Kyiv has broadened its offensive against the Kremlin’s supply network as long-range Ukrainian drones hit two major Russian logistics hubs early Tuesday, resulting in at least five fatalities and multiple injuries.
According to reporting by the Washington Times, the strikes targeted warehouses near Moscow and St. Petersburg used by Wildberries, an online retailer known as Russia’s answer to Amazon.
Drone Strikes Target Wildberries Warehouses
The early Tuesday operation hit logistics facilities hundreds of miles apart. According to reporting by the Washington Times, attack drones struck warehouses in Chekov, about 35 miles south of Moscow, igniting fires at the Wildberries warehouse, an electrical substation, and an administrative building. Regional governor Andrei Vorobyov stated on Telegram that emergency services responded to fatalities and injuries at the scene.
A separate strike targeted a Wildberries warehouse near St. Petersburg, more than 400 miles northwest of Moscow. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko reported on Telegram that Russian air defenses downed 17 Ukrainian drones during that assault, which started a fire and injured at least one person. The Kyiv Post identified the facility as the newest and largest Wildberries supply hub in the Leningrad region.
Since Kyiv struck two warehouses along with an oil depot in the Moscow region on July 18, Ukrainian drones have hit a minimum of 20 Wildberries facilities throughout Russia.
Wartime Logistics and Elite Financial Pressure
While Wildberries functions as an online retailer selling household products and cosmetics, Ukraine said the company has become part of Russia’s wartime logistics network. According to the Kyiv Post, the platform also sells body armor, tactical helmets, and specialized camouflage suits often worn by snipers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended the targeting of these facilities in a Telegram post, stating that Kyiv responds fairly to Russian strikes and that ending the war requires increasing pressure on Russia. The campaign has damaged approximately 1.8 million square yards of Wildberries warehouse space, accounting for about 22% of the company’s total amount, according to the Kyiv Post.
An analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Anton Vaino, chief of staff to President Vladimir Putin, and deputy chief of staff Alexei Gromov reportedly back or co-own Wildberries. The ISW assesses that the air campaign places financial pressure on elites within Putin’s inner circle while straining Russian air defenses and inconveniencing domestic consumers.
Regional Spillover and Corporate Response
The strikes have prompted reactions beyond Russia’s borders. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Wildberries is reportedly looking to shift some of its warehouse operations to neighboring Kazakhstan to avoid Ukrainian drone strikes. However, Kazakh government officials stated they have yet to receive any official request for additional space.
Inside Russia, financial authorities are moving to assist impacted enterprises. According to The Moscow Times, the Russian Central Bank has urged lenders to support businesses affected by the warehouse attacks.
Legal analysts have questioned the broader implications of the campaign. Writing for Riddle Russia, a Lithuania-based think tank, economics writer Oleg Loginov argued that targeting civilian retail infrastructure could raise concerns under international law, noting that facilities qualify as military targets only if storing military supplies is their primary function.
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