A woman who attended a drone exhibition in Ukraine shared her harrowing experience when a Russian missile struck the event, which was held on July 24 near Kyiv. She reported that the air raid sirens did not activate as the missile approached, leaving attendees completely unprepared for the attack.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it conducted a precision strike on a location in the outskirts of Kyiv, targeting the exhibition that showcased both domestic and foreign drone models, including prototypes yet to be released. At the time of the attack, approximately 500 people were present, including top developers and manufacturers of drones from Ukraine, as well as representatives from Ukrainian intelligence agencies.

Yulia Gershun, a witness, told Espreso TV that the exhibition began at 11 AM. She described the event as being outdoors, situated next to two buildings. When the missile struck, she and others were caught off guard. "We heard the sound of the ballistic missile descending, and I only survived because I was standing behind a radar system," Gershun recounted. "Not everyone understood what was happening, and for some, it was already too late." She noted that some individuals suffered severe injuries, including the loss of limbs, and screams for help filled the air.

Survivors attempted to drag the injured into the buildings or towards the nearby forest, but a second missile struck just minutes later. Gershun was later taken by soldiers to a building designated as a triage center for the wounded. However, they lacked proper medical supplies and had to use makeshift materials, like water pipes, as tourniquets.

Ukrainian prosecutors and defense industry representatives reported that at least 10 people were killed, and around 100 were injured in the missile attack. The reasons behind the failure of Ukraine's air defense system to activate alarms during the strike remain unclear.

Reports from Polish news outlet Defence24 indicated that a defense company employee lost their life in the attack, although they were not a Polish citizen. The Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed that all injured individuals received consular assistance.

Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office, stated, "We will launch an investigation to clarify who decided to hold the exhibition and whether the risks were adequately assessed under martial law conditions." Serhii Beskrestnov, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, initially mentioned that the exhibition took place at a training ground near Kyiv along the Zhytomyr highway. However, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force later clarified that the strike targeted a private sports complex.

On social media, many users began questioning the security measures of the event, sharing images of promotional flyers and invitations that included a registration link revealing the location. One widely followed account expressed frustration, asking, "What more has to happen for them to realize the consequences of such actions?" Beskrestnov, who was initially reported to have attended the exhibition, later stated he did not appear at the event, emphasizing that he typically avoids such gatherings when security risks are apparent.

Rescue teams were seen working at the site of the missile strike in Kyiv on July 24.