Ukrainian drones destroy Wildberries warehouse in second strike on Russian depot
Ukrainian drones destroyed a Wildberries warehouse in Russia's Tambov region, the second such strike on the facility in over a month.
Ukrainian long-range drones have again struck and destroyed a major warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, in the Tambov region southeast of Moscow. The attack, confirmed by local authorities on Wednesday, marks the second time in just over a month that the facility has been targeted, following a July 18 strike that killed seven people.
The latest assault is part of an expanding Ukrainian aerial campaign that has repeatedly hit Wildberries facilities across Russia in recent weeks. Kyiv officials have argued that the company supplies goods, including gear and technical components, used by Russia's military. The strikes also serve to unsettle Russians far from the front line and pressure the country's economy.
Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said the fire completely destroyed the logistical center. Two people were injured: a 19-year-old man who suffered a concussion and a 49-year-old woman who broke her finger. Wildberries confirmed the overnight attack and said the facility was evacuated, without detailing the extent of the damage.
In a separate incident, two people were killed and two wounded in Russia's Lipetsk region after a drone struck a house and set it ablaze, according to Governor Igor Artamonov.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported that its forces shot down 426 Ukrainian drones overnight across 15 regions and illegally annexed Crimea. Ukraine has been launching hundreds of drones almost nightly, aiming to overwhelm Russian air defenses.
Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil infrastructure, a key pillar of the country's economy. Unconfirmed reports suggested an oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region caught fire on Wednesday. Governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed an attack on an unspecified "industrial facility" but provided no further details.