Broad overnight strike

On the night of 30‑31 July Ukraine launched coordinated drone attacks on logistics and energy targets deep inside Russia. Wildberries warehouses in Volgograd (44,000 m²), Nizhnekamsk and Kazan caught fire, as did the Lukoil‑Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery and the Nizhnekamsk refinery. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said port infrastructure on the Taman Peninsula near the Kerch Strait and an aircraft plant in Eupatoria, occupied Crimea, were also hit. In Volgograd a residential building was damaged, five people were wounded, and the airport suspended flights. In Tatarstan residents reported more than 30 explosions near the Nizhnekamsk refinery, and air traffic was temporarily restricted at Nizhnekamsk, Kazan and Bugulma airports.

A first strike on Ozon

Competitor Ozon confirmed a drone hit its logistics centre in Tatarstan – the first time Ukrainian drones targeted its infrastructure. Employees were evacuated. Together Wildberries and Ozon dominate Russia’s online retail, a duopoly often compared to Amazon’s position globally.

Wildberries’ mounting toll

Wildberries has been under attack since mid‑July. Previously struck were logistics hubs in Elektrostal (Moscow oblast), Kotovsk (Tambov oblast), Krasnodar, Nevinnomyssk, Simferopol, Voronezh oblast, Penza and Ryazan. On 30 July a warehouse in Penza was also hit. The company says the campaign has cut “at least 10 per cent” of its logistics capacity and it has rerouted deliveries to other centres.

“The attack caused a fire at the company’s logistics centre in Volgograd. Fire crews are on site. There are no initial reports of casualties. Logistics chains were reorganised, and deliveries and orders are now being handled in other facilities.”

Owner Tatiana Kim asked the state for financial aid; lost or destroyed goods are worth “hundreds of billions of rubles,” according to the company. Reuters reported that VTB Bank may consider rescue lending.

Kyiv’s justification

Ukrainian authorities maintain the strikes target infrastructure that supports Russia’s war effort. President Zelensky, quoted by Radio Svoboda, said Wildberries warehouses held dual‑use goods – electronics, navigation equipment and components for Russia’s arms industry and drone production. Moscow rejects the accusation, calling the attacks strikes on civilian targets.

Oil and military targets

In Volgograd the Lukoil refinery, one of Russia’s largest with a design capacity of up to 15.7 million tonnes of crude a year, caught fire. It supplies petrol, diesel, jet fuel and other products to the Southern Military District. The Nizhnekamsk refinery also burned, with locals reporting at least 30 blasts. SBU added that forces hit port facilities on the Taman Peninsula and an aviation plant in Eupatoria.

A systematic campaign since 18 July

Since 18 July Ukrainian forces have struck Wildberries logistics hubs across Russia, from Moscow oblast to the North Caucasus and occupied Crimea. The cumulative pressure weakens Russia’s e‑commerce backbone while the Kremlin considers state aid to keep the platform running. The map of strikes now spans at least twelve locations, and for the first time the second‑placed Ozon has joined the list of targets.