Story perspectives

Russian drones hit Epicentr hypermarkets in four cities

By Drooid · Oct 26, 2026, 6:16 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Epicentr Hypermarkets Attacked

Epicentr’s hypermarkets were struck by Russian attacks in four Ukrainian cities within 24 hours.
The strikes hit stores in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia and Poltava on Oct. 24-25.
A 52-year-old woman was injured when a drone set fire to the Poltava hypermarket.
Public-relations head Yuliia Chudnovets called the coordinated bombings a campaign to destroy the retail network.

Summary

Russian Drones Strike

Emergency services mobilized to fight fire and secure the Poltava Epicentr site.
Regional Military Administration head Vitalii Diakivnych announced the strike and injuries on Telegram.
Specialized firefighting brigades, civil defense units and responders were dispatched to contain the blaze.
Authorities are assessing whether shoppers or staff were inside during the impact.
Russian drones also damaged 25 private homes, a business, schools and medical facilities in Poltava.

History

Historical Context

During the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Russian-backed missile strikes and the December 23 2015 BlackEnergy cyberattack—attributed to the Sandworm group—knocked out power for about 230,000 Ukrainians, with Ukrenergo logging a 3,000-MW loss, the first successful grid hack. On Oct. 24-25 2024 Russian drones hit Epicentr hypermarkets in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia and Poltava, prompting officials Yuliia Chudnovets and Vitalii Diakivnych to demand stronger civilian-site protections.

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Epicentr Hypermarkets Attacked

Epicentr’s hypermarkets were struck by Russian attacks in four Ukrainian cities within 24 hours.
The strikes hit stores in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia and Poltava on Oct. 24-25.
A 52-year-old woman was injured when a drone set fire to the Poltava hypermarket.
Public-relations head Yuliia Chudnovets called the coordinated bombings a campaign to destroy the retail network.

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