The chief organizer of a defense technology exhibition near Kyiv has been detained and notified of suspicion of criminal negligence following a Russian ballistic missile strike on the event that resulted in 10 fatalities and 100 injuries.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced the detention on Saturday, July 25, stating that the organizer is currently under guard in a medical facility due to minor injuries. A court is expected to determine a preventive measure shortly.
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According to the investigation, the drone manufacturers’ association organized the large-scale event – which included demonstrations of air defense systems and involved military personnel, government officials, and business representatives – without authorization from the military command, regional or district military administrations.
Kravchenko stated that organizers invited over 300 people to an open location where the nearest shelter, measuring 34 square meters, was located approximately 100 meters away.
“This means that hundreds of people were in conditions of obvious security risk from the very beginning,” the prosecutor general stated.
Investigators also found that invitations were sent out nine days before the event, with the exact location and time provided 24 hours in advance. Authorities are assessing whether these actions allowed Russian forces to prepare a targeted strike.
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Following the detention, law enforcement conducted urgent searches at the association’s office and the residences of individuals potentially involved in organizing the event.
The prosecutor general added that a separate legal assessment will be conducted regarding the actions or inaction of officials obligated to respond to potential security risks. The investigation is reviewing the activities of the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), state authorities, local governments, and military commands to determine if potential threats were properly monitored and evaluated.
Strike claimed by Russia amid domestic criticism
The legal action follows Friday’s missile strike on a private training ground in the Buchanskyi district of the Kyiv region.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had deliberately targeted the exhibition because it was showcasing Ukrainian and foreign-made unmanned aerial vehicles, which Moscow alleges are used to attack targets inside Russia.
The Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers, which stated it was not the event organizer, confirmed that representatives of Ukraine’s defense industry were present when the missile struck.
The incident has prompted criticism from Ukrainian military commentators and experts regarding the decision to hold a public defense exhibition in close proximity to the capital.
Military technology expert Serhiy Beskrestnov stated he did not attend the event due to security concerns, noting he avoids venues without proper shelters or those heavily promoted online. Other commentators drew parallels to an August 2023 Russian missile attack on a military technology exhibition held at a drama theater in Chernihiv.
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