Ukrainian Drones Set Fire to Major Russian Retailer's Warehouse in Urals

Ukrainian long-range drones struck a warehouse in the Ural Mountains belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, local officials and the company confirmed on Friday. The facility in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, was set ablaze in the attack, which occurred more than 2,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Regional Governor Denis Pasler said three drones hit the warehouse's roof. Artyom Zhoga, the Kremlin's representative in the region, reported that 800 people were evacuated and no injuries were sustained. Wildberries stated that most merchandise was undamaged, a contrast to over a dozen other company depots hit by Ukraine in recent weeks that have burned down completely.

These strikes are part of Kyiv's broader strategy to use drone innovation to target distant Russian infrastructure and rattle the public. Ukraine has regularly hit targets in the Urals this year and has even struck an oil refinery in western Siberia, nearly 2,500 kilometers from the border. Kyiv officials say the program's success has led to drone cooperation agreements with nine countries, with negotiations underway with 15 more.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing for continued technological development, particularly in air defense. He announced a joint European anti-ballistic missile program involving 10 countries, aimed at countering Russian ballistic missiles that exploit Ukraine's shortage of Patriot interceptors. Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine is working on manufacturing its own ballistic missiles, noting that tests have shown strong potential.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian front-line defenses in the east remain under pressure. Authorities have been evacuating children from Kramatorsk, part of the Donetsk region's "Fortress Belt" of heavily defended cities. Vadym Filashkin, head of the regional military administration, said over 800 people, including 91 children, were evacuated in the past 24 hours.

Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing 203 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 147 long-range strike drones. In Ukraine's northern Sumy region, a Russian drone struck a busy market Friday morning, wounding 10 people. Glide bombs and drones also targeted the regional capital, wounding two more.