Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit Wildberries
Warehouses Again, 15 Injured in Southern Russia
Ukrainian drones have struck logistics centers belonging to
Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, for the second time in less than
a week, leaving 15 people injured and causing significant damage, according to
company officials and regional authorities.
The overnight attacks targeted warehouse hubs in the
southern regions of Krasnodar and Stavropol, prompting evacuations and
emergency responses as fires broke out at multiple sites.
Second Strike in Four
Days Targets Retail Logistics Network
This latest assault follows a similar attack just days
earlier, when Wildberries facilities in Tambov and Elektrostal were hit. That
earlier strike resulted in eight fatalities, escalating concerns about the
expanding scope of Ukraine’s drone campaign inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that recent
operations focused on logistics hubs in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions.
According to him, these facilities were allegedly linked to the supply of drone
components, navigation systems, and other equipment used by the Russian
military.
Founder Speaks Out
After Warehouse Attacks
Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim confirmed that two logistics
centers—one in Krasnodar and another in Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol
region—were affected.
In a message shared on social media, Kim expressed deep
distress over the attacks, saying the strikes had impacted “ordinary people”
and company employees who were “simply doing their jobs.” She emphasized that
despite the damage and injuries, the company would continue its operations.
Injuries Reported in Krasnodar and
Nevinnomyssk
Regional officials reported that five people were injured at
a warehouse complex on the outskirts of Nevinnomyssk. All received medical
treatment and were released for outpatient care.
In Krasnodar, ten individuals were hurt when a warehouse
facility was struck. Authorities said three of the injured were in serious
condition.
Footage circulating online showed thick black smoke rising
high above a warehouse in Krasnodar, with flames visible from a distance. In
Nevinnomyssk, videos captured residents gathered outside as smoke billowed from
the damaged structure.
Oil Depot and Residential Buildings Also
Affected
Officials in Krasnodar described the assault as a “massive
overnight drone attack.” Debris reportedly struck the grounds of a company in
Armavir, resulting in the death of one employee. An oil depot in the region
also caught fire following the strike.
Drone fragments hit two apartment buildings in Krasnodar and
two homes in the nearby village of Dinskaya. Authorities confirmed there were
no injuries in those residential incidents.
President Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had also targeted
an oil depot and vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in the Sea
of Azov and the Black Sea. The fleet is widely believed to help Russia bypass
international sanctions imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in
2022.
Why Wildberries Warehouses Are Being
Targeted
The renewed strikes on Wildberries facilities suggest a
broader strategy aimed at disrupting Russia’s logistics and supply chains.
Ukrainian security analysts have previously claimed that the retailer’s online
marketplace had been used by volunteers to purchase equipment intended for
military use.
Experts say targeting major logistics hubs could interrupt
the flow of dual-use goods, electronics, and other materials that may support
Russia’s defense industry. Beyond immediate physical damage, such attacks could
also strain Russia’s economy and impact public sentiment amid the ongoing
conflict.
Escalating Drone
Campaign Inside Russia
The back-to-back drone strikes highlight an intensifying
phase in Ukraine’s long-range operations, increasingly aimed at infrastructure
far from the front lines. As both sides continue to expand their military
tactics, attacks on commercial and energy facilities signal a widening
battlefield with growing economic and civilian consequences.
The situation remains fluid as emergency crews assess the
full extent of the damage and authorities investigate the aftermath of the
strikes.