Zelensky: Officials responsible for storing weapons depot in Vyshneve id...

Zelensky: Officials responsible for storing weapons depot in Vyshneve identified

President Volodymyr Zelensky said authorities had identified the officials at Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom who allowed weapons depots to be located in the town of Vyshneve, Kyiv region, where they exploded following a Russian missile strike. According to Ukrinform, Zelensky made the statement in his evening address. The President recalled that the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General are investigating all circumstances surrounding the tragedy as part of a criminal case. He said he had received detailed briefings on the situation in the town following the explosions at the weapons depots and the resulting fire. "Today, SSU Major General Poklad presented the first findings, identifying who, and in which positions at Ukroboronprom, allowed, regrettably, weapons warehouses to be located in Vyshneve. Both the law and a decision of the Staff explicitly prohibited this, yet all of it was violated. The officials responsible have been identified, and the state position is clear: every single one of them must be held fairly accountable. We all understand what wartime means, and every leader must feel that people's lives depend on their decisions or their failure to act," Zelensky said. According to the President, the heads of two state-owned enterprises acted in violation of the law, the Staff's decision, and their official duties. Investigators are also examining the actions of deputy managers responsible for security. Zelensky added that the actions and decisions of other officials would also be reviewed. He said the SSU, together with other law enforcement agencies, must inspect other similar facilities. Every manager responsible for such sites must ensure that similar tragedies do not happen again. The President stressed that Ukraine had designated facilities suitable for storing weapons and ammunition, specifically located away from residential areas. "The reconstruction of what has been destroyed must also move faster, and this applies to more than just Vyshneve. Of course, much depends on the quality of work in communities and in regions, but some issues must be addressed at the government level. Decisions will be made in the near future," Zelensky said. He also addressed the future of Ukroboronprom. "It is a large structure comprising dozens of enterprises, one of which located the warehouse in Vyshneve. Of course, the internal processes within Ukroboronprom for overseeing the activities of its enterprises and their directors must be strengthened," he said.