Ankara: Russian authorities reported that a fire erupted at a logistics center belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, and an unspecified industrial facility suffered damage following overnight drone strikes attributed to Ukraine.
According to Anadolu Agency, Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov stated on Telegram that the attack occurred in the town of Kotovsk, leading to the complete destruction of a Wildberries logistics center and injuring two individuals. Pervyshov credited the "timely evacuation and the effective work of all services, including the municipality" for preventing a larger number of casualties, mentioning that 16 drones were intercepted in the region, while three managed to hit the warehouse.
Wildberries confirmed the incident, noting that fire crews were onsite and that the facility was not accepting new deliveries. This attack is part of Ukraine's ongoing campaign of drone strikes targeting Wildberries logistics centers since mid-July, which have impacted several Russian regions, including Moscow, Tambov, Leningrad, Krasnodar, Volgograd, Stavropol, and Crimea.
Kyiv accuses Wildberries of contributing to Moscow's military supply chain, a claim both Moscow and Wildberries deny, asserting the facilities are civilian. Recently, similar strikes have also been reported on facilities belonging to another online retailer, Ozon.
In a separate incident, Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin reported damage to an industrial facility, residential buildings, and vehicles from an overnight drone attack involving over 40 drones. While no casualties have been reported, clean-up efforts are ongoing at the site of the debris fall.
Local media outlet Astra, citing residents, indicated that an oil refinery in Kstovo, home to the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery, was targeted, resulting in a fire. The Russian Defense Ministry also reported that 426 Ukrainian drones were shot down across 15 regions, including Crimea, overnight.
Ukraine's General Staff claimed responsibility for striking a Lukoil-operated facility, alleging its involvement in supplying the Russian Armed Forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the attacks on Russian soil, emphasizing strikes on oil facilities, airfields, a missile unit, and infrastructure linked to attacks on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy stated on social media platform X that Ukraine's actions are intended to increase the cost of the war for Russia, asserting, "The war must return to where it came from. Ukraine responds to Russian strikes, and we do so in a way that ensures the cost of the war for the aggressor inevitably rises."