Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil refineries, airbase and Wildberries warehouse, killing eight

Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone offensive against targets deep inside Russia overnight into Sunday, 2 August, striking military and economic infrastructure across multiple regions and killing at least eight people, according to Russian officials.

Targets hit across Russia

The Ukrainian military's General Staff confirmed strikes on the Saratov oil refinery and the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region, as well as an oil depot in the Kaluga region and other facilities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Engels airfield and Saratov refinery as "strategic facilities" and called the attacks "our long-range sanctions" against sites that finance Moscow's war. The Engels base houses Tu-95MC and Tu-160 strategic bombers used to launch missile strikes against Ukraine. Unverified video posted to social media showed smoke rising over the Saratov refinery.

Our long-range sanctions against Russian facilities that finance Moscow's war.

Monitoring channels also reported a second strike in two days on the Bashneft refining complex in Ufa, Bashkortostan. The complex, comprising three plants with a combined capacity of 23.5 million tonnes per year, is one of Russia's largest. Regional head Radiy Khabirov said a drone was shot down over an industrial zone, causing a fire, but reported no casualties.

Civilian casualties

At least eight people were killed across Russia. In the Saratov region, two died when a drone struck a residential building in Engels, Governor Roman Busargin said. Civil infrastructure was also damaged in Saratov city. Three people were killed in a drone strike on a civilian vehicle in the Udmurtia region, more than 1,300 kilometres from the Ukrainian front line. Acting Governor Olga Abramova called the attack "monstrous in its senselessness." Another three were killed and five wounded in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine.

This act is monstrous in its senselessness. These people were definitely not a military target.

Wildberries campaign continues

Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries logistics warehouse in Novosemeikino, near Samara, roughly 800 kilometres from Ukrainian-held territory. Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said a fire broke out but there were no casualties. The company confirmed the attack. This is the ninth Wildberries site hit since Kyiv began targeting the retailer on 18 July, when strikes first hit facilities in Elektrostal and the Tambov region. Ukraine says Wildberries supplies the Russian military with drone components, navigation equipment and other gear. At least nine people have been killed and scores wounded in the campaign against the company so far.

Russia's response and attacks on Ukraine

Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down 635 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over occupied Crimea and the Black and Azov Seas. The ministry did not specify how many drones were launched or how many reached their targets. Moscow also reported striking infrastructure and two vessels carrying military cargo in the Ukrainian port of Mykolaiv, plus a ship transporting military supplies in the Black Sea. Russia attacked Ukraine with 133 drones during the night, 24 of which hit their targets, according to the Ukrainian air force. Later on Sunday, Russian strikes killed one person in a residential building in Zaporizhzhia and one person at a postal terminal near Kharkiv.

Strategic context

Both sides are increasingly using long-range missiles and drones to strike far beyond the front lines, which remain largely static. US-led mediation attempts have shown no breakthrough. Ukraine's deep-strike campaign aims to undermine Moscow's ability to sustain its war effort, disrupt the Russian economy, and bring the consequences of the conflict home to Russian citizens.