Ukraine Strikes Damage Ozon Warehouse in Russia’s Orenburg Region
Russian forces struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih with drones on 21 August, killing at least two perfume shop employees and injuring more than 140 people, as both sides traded long-range drone attacks on infrastructure and commercial targets. Ukraine strikes on Russian territory have included drone debris hitting an Ozon warehouse and another industrial facility in the Orenburg region.
Russian Strike on Kryvyi Rih Shopping Centre
On the afternoon of 21 August, Russian forces attacked the largest shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih with drones twice, sparking a fire inside the building. [2] It was initially reported that 16 people had been killed and 130 had been injured, but the number injured later rose to 140. [2] As of the morning of 23 August, 50 people are receiving hospital treatment, with six patients in a very serious condition. [2] Nine people, including two children, have gone missing. [2]
Victim Profiles and Personal Stories
Two employees of a perfume shop – 52-year-old Valentyna Horb and her colleague Tetiana Mala – were among those killed in a Russian strike on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih on 21 August. [2] Valentyna's daughter said her mother was "an incredibly kind person" who rescued cats and loved perfume. [2] "She knew everything about any perfume, even ones they didn't have in stock. Not many people could love it the way she did," Valentyna's daughter wrote. [2] "And at home, her husband Hena – my dad – was waiting for her. Today, for the first time in many years, he didn't pick her up from work by car. Now all he has left is me and a broken heart. What she loved most were cats – we have several at home. She also dreamed of visiting the Carpathians and riding horses. Now we're on our own." [2] Valentyna's colleague Tetiana Mala died alongside her. [2] "DNA confirmation is still ongoing, but... our Tetiana is gone. It's hard to believe, but sadly, that's the bitter truth. We'll remember her smiling and full of life!" the woman's loved ones wrote. [2] In addition, a 16-year-old girl was injured in the Russian attack while she was choosing a sweater in one of the shops on the shopping centre's ground floor. [2] The humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders said the teenager sustained blast injuries, including a piece of shrapnel lodged in her forehead. [2] She was transported to a hospital in Dnipro. [2] "During transport her condition was stable, she was receiving oxygen, IV fluids and other necessary care. She also needed anaesthesia. After being transported, doctors urgently prepared her for surgery to remove the shrapnel from her forehead," said paramedic Borys Mitiai. [2] Among those killed were 41-year-old Olena Lavrentieva, who worked as a sales consultant at the Stolychna Jewellery Factory, and 36-year-old ANDI shop manager Diana Paslavska. [2]
Russian drone strike killed two perfume shop employees at Kryvyi Rih shopping centre. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Russian Commercial Facilities
Drone debris struck two industrial facilities in Russia’s Orenburg region, including a warehouse belonging to major online retailer Ozon, the regional governor said on Sunday, August 23, 2026, as Ukraine and Russia continue to trade long-range drone strikes amid the ongoing war. [1] Orenburg Governor Yevgeny Solntsev said on August 23 that Russian air defences had repelled six drones over the region and that debris from the attack damaged two industrial sites. [1] He said there were no casualties and did not identify the second facility, according to Reuters. [1] Ozon said it had evacuated more than 300 people from its logistics centre and suspended operations at the facility following the attack. [1] The company is Russia’s second-largest online retailer. [1] The incident came a day after Ukrainian drones struck an Ozon logistics centre in Russia’s Samara region. [1] Reuters reported that the Samara attack was the first known strike against an Ozon facility and followed weeks of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Wildberries, a larger Russian online retailer. [1] Ukraine has portrayed attacks on major logistics and commercial facilities as part of a broader campaign against infrastructure supporting Russia’s war effort. [1]
Putin Comments on Economic Impact and Escalation
Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded the “heroes” of his military in stepping up a campaign on Ukrainian targets, calling the strikes effective and timely while acknowledging that reciprocal attacks by Ukraine have caused economic damage. [4] Putin made the comments in an interview with state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin, released Saturday. [4] It came as Russia and Ukraine continued to trade strikes on infrastructure facilities, including overnight Ukrainian drone barrages that hit an oil refinery and a warehouse of a major e-commerce company in the Samara region deep within Russia. [4] Russia’s Putin says Ukraine opened ‘Pandora’s box’ with strikes on economic targets. [5]
Russian drone strikes shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, killing two and injuring over 140 people. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Drone Strike on Odesa Oblast Passenger Train
A Russian jet-powered UAV has struck the locomotive of passenger train No. 147 Zhytomyr-Odesa in Odesa Oblast. [3] Passengers and railway staff were evacuated in time. [3] Pertsovskyi said Ukrzaliznytsia's monitoring team announced the evacuation in advance, and the train was urgently stopped between stations. [3] No passengers or members of the train and locomotive crews were injured in the attack. [3] There were 593 passengers on the train, including 15 children. [3] Transport to Odesa is being arranged for the passengers. [3]
Scale of Overnight Aerial Attacks
Moscow has repeatedly reported Ukrainian drone attacks on targets deep inside Russian territory. [1] Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had shot down 328 Ukrainian drones overnight, illustrating the scale of the recent escalation in long-range aerial attacks. [1]
What to watch next: Ukraine and Russia continue to trade long-range drone strikes amid the ongoing war, with further incidents reported in Orenburg and Samara regions alongside Russian operations in Ukrainian territory.
