Ukrainian Drones Strike Two Wildberries Warehouses in Russia

Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses belonging to Russia's largest online retailer over the weekend, killing eight people and injuring 62, Russian officials said. Seven deaths and 25 injuries occurred at a warehouse in Tambov, about 295 miles southeast of Moscow. One death and 37 injuries were reported at a second warehouse in Elektrostal in the Moscow region.

Wildberries operates as Russia's main e-commerce platform and maintains large warehouses that handle product storage and distribution. The Elektrostal facility lies roughly 30 miles east of Moscow and serves as a major logistics hub for the capital region. The Moscow metropolitan area accounts for about 25 percent of Russia's GDP, with retail and logistics forming key parts of that economy.

Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, told the BBC that Wildberries warehouses function as a vital component of Russian logistics.

““The primary rationale for striking Wildberries' warehouses is to disrupt Russian logistics and the supply of dual-use goods, critical electronics, sanctioned goods and the like to the Russian army and Russian arms manufacturers." — Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre Kuzan added that the strikes could affect the Russian economy and produce a psychological impact on Russian society.”

Ukrainian forces also continued strikes on Crimea's electrical grid and attacked seven Russian shadow-fleet vessels in the Black Sea, according to statements from Ukrainian military units. A separate operation damaged a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber at Engels airbase in the Saratov region, satellite imagery showed.

Fuel shortages persist across Russia, with reports of rationing and limited supplies at filling stations.