A Ukrainian court remanded in custody the organiser of a weapons exhibition that was struck by Russia in an attack that killed at least 11 people. Prosecutors brought a case against Vasyl Goncharuk, head of the Armada weapons industry association, accusing him of negligence leading to loss of life after the Russian ballistic missile strike on a shooting range outside Kyiv on Friday. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it “certainly should not have been taking place there”. Russia’s defence ministry confirmed it hit the site during “a demonstration of Ukrainian and foreign-made” drones.
Goncharuk appeared at the Kyiv court limping and said he sustained light injuries in the attack. Prosecutors have said the weapons association invited more than 300 people including military personnel, state representatives and business figures without official authorisation, providing only a small shelter. The event was even promoted on social media. Agence France-Presse said its reporters saw homes in ruins and victims in body bags after the attack. Previous incidents of Russian attacks on openly held Ukrainian military gatherings have also triggered outcry and resignations.
The Pentagon official tasked with building a domestic drone industry said on Monday the US was still far behind Ukraine’s production capabilities. Travis Metz, chief operating officer of the Defense Innovation Unit, told Reuters that Ukraine would produce 6m-7m small first-person-view attack drones this year – roughly 500,000 a month. By comparison, the Pentagon’s $1.1bn programme will have ordered just under 200,000 altogether by February. But the US would catch up and lead the sector, he predicted.
