Explosions in Zhytomyr Kill 2, Injure 24; Cause Under Investigation
Two people were killed and 24 others injured in explosions near Zhytomyr, Ukraine, following reports of blasts near a highway. The National Police have stated that the cause of the explosions is under investigation.
Local officials, including Zhytomyr City Council, reported that the explosions occurred at an unspecified facility close to the M-06 highway. Serhii Sokalskyi, head of the Hlubochytska community in Zhytomyr Oblast, claimed that the explosions may have occurred at an industrial warehouse near the town of Berezyna, although those details have yet to be confirmed. Vitaliy Bunechko, head of the Zhytomyr Oblast Military Administration, stated that multiple homes and powerlines had been damaged in the explosions, while also confirming the closure of the highway as the investigation continues. Emergency responders are currently on-site.
Videos of the explosions, shared on social media, show large clouds of smoke billowing out of the area of the explosions. No information was provided on the status of the injured victims. The incident adds to a series of attacks on the region, which has become an occasional target of Russian missile and drone attacks in recent months. Despite the increase in attacks, support from Ukraine’s largest defense partner, the United States, has continued to wane. Politico reported on July 1 that the U.S. Defense Department has halted shipments of some air defense missiles and other weapons previously promised to Kyiv out of concerns over U.S. stockpiles.
Located about 140 km west of Kyiv, Zhytomyr has become an occasional target of Russian missile and drone attacks. In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities, using upwards of 500 drones in attacks. The situation highlights the ongoing threat to the region and the challenges faced by Ukraine’s defense and security efforts. As the investigation into the explosions continues, the focus remains on understanding the cause and assessing the impact on local communities and infrastructure.