Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit Russian Logistics and Industrial Targets

Ukrainian drones targeted several locations across Russia and Russian occupied areas, including an industrial facility and a logistics center owned by Ozon, one of Russia's largest online retailers. Russian officials reported that at least 10 people were killed in these attacks. In the Samara region, Ozon confirmed that its logistics center in Chapayevsk was damaged by a drone strike that caused a fire, leading to the evacuation of over 500 employees and resulting in casualties. Additionally, the governor of the Samara region reported that an elderly woman was killed in a strike on the city of Novokuibyshevsk. While Russian officials described the damage to industrial facilities in that city, the Ukrainian military stated it had struck an oil refinery.

President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine's actions have opened a Pandora's box of Russian retaliation. Ukraine has indicated that these strikes are intended to choke off financing for Russia's war effort. This escalation follows a Russian drone strike on a shopping center in central Ukraine on Friday, which killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 130. In response to Ukraine's shortage of air defenses, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to accelerate the delivery of new equipment after speaking with President Volodymyr Zelensky.