Response to the Tragedy Near Zhytomyr Lasted Almost a Full Day

From the first hours following the explosions in the village of Berezyna, Zhytomyr region, the Ukrainian Red Cross team worked tirelessly to provide vital assistance to those affected.

Volunteers from the emergency response team and the Zhytomyr regional branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross set up an aid station, where people could access drinking water, tea, coffee, and charge their mobile phones. More than 30 people received first aid, and psychological first aid was also provided to those in distress. Volunteers distributed masks and respirators to local residents and first responders to help protect them from smoke and dust.

For families whose homes were damaged, volunteers supplied plastic sheeting and tarpaulin to temporarily cover broken windows and damaged roofs. They also assisted with evacuations and transport.

In close coordination with the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, the State Emergency Service (SES), and the Department of Social Protection, the Ukrainian Red Cross provided assistance to 48 households.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, around 99 private houses were damaged, and more than 700 households were left without electricity. Fires broke out and were later extinguished. The explosions claimed two lives and injured 82 people, including four children. Thirty-eight of the injured remain in hospital.