Ukraine Drone Strikes Kill Eight at Russian Warehouses

Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses used by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, killing eight people and injuring 62 others, Russian officials said. The attacks hit a Wildberries logistics site in Tambov, about 295 miles (475km) south-east of Moscow, where seven people died and 25 others were hurt, according to the regional governor.

One person was also killed and 37 injured at another Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, in the Moscow region, officials said.

Tambov strike leaves multiple fatalities and injuries

In Tambov, governor Evgeniy Pervyshov said seven people working the night shift were killed on the spot. He added that 25 people were injured, including seven in serious condition, and that most injuries were caused by shrapnel.

Pervyshov said 28 drones were shot down while approaching the facility and called it the largest attack on the region in terms of the number of drones used and the number of casualties.

Unverified images circulating from the scene showed flames and large plumes of black smoke rising from a logistics building, with dozens of workers seen fleeing into a car park area.

Moscow region warehouse attack injures 37 people

In the Moscow region, governor Andrei Vorobyov said eight people injured in the Elektrostal strike were in serious condition.

Vorobyov said 48 drones were intercepted in the region overnight. He also said an oil depot was struck by a falling drone and described the incident as one with “the most serious consequences”, adding that firefighters and emergency services were continuing their work at the site.

Zelensky separately said Ukraine had also struck an oil facility.

Zelensky links strikes to logistics for drone components

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone attacks targeted “major logistics facilities” used to supply “sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment”.

In his comments, Zelensky also said Ukraine struck targets in the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea and Crimea, which Russia annexed.

Zelensky said Ukraine’s actions were in response to Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure and on cities and communities.

He also said that overnight into Wednesday, 14 people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine.

Wildberries says eight died as drone strikes escalate

Wildberries, often described as Russia’s equivalent of Amazon, is part of the merged RWB group, which combines Wildberries with advertising company Russ. Forbes Russia valued the group at about $12.6bn (£9.3bn) in 2026.

Wildberries chief executive Tatyana Kim said it was a “terrible night” for Russia and for the company. In Tambov, Pervyshov said the seven fatalities occurred among night-shift workers.

Energy campaign and Putin’s admission on shortages

Ukraine has recently increased long-range drone strikes on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says has contributed to fuel shortages. Earlier this month, Kyiv said nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been “disabled” by attacks. The BBC said it had not independently verified that figure.

Ukraine argues that Russian oil and gas facilities are legitimate targets because Russia relies heavily on fossil fuel exports to fund its full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare admission that fuel shortages were caused by Ukrainian attacks. He also signed into law a bill intended to boost supplies to Russia’s domestic fuel market in early July.

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18 July 2026