Key facts
- Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries logistics center in Yekaterinburg, over 2,000 km from the border.
- The attack caused a large fire, but most merchandise was reportedly undamaged.
- 800 people were evacuated from the warehouse, and no injuries were reported.
- This strike is part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian e-commerce infrastructure.
- Ukraine is also advancing its own domestic weapons development, including anti-ballistic and ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian long-range drones struck a warehouse belonging to Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, in Yekaterinburg, located over 2,000 kilometers from the border. The attack, which occurred Friday, caused a large fire and led to the evacuation of 800 people, though the company stated most merchandise was undamaged.
This incident is part of a series of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian infrastructure, including over a dozen other Wildberries depots in recent weeks. Kyiv aims to disrupt Russian supply lines and rattle the Russian public and Kremlin. Ukraine has increasingly utilized drone innovation as a key response to the invasion, with successes drawing international interest and cooperation agreements.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is pressing forward with its own defense technology development. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a joint European anti-ballistic development program involving 10 countries, where Ukraine would produce missiles and launchers while partners supply components. Zelenskyy also stated Ukraine is working on manufacturing its own ballistic missiles, with tests showing strong potential.
In parallel, Russia reported downing 203 Ukrainian drones from late Thursday through early Friday, while launching 147 of its own drones at Ukraine. One Russian drone attack on a market in Ukraine's northern Sumy region wounded 10 people.