Ukrainian Drone Strikes Destroy Wildberries Warehouse and Kill Two in Russia

A Wildberries logistics center in Kotovsk, located in Russia's Tambov region, was destroyed by fire following a Ukrainian drone strike overnight on August 26. Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov reported that 19 drones targeted the facility, with three successfully striking the building while air defenses intercepted 16. The resulting fire covered more than 100,000 square meters. Reports on casualties at the warehouse vary, with some sources stating one person was injured and others reporting two injuries, including a 19 year old man and a 49 year old woman. This is the second attack on the Kotovsk facility; a previous strike on July 18 killed seven employees.

Simultaneous drone attacks struck other Russian regions. In the Lipetsk region, Governor Igor Artamonov reported that a private home caught fire, killing a man and a 14 year old teenager and injuring two women. Additionally, monitoring channels reported a fire at the Lukoil Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region, though regional authorities did not confirm the strike. In response to the Wildberries attacks, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a resolution providing tax deferrals and suspending inspections for businesses affected by the strikes, provided their losses exceed 5 percent of annual revenue.

While center and center left sources focus on the logistical and humanitarian impact within Russia, some reports highlight the broader strategic context. Center left sources note that Ukraine has targeted both Wildberries and its competitor Ozon, with an independent Russian outlet estimating that eight of the ten largest Wildberries warehouses have been knocked out. Meanwhile, reports from center sources also mention a retaliatory Russian drone campaign, stating that Russia launched over 160 drones at Ukraine, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries in Chernihiv.