Full Breakdown
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Destroy Wildberries Hub and Ignite Oil Refinery in Russia
8/27/2026, 9:49:29 PM
The August 26 Attacks
Ukrainian long-range drones struck two strategic targets in Russia overnight on August 26 2026. A Wildberries warehouse in Kotovsk, Tambov region, was hit, igniting a fire that “completely destroyed” the logistics centre. Regional Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said the blaze covered more than 100,000 sq m and injured two employees – a 19-year-old man with a concussion and a 49-year-old woman with a broken finger.
At the same time, a Lukoil refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod region, was set ablaze. The facility processes roughly 125 million barrels of crude annually and produces about 5 million tons of gasoline. Ukrainian forces announced the strike as part of a broader campaign against Russian energy and logistics infrastructure.
Russian air-defence reported shooting down 426 Ukrainian drones across 15 regions and Crimea; 16 drones were intercepted over Tambov, with three reaching the warehouse.
Background & Context
The attacks follow a series of Ukrainian drone strikes that began on July 18 2026, when a Wildberries depot in the same region was hit, killing seven workers. Ukraine accuses Wildberries of supplying equipment used by the Russian military; the company denies any military role.
In recent weeks the campaign expanded to Wildberries’ rival Ozon, whose warehouses in Dagestan, Krasnodar, Samara and Orenburg have also been hit. The pressure prompted President Vladimir Putin to issue a decree allowing the state to temporarily seize control of critical infrastructure that private owners fail to protect or rebuild after attacks.
Data & Statistics
- Wildberries Kotovsk hub: 108,000 m² floor area; capacity for 54 million items.
- Fire size: >100,000 sq m (?14 football pitches).
- Lukoil-NORSI refinery: annual capacity ~125 million barrels; produces ~5 million tons of gasoline and 15 million tons of oil overall.
- Drone interceptions: 426 drones downed nationwide; 16 intercepted over Tambov, three striking the warehouse.
Official Statements & Responses
- Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov (Telegram): “The strikes caused a fire at the Wildberries logistics center. The fire covered more than 100,000 square meters.”
- Wildberries press service: confirmed evacuation of staff and halted new deliveries.
- Ukrainian General Staff: described the Lukoil refinery as a “major oil facility” supporting Russia’s war economy.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (X): “They also struck airfields, a missile unit, and infrastructure that is constantly used to launch attacks against Ukraine.”
- President Putin (decree): authorized temporary state control of critical infrastructure that private owners cannot secure or restore.
Why It Matters
The loss of a key Wildberries hub disrupts Russia’s e-commerce supply chain, while the refinery attack targets a revenue source for the Russian military. The decree on state control signals a shift toward greater government involvement in damaged private assets.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualties: Some outlets report three deaths across the night, while others note only two injuries at the Wildberries site.
- Refinery damage: Russian officials give limited details; Ukrainian sources confirm a fire but the operational impact remains unverified.
- Fire extent: Reports vary between >100,000 sq m and 40,000 sq m of burned area.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The strikes caused a fire at the Wildberries logistics center. The fire covered more than 100,000 square meters,” — Yevgeny Pervyshov, Tambov governor
- “People must not be left without work,” — Yevgeny Pervyshov, Tambov governor
- “They (Ukrainian forces) also struck airfields, a missile unit, and infrastructure that is constantly used to launch attacks against Ukraine.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president
