Ukrainian drone strikes hit Wildberries logistics hubs in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, wounding 15 people. This follows a deadly attack on the retailer’s facilities in Tambov and Elektrostal, which killed eight people and injured dozens, as Kyiv targets Russian supply chains used for drone production.
Escalating Attacks on Wildberries Logistics Infrastructure
In a series of coordinated aerial assaults, Ukrainian drones have targeted the logistics network of Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, twice in less than a week. The most recent strikes occurred overnight, impacting distribution centers in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions.
The company’s founder, Tatyana Kim, addressed the incident on Telegram, emphasizing the vulnerability of the firm’s employees during the conflict. There are no words to describe all the feelings and emotions caused by the attacks on ordinary people, on our employees, on us, who are simply doing our jobs,
she wrote. She added, But these situations demonstrate the most important thing: we must continue to do what we do for the benefit of people.
Casualties and Damage from the July 18 Strikes
The intensity of this week’s strikes follows a significantly deadlier wave of attacks that took place on July 18. During those operations, drones struck Wildberries warehouses in the Tambov and Moscow regions. In the city of Kotovsk, Tambov region, seven night-shift employees were killed, according to Governor Evgeniy Pervyshov.
For more on this story, see Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Logistics Centers in Southern Russia.
Regional authorities reported that in the Tambov incident alone, 28 drones were intercepted by Russian air defenses.
Strategic Rationale Behind Kyiv’s Targeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has explicitly linked the attacks on Wildberries to Russia’s military production capabilities. In a statement, he characterized the sites as significant logistics facilities
that are involved in providing the Russian army with drone components, navigation equipment and other gear.
This follows our earlier report, Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Wildberries Hubs Leave Eight Dead.
This assessment is echoed by analysts who suggest the strikes are part of a broader effort to disrupt Russian logistics. Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, noted that the primary objective is to hamper the supply of dual-use goods and critical electronics to the Russian army.
Broader Regional Impact and Maritime Strikes
The drone campaigns have extended beyond retail warehouses, impacting energy infrastructure and military assets. In the most recent attacks, regional governors reported that debris hit the grounds of a company in Armavir and killed one employee, while fragments also damaged residential buildings in Krasnodar and the village of Dinskaya.
Ukraine’s military operations have also shifted toward the Black and Azov Seas. President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine struck an oil depot, a tanker, and four cargo ships belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet,
a collection of vessels used by Moscow to circumvent international sanctions on oil exports. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that their air defenses intercepted 379 drones across 19 Russian regions, as well as the illegally annexed Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, highlighting the scale of the ongoing aerial exchange.
Read also: Russia Launches Massive Ballistic Missile Attack on Kyiv and Ukrainian Cities.
Sources: bbc.co.uk, aljazeera.com.
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