Law enforcement officers have detained the organiser of a drone exhibition near Kyiv, which Russia targeted with a ballistic strike on 24 July, according to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. According to the investigation, the event was held in an open area without the approval of the authorities or law enforcement agencies. Investigators are examining whether the organisation of the event could have facilitated the preparation of a targeted attack.
Briefly about the main points
- The organiser of the drone exhibition near Kyiv has been detained.
- According to the public prosecutor’s office, the event was held without the necessary approvals.
- Invitations were sent out to the participants nine days ago.
- The exact time and location of the incident were reported within 24 hours.
- The investigation is still establishing the link between these actions and the attack.
How the event was organised
According to the Attorney General, the organisers held the exhibition in an open space on their own initiative, without obtaining approval from the authorities or law enforcement agencies.
Invitations to the event were sent out nine days before it took place. Participants were informed of the exact time and venue one day before the event. Investigators are trying to establish who was responsible for these decisions, as well as what safety measures were in place for the participants.
In further context, the General Staff reported that the site did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Defence Forces. Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat described it as a private sports complex in the Bucha district of the Kyiv region.
What exactly is the investigation looking into?
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating whether the sending out of invitations and the disclosure of a specific location and time could have enabled the Russian military to prepare a targeted strike. The means by which Russia may have obtained this information have not been publicly established.
A separate criminal investigation has been launched into possible dereliction of duty during the organisation of the event. This relates to paragraph 3 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code — professional negligence resulting in the death of a person.
Detention is a procedural measure and does not in itself constitute proof of guilt. Neither the name of the detainee nor the fact that he had been served with a notice of suspicion, the defence’s position or the preventive measure imposed on him have been made public.
Two areas of responsibility
Russian missile strike is being investigated separately as a war crime. According to updated figures from the Office of the Prosecutor General and media reports, following the completion of the rescue phase, 10 people were killed and around 100 were injured. Twenty-seven private homes and 44 cars were damaged.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the root cause of the tragedy was Russian missiles and Russian terror. At the same time, he described it as unacceptable to hold arms exhibitions involving large numbers of people near residential areas whilst the country is at war.
Consequently, scrutinising the organisers’ decisions does not alter Russia’s responsibility for the attack. The investigation must separately establish any possible breaches, the duties of those responsible, the safety measures in place, and the causal link between their actions or inaction and the consequences.
A discussion on the rules governing public demonstrations
Following the attack, the General Staff emphasised that the organisers of such events must assess the risks, implement the strictest possible safety measures and make use of shelters — regardless of the facility’s ownership or administrative status.
The case may influence approaches to holding public demonstrations of defence technologies and large-scale industry events near populated areas. However, the authorities have not yet announced any new rules or decisions.
