Ukrainian drones struck two Wildberries logistics centres and an oil depot in the Moscow region during the night between Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18 [1].
The operation marks a significant escalation in Ukraine's campaign to disrupt Russian logistical and energy networks by targeting commercial hubs and fuel supplies near the capital [1].
Local Russian authorities said that more than 370 drones were launched during the assault [1]. The strikes focused on two logistics centres operated by the e-commerce company Wildberries and a nearby oil depot [1], [2].
Casualty reports vary across sources. Some reports indicate between seven [3] and nine [4] deaths, while others state at least eight people died [1]. The number of injured individuals also differs significantly. Some reports list 24 people injured [1], [3], while other sources state more than 60 [2], [4] or dozens [2] were hurt.
This wave of attacks is part of a broader strategy by Ukrainian forces to bring the costs of the war home to Russian soil. By hitting logistics centres, Ukraine targets the internal supply chains that support the Russian economy and military movement, a tactic designed to strain domestic resources.
Russian officials have not provided a detailed accounting of the structural damage to the Wildberries facilities or the volume of fuel lost at the oil depot. The scale of the drone swarm — exceeding 370 units [1] — suggests an attempt to overwhelm regional air defenses to ensure multiple targets were hit simultaneously.
“More than 370 drones were launched during the assault.”
The targeting of Wildberries logistics centres represents a shift toward hitting high-visibility commercial infrastructure. By combining these strikes with attacks on energy sites like oil depots, Ukraine is attempting to create a dual crisis of economic disruption and energy instability within the Moscow region, forcing the Russian military to divert air defense assets from the front lines to protect the interior.
