Ukrainian Strikes Hit Russian Oil Depot and Warehouses Supplying Drone Parts

Ukrainian drone attacks killed at least eight people and wounded dozens at two Wildberries warehouses in Russia, with the facilities described by Ukrainian officials as logistics sites supplying sanctioned components for drone production amid ongoing Russia strikes. Russian officials reported the strikes hit sites in the Tambov and Moscow regions, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy linked the targets to efforts supporting Russian military capabilities.

Casualties from Warehouse Strikes

In the Tambov region’s Kotovsk, seven night-shift employees died and 25 were wounded after a drone attack on a Wildberries logistics centre, according to Tambov Governor Evgeniy Pervyshov. [1] The governor stated that 28 drones had been intercepted beforehand, noting that had they reached their goal the number of civilian casualties could have been much higher. [1] Most injuries resulted from shrapnel, with one person in critical condition and six in serious condition. [1]

In Elektrostal in the Moscow region, one person was killed and 37 wounded at another Wildberries warehouse, Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported. [1] A separate strike sparked a fire at an oil depot in Noginsk, also in the Moscow region, wounding two people. [1] Vorobyov added that 48 drones were shot down in the Moscow region overnight. [3] Unverified images from one warehouse strike showed flames and huge plumes of black smoke rising from a vast logistics building, with dozens of workers fleeing into a car park area. [3]

Zelenskyy's Justification for the Strikes

Ukrainian strikes targeted Russian oil depot, tankers and Svetlyak vessel, according to General Staff. — Source: ukrainskapravda Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strikes on the logistics facilities and additional hits on an oil facility, targets in the Sea of Azov, Black Sea, and Russian-occupied Crimea. [1] He described the two Wildberries warehouses as significant logistics facilities used to ensure the supply of sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment. [5] Zelenskyy stated the operations were in response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and on Ukrainian cities and communities. [5] He thanked servicemembers of the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and Defence Intelligence of Ukraine for carrying out these tasks. [5]

Additional Ukrainian Targets Hit

Ukraine’s defence forces struck an oil depot in Moscow Oblast, vessels in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, a Russian patrol ship in Kerch and a railway bridge in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. [2] The Nafto-Servis oil depot in the town of Noginsk was hit, sparking a fire at the facility used to store and supply fuel, including for the needs of the Russian armed forces. [2] Ukrainian forces also struck two tankers, two floating cranes and a tugboat in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. [2] A strike on a Project 10410 Svetlyak-class patrol ship in Kerch was reported, marking the second ship of this type struck in the past two days. [2] Ukrainian forces attacked a railway bridge over the Bila River near Sabivka in Luhansk Oblast, which Russian forces used for military logistics. [2] Zelenskyy separately confirmed Ukraine had struck an oil facility along with targets in the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea, and Russian-annexed Crimea. [3]

Context of Intensified Ukrainian Campaign

Ukraine has recently intensified its long-range drone attacks on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, causing widespread fuel shortages. [3] Kyiv said nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been disabled as a result of these operations. [3] Ukraine says Russian oil and gas facilities are legitimate targets as Moscow relies heavily on fossil fuel exports to finance its full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. [3] Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare admission last month that fuel shortages had been caused by Ukrainian attacks and signed into law a bill aimed at boosting supplies to the domestic fuel market in early July. [3] The attacks come as Ukraine seeks to step up a campaign to starve Russia’s front line of energy and weapons in an attempt to undermine Moscow’s capacity to continue waging a war now in its fifth year. [1]

Russian Retaliation and Ukrainian Political Developments

A massive Russian attack on Odesa city’s port infrastructure killed at least one person, wounded three and damaged facilities, according to Governor Oleh Kipper. [1] Russia also attacked a vessel flying the Antigua and Barbuda flag, Kipper said. [1] The latest exchange of attacks comes at the end of a week of political turmoil in Ukraine after Zelenskyy on Wednesday abruptly dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov six months after taking the job. [1] The 35-year-old had spearheaded the rapid expansion of Ukraine’s drone industry, promoting AI-driven drones capable of identifying targets without maintaining communications that Russia could jam and expanding the use of ground robots to deliver supplies and ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. [1] His dismissal prompted protests in Kyiv and other cities on Thursday and Friday. [1]

Scale and Significance of the Attacks

Saturday’s death and injury toll was the highest in Ukrainian attacks on Russia in three years, according to reporting from Moscow. [1] It was the largest and most inhumane attack on Tambov region in terms of the number of drones used and the number of casualties, Pervyshov said. [3] Wildberries CEO Tatyana Kim said it had been a terrible night for Russia and for the company. [3] The merged RWB group, which combines Wildberries with advertising company Russ, was valued at about $12.6bn by Forbes Russia in 2026. [3] Eight people have been killed and 62 injured after Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses belonging to Russia’s biggest online retailer, Wildberries, according to Russian officials. [3]

What to watch next: Ukraine’s defence forces struck a railway bridge in occupied Luhansk Oblast used for Russian military logistics, while further strikes on vessels in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea were reported by the General Staff.

Further Reading

• Ukraine War Map