At least 37 people were killed after a Russian drone strike triggered an explosion at a warehouse in the Kyiv area, officials said Saturday, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for those responsible to be punished.

Another 42 people were injured and more than 380 were evacuated from the strike zone in the Bucha district, Kyiv region governor Tymur Tkachenko wrote on Telegram.

Tkachenko did not provide details on what was hit in Friday evening's attack. Zelensky said the explosion also caused "significant damage" to nearby infrastructure, including residential buildings and a facility caring for the elderly.

"Those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their decisions", Zelensky wrote on X, adding that criminal investigations had already been launched on charges of official negligence.

"There are regulations in place – ammunition cannot be stored near homes or other residential areas. Appropriate conclusions will certainly be drawn."

Tkachenko said the death toll may still rise.

Friday's attack followed two days of frequent waves of drones targeting the city and the surrounding region, which damaged warehouses and homes and disrupted daily life.

(Reuters, bak)