Ukrainian drones struck multiple Wildberries warehouses across Russia, killing at least seven workers and injuring dozens, according to Russian officials and media.
The strikes targeted warehouses in Kotovsk, Tambov region, and Elektrostal, near Moscow, killing seven night-shift workers and injuring 25 in Kotovsk alone, according to Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov. In Elektrostal, 61 people were wounded in the Moscow region, according to Governor Andrei Vorobyov. A separate attack in Noginsk sparked a fire at an oil depot, forcing evacuations, reported Vorobyov. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 379 drones over 19 regions, including Crimea.
Casualties and Site-Specific Damage
The attacks revealed stark regional disparities in impact. In Kotovsk, seven workers died instantly, with 25 others injured, while 61 people were wounded in the Moscow region, with 40 hospitalized. A separate incident in Noginsk saw a fire at an oil depot, injuring two and prompting evacuations. In Krasnodar, a warehouse attack injured 10, with drone debris damaging two high-rise apartments. The Russian government emphasized the scale of the strikes, with Governor Veniamin Kondratiev noting 10 people wounded in Krasnodar and a helicopter deployed to combat the fire.
Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim expressed anguish over the attacks, stating, there are no words to describe all the feelings and emotions caused by the attacks on ordinary people, on our employees, on us, who are simply doing our jobs.
Her remarks, shared on Telegram, underscored the human toll on a company central to Russia’s e-commerce sector. Kim also reiterated the company’s commitment to its mission, adding, But these situations demonstrate the most important thing: we must continue to do what we do for the benefit of people.
Kyiv’s Strategic Rationale and Military Claims
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that the strikes aimed to disrupt Russia’s military logistics, stating that the facilities were used to supply components for drone production and navigation equipment. This aligns with broader Ukrainian efforts to target infrastructure linked to the war effort, including energy facilities and military supply routes.
For more on this story, see Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Russian Warehouses Kill Seven, Injure Over 50.
The Ukrainian General Staff also reported hitting a fuel depot in Noginsk, which it claimed supplied Russian forces, and targeting vessels in the Black and Azov Seas.
Economic and Societal Implications
The attacks coincided with a surge in online sales in Russia, which rose 28% in 2025 to 11.5 trillion roubles ($147 billion), according to the Association of Internet Trade Companies. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak noted that digital commerce accounted for 8.5% of GDP, highlighting the sector’s economic significance. Wildberries is Russia’s largest online retailer.
Regional Governors’ Responses and Evacuations
Regional governors played a key role in detailing the immediate aftermath. In Kotovsk, Pervyshov reported that 28 drones were also shot down on approach, while Vorobyov reported fires at an oil depot and a kindergarten, though no casualties from the kindergarten fire. In Vladimir, a drone strike caused a brief fire at a residential building, though officials confirmed no injuries. The Moscow region’s governor highlighted that 61 people were wounded in the region, with 40 hospitalized.
Evacuations were a recurring theme. In Noginsk, a maternity hospital and residential building were evacuated due to the oil depot fire. The Russian military also reported hitting a Project 10410 Svetlyak-class patrol ship in Kerch, marking the second such vessel targeted in two days.
