Ukrainian Drone Strikes Set Wildberries Warehouses Ablaze Across Russia

Russia reported a large-scale overnight drone attack on several regions, including St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Tver and Russian-occupied Crimea, with multiple Wildberries logistics centers catching fire. Wildberries is Russia's largest online retailer and has come under repeated attacks in recent days.

Leningrad Oblast Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko initially said that 33 drones had been shot down over the region, later revising the figure to 50. Residents across St. Petersburg and surrounding areas reported hearing explosions during the night, while videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising over the city and flashes believed to be air defense activity.

One of the main targets was a Wildberries warehouse in Novosaratovka, just outside St. Petersburg. Drozdenko confirmed the strike, saying several people were injured. Independent reports later said another Wildberries logistics facility in the city's Shushary district had also been hit.

Wildberries acknowledged that its logistics centers in Shushary and Utkin Zavod had temporarily suspended operations following the attacks. Images shared online showed thick black smoke rising from the affected facilities.

The overnight strikes also disrupted air traffic. Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg reported that about 50 flights had been delayed, while another 15 aircraft were waiting to depart from alternate airports.

Drone attacks were also reported in Tver, where a fire broke out at another Wildberries logistics hub. The full extent of the damage there was not immediately known.

Russian-occupied Crimea experienced its third consecutive night of reported drone strikes. Explosions were reported in Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yevpatoriia, Sudak and other locations across the peninsula.

Wildberries confirmed that one of its sorting centers in Simferopol had been struck. “The Wildberries sorting hub in Simferopol was evacuated with due regard to safety requirements,” the company said, without providing details about the damage.

The latest attacks continue a series of strikes targeting the retailer's logistics network. Earlier this week, Wildberries warehouses in Krasnodar, Stavropol Krai and Voronezh were also reported to have been hit by drones.

According to media estimates cited in the reports, the repeated attacks have caused damage valued at around 100 billion rubles, or roughly .2 billion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said the targeted logistics facilities were used to support Russia's military effort.

“These are Russian logistics facilities, specifically warehouses used to supply war materiel: navigation equipment, components for drone production, and other supplies for the Russian army,” Zelensky said in an earlier address.

Wildberries has been compared to Amazon due to its dominant role in Russia's e-commerce market. The company sells a wide range of products, including military-related equipment such as drone components and body armor, and both the retailer and its founder have been subject to international sanctions related to Russia's war against Ukraine.

Russian officials have not released a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by the latest attacks, while Ukraine's military had not commented on the reported strikes.