchenko, an association of arms manufacturers organized a large-scale event 'without any coordination with the military command and local administration.' More than 300 guests were invited to the event, which also featured air defense systems. It was noted that the nearest shelter measured only 34 square meters and was about 100 meters away.
Kravchenko said that invitations were sent out nine days before the event, and the exact location and time were disclosed only 24 hours beforehand, adding: 'The investigation is examining whether these practices allowed the enemy to identify the target.'
Ukrainian media reported that the exhibition was organized by the drone manufacturers association 'Armada'. The event showcased 'comprehensive solutions for protecting critical infrastructure against modern aerial threats,' and the announcement was made public.
Among those killed were a Polish defense company employee, former Ukrainian special forces member Eduard Serenko, and Valentina Savitskaya, head of the international cooperation center of the State Protection Administration. The head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, said that foreign delegations were also present at the event.
Russia's Defense Ministry, on the other hand, described the attack differently. The ministry claimed that the strike targeted a facility where drone developers, manufacturers, and commanders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces 'who directly plan and carry out attacks on Russian territory' were present.
The attack damaged 27 private houses and 44 vehicles. As Ukraine launched an investigation into organizational failures, Prosecutor General Kravchenko stated: 'In the conditions of a full-scale war, organizers and those who approve such events must be personally responsible for people's safety.'
Double Air Strike in Sloviansk
Russian forces carried out two separate air strikes on the city of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region on the morning of the same day. The first strike killed five people and injured nine. The second strike hit a residential area; multi-story and single-family houses were destroyed or damaged, and 16 more people were injured. Officials noted that the targeting of densely populated civilian areas once again highlighted the heavy toll of the war.
Meduza Reader's Letter: 'No party can target civilians'
In the independent Russian media outlet Meduza's column 'War through the Eyes of Readers,' Igor, writing from Warsaw, said he had maintained an anti-war stance since 2022 and that Russia's initiation of the war was a crime. However, Igor also criticized Ukraine's attacks on civilian targets in recent months. Igor said: 'The attacks primarily hit civilians. The oil refineries Ukraine targets are either working for export or serving the civilian sector; these attacks have no impact on the course of the war.' He also drew attention to recent attacks on Wildberries warehouses that caused loss of life. 'This is not a military response, it is a war crime. It does not give anyone the right to fight using such barbaric methods,' the reader said, concluding his letter with the call: 'Please, let us remain human.'
