Zelensky says officials accountable for illegal weapons storage near Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 11 that Ukraine's largest defense firm, Ukroboronprom, illegally stored weapons near civilian targets in Vyshneve, a Kyiv suburb. This revelation follows a Russian missile and drone attack on July 6 that struck an ammunition warehouse in Vyshneve, triggering secondary explosions. The attack resulted in seven deaths and 29 injuries among civilians.

Zelensky stated that top officials within Ukroboronprom are criminally liable for violating laws that mandate weapon storage away from residential areas. He revealed that the State Security Service (SBU) has identified the specific individuals responsible, including the heads of two state-owned enterprises within the conglomerate, as well as their deputies and other officials. The president emphasized that these individuals must be held accountable.

The incident has prompted calls for broader government action, including inspections of other similar enterprises and potential reforms within Ukroboronprom. Zelensky highlighted the organizational challenges posed by the sprawling nature of Ukroboronprom, which unites about 100 enterprises, and stressed the need to strengthen internal oversight processes.