Ukrainian drone attacks kill 3 as fire destroys Wildberries warehouse

While another attack triggered a massive blaze at a warehouse belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries in the Tambov region, separate Ukrainian drone strikes throughout Russia have killed at least three residents.

Key points

• The overnight strike targeted the Wildberries logistics centre in Kotovsk, regarding 500 kilometres (310 miles) southeast of Moscow.
• Russia's Ministry of Defence remarked its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 426 Ukrainian drones during the night, including over Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
• Both Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly denied targeting civilians since Russia introduced its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
• Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov remarked on Wednesday that the ‌logistics centre was "completely destroyed by fire".
• Ukraine has been hitting Wildberries facilities since mid-July, and it has additionally targeted the retailer's main rival, Ozon, in recent days.

Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov remarked on Wednesday that the ‌logistics centre was "completely destroyed by fire". He remarked earlier that concerning 100, 000 square metres (1.1 million square feet) of the facility were set ablaze, the equivalent of 14 football pitches.

One person was injured in the strike, he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. He did not say if the fire had been extinguished.

Notably, the overnight strike targeted the Wildberries logistics centre in Kotovsk, regarding 500 kilometres (310 miles) southeast of Moscow.

Another industrial facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region was additionally damaged in a drone attack, according to the regional governor.

While a woman was killed in a drone attack in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, the Reuters news agency quoted local authorities as saying on Telegram, in the Lipetsk region, a man and a 14-year-old were killed in a fire lit by a falling drone.

For context, the two firms dominate one of the fastest-growing segments of the Russian economy. It is otherwise close to stagnation after four and a half years of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Ukraine has accused Wildberries of having a role in Russia's military supply chain. Moscow and the firm say its facilities are employed for civilian purposes.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence remarked its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 426 Ukrainian drones during the night, including over Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly denied targeting civilians since Russia introduced its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But strikes on both sides of the front have intensified in recent months, causing a growing number of civilian casualties.

For now, ukrainian drone attacks kill 3 as fire destroys Wildberries warehouse remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.