Full Breakdown
Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Targets Wildberries Logistics Hubs Across Russia
8/4/2026, 12:20:09 AM
The Surge of Strikes on Wildberries Facilities
In early August 2026 Ukrainian drones struck several of Russia’s largest e-commerce warehouses belonging to Wildberries. A fire broke out at a logistics centre in the Vladimir region on August 3, injuring two workers and prompting evacuation. The day before, a Wildberries warehouse in the Samara region was hit; the regional governor said the blaze was under control and no casualties were reported. Earlier attacks hit a warehouse in Ryazan on July 29 and a depot in the Moscow-Tambov corridor on July 18. The campaign also produced civilian casualties, most notably a 13-year-old girl killed and two younger girls injured when a drone struck an area adjacent to a playground in the Belgorod border region on July 20.
Background and Context
Wildberries, founded in 2004, is often described as “Russia’s Amazon.” Kyiv alleges the retailer’s logistics network stores and transports dual-use goods—drone components, body armor and communications equipment—that support the Russian military. Ukraine frames the warehouses as legitimate military targets, a stance echoed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the strikes aim to “bring the war home” to Russian citizens. The first coordinated attacks on Wildberries sites occurred on July 18, when drones hit facilities in Elektrostal (east of Moscow) and Tambov.
Timeline of Key Attacks
- July 18 – Drones strike Wildberries sites in Elektrostal and Tambov.
- July 20 – Drone hits Printsevka, Belgorod region; 13-year-old girl dies, two younger girls injured.
- July 29 – Fire at a Wildberries hub in Ryazan.
- August 2 – Warehouse in Samara region struck; governor reports no casualties, fire contained.
- August 3 – Vladimir region centre catches fire; two injuries confirmed. The same night drones damage Belgorod State Technological University.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defenses shot down 635 drones in the August 2-3 wave.
- Governor Alexander Avdeyev (Vladimir) announced staff evacuation, two injuries and ongoing firefighting.
- Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev (Samara) confirmed the fire and said operations were being rerouted.
- Wildberries press service confirmed each blaze, asserted that deliveries were being redirected, and reported no casualties at several sites.
- Ukrainian military officials described the strikes as aimed at logistics that “support the Russian war effort.”
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Wildberries facilities are part of the military supply chain.
Criticism & Opposition
- Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, called the Belgorod playground strike “another inhumane terrorist act” by Ukraine.
- Peskov’s rebuttal underscores the Russian government’s position that the targets are civilian commercial sites, not legitimate military objectives.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- While the Samara governor initially reported no injuries, TASS later cited three injured in the same attack.
- Casualty figures for other Wildberries strikes vary, with some outlets stating zero casualties and others noting two or three injuries.
What’s Next
Ukrainian officials have signaled that the drone campaign against logistics hubs will continue, though no specific dates have been announced. In response, Wildberries is exploring warehouse space in Kazakhstan to shield part of its network from future strikes.
