Deadly Drone Strikes Hit Russia’s Biggest Online Retailer

Mon Sep 14 2026 11:10:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Eight civilians killed and 62 injured after Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries warehouses in Tambov and Elektrostal.

Ukrainian drone attacks on two Wildberries warehouses in Russia’s Tambov region and Moscow state have caused eight deaths and 62 injuries, officials report. The strikes are part of a broader campaign targeting logistics hubs that supply components for drone production. Ukrainian President Zelensky said the strikes hit facilities tied to sanctioned parts, while the Russian government has labeled the attack the most inhumane in Tambov. Wildberries’ CEO acknowledged the tragedy as a “terrible night” amid mounting tensions in the war.

Deadly Drone Strikes Hit Russia’s Biggest Online Retailer

Eight people were killed and 62 injured after Ukrainian drones struck two Wildberries warehouses, Russia’s largest online‐retailer, according to Russian officials. The incidents occurred in Tambov, roughly 295 miles south‑east of Moscow, and in Elektrostal in the Moscow region.

In Tambov a warehouse suffered seven deaths on the spot and 25 injuries, with 28 drones shot down during the attack. Governor Evgeniy Pervyshov reported serious shrapnel wounds among the injured and described the strike as “the largest and most inhumane” used in the region.

The Elektrostal facility endured one fatality and 37 injuries. Moscow’s regional governor Andrei Vorobyov noted that eight injured workers were in serious condition and that 48 drones were intercepted overnight, while a nearby oil depot also suffered a drone strike.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the raids were aimed at “major logistics facilities” which supply components for drone production and navigation equipment. He added that Ukraine had also targeted assets along the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea and Russian‑annexed Crimea.

Video footage shows flames engulfing the warehouses, vast plumes of black smoke rising and workers fleeing into a parking area as explosions continued. The attacks were precipitated at night, with witnesses reporting terrified staff attempting to escape.

The incident fits a wider Ukrainian strategy of striking Russia’s energy and logistics infrastructure. Earlier this month, Kyiv claimed that about 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been disabled by drone attacks, a figure the BBC has not independently verified.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the impact of these attacks on fuel shortages and signed a bill in July to bolster domestic fuel supplies.

Wildberries CEO Tatyana Kim, one of Russia’s first female billionaires, described the night as a “terrible night” for the company and for the country itself.