Ukraine strikes Wildberries and Ozon logistics hubs in coordinated drone campaign against Russian economic infrastructure

Ukraine has escalated its campaign against Russian economic infrastructure, hitting logistics hubs of the country’s two dominant online marketplaces, Wildberries and Ozon, in a series of drone attacks on the nights of 25-27 August. The strikes come as Russia launched its own massive drone barrage against Ukraine, with 162 UAVs deployed overnight on 25-26 August.

Wildberries warehouse destroyed in Tambov

The most significant Ukrainian strike occurred in Kotovsk, Tambov region, where a Wildberries logistics centre was “completely destroyed by fire,” according to Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov (Al Jazeera). The fire engulfed some 100,000 square metres of the facility, the equivalent of 14 football pitches. One person was injured, Pervyshov said, but he did not confirm whether the fire had been extinguished.

Local residents reported at least ten explosions before the blaze broke out, according to Russian media outlet Astra (Ukrainska Pravda). The Wildberries facility in Kotovsk, which began operations in 2025, was expected to store up to 54 million items once fully operational. It is one of the marketplace’s key logistics sites in central Russia.

This is the second major strike on a Wildberries warehouse in less than two weeks. On 15-16 August, a drone attack set the company’s largest warehouse ablaze in Podolsk, Moscow Oblast. Ukraine has accused Wildberries of playing a role in Russia’s military supply chain, though the company insists its facilities are used only for civilian purposes.

Ozon facilities in Ufa and Orenburg hit

On the night of 26-27 August, Ukrainian drones also struck logistics facilities belonging to Wildberries’ main rival, Ozon, in the cities of Ufa and Orenburg. Ozon confirmed the attacks, stating that all employees were evacuated and no casualties were reported (Ukrainska Pravda).

The Ozon complex in Ufa sustained minor damage and was temporarily closed for inspection. The facility in Orenburg resumed operations but restricted the acceptance of some shipments for one day. Unconfirmed reports from the Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ also indicated a fire at an Ozon warehouse in Blagoveshchensk, Bashkortostan.

Orenburg Governor Yevgeny Solntsev reported a drone attack threat and flight restrictions were temporarily imposed at airports in Orenburg and Orsk.

Russia’s 162-drone attack on Ukraine

On the same night as the Wildberries strike, Russia attacked Ukraine with 162 Shahed, Gerbera, and Parodiya decoy drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force (Ukrainska Pravda). Ukrainian air defence destroyed or jammed 134 of them. Hits were recorded at 18 locations, and debris fell at three others. The attack was ongoing as of the morning of 26 August.

In Kharkiv, a Russian drone struck a warehouse in the Osnovianskyi district, setting it on fire. No casualties were reported, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov (Ukrainska Pravda).

Broader impact and drone debris in Bulgaria

The targeting of Wildberries and Ozon underscores a deliberate Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russia’s e-commerce sector, which has become one of the few growing parts of an economy otherwise strained by the war. Ukraine has been hitting Wildberries facilities since mid-July, and this week’s strikes mark the first confirmed attack on Ozon logistics hubs outside of the Chapayevsk strike on 21-22 August.

Separately, drone wreckage of unknown origin has been washing up on Bulgarian Black Sea beaches. The Bulgarian Navy identified and secured several drone parts on Kabakum beach near Varna and near the resort of Kamchia (Ukrainska Pravda). None of the wreckage contained explosives. Similar debris was found on a beach in Romania’s Constanța County on 26 August. The origin of the drones remains unclear, though they are likely remnants of Russian or Ukrainian UAVs lost over the Black Sea.

Strategic significance

The dual strikes on Russian logistics infrastructure and the massive Russian drone attack on Ukraine illustrate the intensifying air war and the growing reliance on drones to hit economic targets far from the front line. For Ukraine, the campaign against Wildberries and Ozon aims to impose costs on Russia’s domestic economy and disrupt supply chains that Kyiv says indirectly support the war effort. For Russia, the nightly drone barrages continue to test Ukrainian air defence and inflict damage on civilian infrastructure.

As both sides prepare for the autumn and winter campaigns, the targeting of economic assets — warehouses, logistics centres, and energy facilities — is likely to remain a central feature of the conflict.