Seven Killed, 49 Injured As Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Wildberries Warehouses
News Updated: 18 July 2026 15:34 EAT
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Seven people have been killed and 49 others injured after Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses owned by Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, in one of the deadliest drone attacks on Russian commercial infrastructure since the war began. Russian regional officials said the coordinated overnight strikes targeted logistics centres in the Tambov and Moscow regions.
The dead were all employees working the night shift at a Wildberries warehouse in Kotovsk, Tambov region. Regional Governor Evgeniy Pervyshov said seven workers lost their lives while 25 others sustained injuries after drones struck the facility, sparking a massive fire that required emergency crews to battle through the night.
A second Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, east of Moscow, was also hit during the same wave of attacks. Authorities reported that 24 people were injured at the site, bringing the total number of casualties from the two warehouse strikes to 49.
Wildberries, Russia's biggest online marketplace, confirmed that both of its logistics centres had been targeted. The company said emergency services responded immediately and pledged financial support and compensation to the families of those killed and to employees who were injured.
Company founder and chief executive Tatyana Kim described the incident as a tragic night for the business and expressed condolences to the victims' families. She said the company would cooperate fully with authorities investigating the attacks while ensuring affected workers received assistance.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 379 Ukrainian drones overnight across 19 Russian regions, Crimea and surrounding waters. Officials in Tambov region said 28 drones were shot down there, although some still managed to hit their intended targets.
The overnight assault also caused a fire at an oil depot in Noginsk, in the Moscow region. Falling drone debris reportedly injured two people and forced the evacuation of a nearby maternity hospital as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes were aimed at disrupting Russia's military logistics and defence production. He stated that the targeted facilities were linked to the supply of sanctioned electronic components used in the manufacture of drones and military navigation systems.
Ukraine's military separately reported striking fuel infrastructure, vessels supporting Russian military logistics in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, and a railway bridge in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region. Kyiv said the operations were intended to weaken Russia's ability to sustain its military campaign.
Russian authorities have not publicly confirmed Ukraine's claims regarding the military significance of the targeted facilities. However, officials acknowledged that several industrial and logistics sites were damaged during the overnight drone offensive.
The attack marks one of the most significant Ukrainian drone operations inside Russia in recent months, highlighting Kyiv's growing ability to strike deep behind Russian front lines using long-range unmanned aircraft.
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FELIX MAKONA
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