Ukrainian drones struck two Russian online-retail warehouses operated by Wildberries on Saturday, July 18, 2026 [1].
The strikes mark an escalation in Kyiv's strategy to target logistics hubs that it claims are integral to the Russian military supply chain. By hitting commercial infrastructure, Ukraine aims to disrupt the flow of sanctioned components and materials used to sustain the war effort.
One facility was hit in the Tambov region, where officials said seven people were killed [1]. At least 25 people were injured in that specific strike [1]. A second warehouse was targeted in the Moscow region [2]. While some reports indicate seven fatalities, other sources said at least eight people died across the attacks [3].
The strikes also caused a fire at a nearby oil depot [4]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the targets are legitimate military objectives. Ukraine said the warehouses are major logistics facilities that support the Russian war effort and supply sanctioned components [4].
Russian regional authorities reported the casualties and the resulting damage to the retail infrastructure [2]. Wildberries, one of Russia's largest e-commerce platforms, has not issued a formal statement regarding the total economic loss from the two strikes [2].
Kyiv continues to utilize long-range drone capabilities to bring the cost of the conflict closer to the Russian interior. These operations target not only traditional military bases but also the civilian-run logistics networks that enable the movement of dual-use goods, items that can be used for both commercial and military purposes [4].
“Ukrainian drones struck two Russian online-retail warehouses operated by Wildberries”
This attack demonstrates Ukraine's evolving definition of legitimate military targets, expanding beyond front-line assets to include commercial logistics hubs. By targeting e-commerce infrastructure used for the procurement of sanctioned goods, Kyiv is attempting to choke the Russian military's access to critical components through non-traditional supply routes.
