By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Ukrainian long-range drone strikes hit two major logistics hubs inside Russia early Saturday, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 60. The attacks targeted warehouses operated by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer. These strikes represent the most lethal Ukrainian operation on Russian soil in over two years, signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing aerial campaign.
Casualties and regional impact
The majority of the fatalities occurred in the Tambov region, located approximately 475 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Seven workers died instantly during the night shift at a massive distribution center in the city of Kotovsk. Regional governor Yevgeniy Pervyshov reported that 25 people were injured, seven of them critically, mostly due to shrapnel. Pervyshov characterized the assault as the “largest and most inhumane” attack on the region, claiming the incoming drones “were equipped with warheads designed to cause a greater number of casualties.” He added that Russian air defenses successfully intercepted 28 drones in the area.
A second strike occurred in Elektrostal, within the Moscow region, resulting in one death and 37 injuries. Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov stated that eight of those injured remain in “serious condition.” Vorobyov noted that 48 drones were downed over the Moscow region alone. He also confirmed that a separate oil depot was struck by a falling drone, an incident he described as having “the most serious consequences.” Local emergency services, including the Ministry of Emergency Situations, remain active at the blast sites.
Strategic justification from Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially acknowledged the operation on Saturday. He stated, “Two major logistics facilities were hit – in the Moscow and Tambov regions, more than 500 and nearly 700 kilometers from the front line.” Zelensky justified the targets by asserting the facilities were utilized “to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment.”
A statement from the Ukrainian military underscored the scale of the damage, noting that “a huge Wildberries warehouse covering 188,000 square meters is blazing brightly, and black smoke can be seen for kilometers.” Kyiv maintains that these strikes are a necessary response to persistent Russian aggression. “Ukraine’s operations were in response to Russian strikes on our civilian infrastructure and on our cities and communities,” Zelensky added, referencing a recent Russian offensive that killed 14 people across Ukraine earlier in the week.
Corporate and industrial fallout
Wildberries, a company often compared to the Russian equivalent of Amazon, expressed deep distress regarding the loss of life. CEO Tatyana Kim called it a “terrible night” for Russia and the company. While the merged RWB group—valued at approximately $12.6 billion by Forbes Russia in 2026—confirmed the fire at the Kotovsk site had been contained, the strike highlights the increasing vulnerability of Russia’s domestic supply chains.
Beyond retail infrastructure, Ukraine has aggressively targeted Russia’s energy sector to disrupt the financing of the war. Zelensky confirmed that additional strikes occurred Saturday against an oil facility and targets within the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. According to Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Ukrainian drones have struck 172 vessels belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” over the past two weeks.
Broader context of the air war
The campaign against Russian energy infrastructure has intensified throughout 2026. Kyiv claims that nearly 43 percent of Russia’s oil refining capacity has been disabled by persistent drone harassment, though this figure remains unverified by independent sources. The economic pressure has become difficult for the Kremlin to ignore. Last month, President Vladimir Putin made a rare public admission that Ukrainian strikes were driving domestic fuel shortages. In response, he signed legislation in early July specifically aimed at bolstering supplies within the Russian internal fuel market.
As the war of attrition enters this new phase, the expansion of target lists to include major commercial logistics centers suggests that neither side is prepared to de-escalate. With both nations prioritizing the degradation of the other’s economic and military supply lines, the civilian toll continues to climb, complicating prospects for a near-term diplomatic resolution.
