Attack on Wildberries logistics centre

A Ukrainian drone strike on a Wildberries logistics centre in the city of Kotovsk, Tambov region, killed seven night-shift workers and injured 24 others in the early hours of 18 July. The governor of Tambov region, Evgeny Pervyshov, reported the casualties on Telegram, stating that the facility caught fire after the strike. The blaze was later extinguished, but fire crews remained on site. Wildberries is Russia's largest e-commerce company, often referred to as the "Russian Amazon".

“Seven night-shift employees were killed when enemy drones struck a Wildberries logistics centre. According to initial information, 24 people were injured.”

The attack is part of a broader wave of Ukrainian drone operations deep inside Russian territory, targeting logistics and energy infrastructure to disrupt Moscow's war effort.

Second facility hit near Moscow

Another Wildberries facility, described as the company's largest logistics centre, was struck in Elektrostal, about 60 kilometres east of Moscow. Videos shared online showed a massive fire and a dense column of black smoke visible from a distance, with some reports suggesting the building was destroyed. Independent confirmation of the full extent of damage remains unavailable. The smoke was also visible from the area of Domodedovo airport, south of the capital, where social media users described a sky completely darkened by smoke.

Moscow region under drone barrage

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 370 drones were launched toward the Moscow region overnight. Most were intercepted by air defences at a distance, but 64 were destroyed as they approached the capital. No casualties were reported in Moscow itself. The attack was described by some outlets as the largest drone assault on the Russian capital since the start of the full-scale war.

“The majority were shot down by air defences while still far away. As many as 64 enemy drones were destroyed just as they approached Moscow.”

Zelensky claims responsibility

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strikes in a Telegram post, stating that two large logistics complexes in the Moscow and Tambov regions were hit, at distances of over 500 and nearly 700 kilometres from the front line. He said the facilities were used by Russia to supply sanctioned components for drone and navigation equipment production. Zelensky also reported that an oil facility in Noginsk was struck, and that Ukrainian medium-range attack systems operated against targets in the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea, and occupied Crimea.

“Two large logistics complexes were hit, in the Moscow and Tambov regions, more than 500 and almost 700 kilometres from the front line. The aggressor used them to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment.”

Broader campaign

The overnight strikes are the latest in an intensified Ukrainian campaign against Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, aimed at disrupting Moscow's war financing. In recent months, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted oil refineries, fuel depots, and transport hubs far beyond the front lines. The attack on the Wildberries centres highlights the reach of Ukrainian drone capabilities and the vulnerability of civilian-linked infrastructure used for military supply chains.