Ukraine Launches Drone Attacks on Russian Wildberries Warehouses, Injuring 15

Moscow. Ukraine has launched drone attacks on two more warehouses of Russia's largest online retail company, Wildberries, injuring at least 15 people, according to the company's founder and local authorities. The drone attacks, carried out on Wednesday night, affected Wildberries' logistics centers in the city of Nebinnomyssk in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions of southwestern Russia. The company stated that employees working there were safely evacuated after the attack. This is the second attack on Wildberries' infrastructure in four days. Last Saturday, drone attacks on the company's warehouses in Tambov and Elektrostal resulted in eight deaths. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that attacks were carried out on the logistics centers in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, claiming that these centers were supplying drones, navigation equipment, and other military materials to the Russian army. Tatyana Kim, founder of Wildberries, also confirmed attacks on both warehouses. In a message released via Telegram, she expressed sorrow over the attack on ordinary employees and stated that the company would continue its services despite the difficult circumstances. According to Stavropol region Governor Vladimir Vladimirov, five people were injured in the attack on the warehouse in Nebinnomyssk, and they have been treated. Similarly, Krasnodar region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev informed that 10 people were injured in another attack on the warehouse, and three are in serious condition. Videos verified by BBC Verify show fires at both warehouses. Thick black smoke was seen rising into the sky from the warehouse in Krasnodar, with large flames visible. In a video from Nebinnomyssk, people are seen gathered outside while smoke emanates from the warehouse, with intermittent explosions occurring. According to the Krasnodar governor, there were extensive drone attacks in the region throughout the night. The debris of drones fell on a company in the city of Armavir, killing one employee. Local authorities also reported that a oil storage facility was attacked, causing a fire. Additionally, drone fragments fell on two residential buildings in Krasnodar and two houses in the village of Dinskaya. However, there were no human casualties in those incidents. President Zelensky also claimed that Ukraine targeted a tanker and four cargo ships of Russia's shadow fleet operating in the Azov and Black Sea regions, along with oil storage facilities. These ships have been accused of being used by Russia to evade international sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to Serhiy Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, the company's logistics centers were targeted based on information that Russian volunteers were purchasing military equipment through Wildberries' website. He stated that the objective of such attacks is to disrupt the supply system of dual-use materials, advanced electronic equipment, and other essential items reaching the Russian army.