Ukrainian Drone Attacks Kill Seven Warehouse Workers, Spark Fire at Moscow Region Oil Depot

A wave of Ukrainian drone attacks struck multiple targets deep inside Russia overnight, killing at least seven warehouse workers, injuring dozens of others and igniting a major fire at an oil depot in the Moscow region in one of Kyiv’s most significant long-range operations since the war began.

Russian authorities said the deadliest strike hit a logistics warehouse operated by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, in the town of Kotovsk in the Tambov region. Regional Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said seven night-shift workers were killed and at least 25 others were injured when drones struck the facility, causing severe structural damage and trapping employees beneath the debris.

A separate drone attack targeted another Wildberries logistics centre in Elektrostal, east of Moscow, where officials reported at least 24 people were injured. Emergency crews rushed to evacuate workers as parts of the warehouse caught fire following the explosions. The attacks disrupted operations at one of Russia’s largest e-commerce distribution networks.

In another incident, a Ukrainian drone struck an oil depot in Noginsk, in the Moscow region, triggering a large fire that sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky. Two people were reportedly injured, while nearby residents were evacuated as firefighters battled the blaze. Authorities also temporarily evacuated a maternity hospital located close to the burning fuel facility as a precaution.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems intercepted 379 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, including areas bordering Ukraine, Crimea and territories around the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Despite the interceptions, several drones penetrated Russian airspace and struck strategic infrastructure, highlighting Kyiv’s growing capability to conduct long-range attacks far from the battlefield.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had deliberately targeted logistics facilities involved in supplying components for Russian drones and navigation systems. He said the strikes were aimed at disrupting military supply chains supporting Russia’s war effort rather than targeting civilians. Ukrainian military officials also reported separate attacks against Russian naval and transport infrastructure in the Black and Azov Seas.

The owner of Wildberries, Tatyana Kim, described the attacks as a “tragic night” for the company and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. She pledged support for injured employees and relatives of the victims as investigations into the incident continue.

The latest attacks come as both Russia and Ukraine continue to expand their use of long-range drones, increasingly targeting logistics hubs, fuel depots, industrial facilities and transport infrastructure far behind the front lines. Military analysts say these operations are designed to weaken each side’s ability to sustain combat operations while increasing economic pressure on their opponent.

The escalation follows weeks of intensified aerial warfare between the two countries, with both sides launching record numbers of drone and missile strikes. While Ukraine has increasingly focused on infrastructure linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex, Moscow has continued its own bombardment of Ukrainian cities and ports, causing heavy civilian casualties and widespread damage.

As emergency crews continue clearing debris and extinguishing fires, officials in both countries have signaled that the conflict is entering an increasingly dangerous phase, with long-range drone warfare becoming a central feature of the war and placing civilian infrastructure ever more at risk.