Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouse, Kill Two in Russia, Officials Say

Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russia killed at least two people and hit a warehouse belonging to the country's largest online retailer, Wildberries, regional officials reported Sunday. The attacks represent a continued effort by Kyiv to target Russian economic infrastructure far from the front lines.

Attacks Hit Civilian and Commercial Targets

In the Saratov region, a drone strike on a residential building in the city of Engels killed two people, Governor Roman Busargin said. He added that civil infrastructure was also damaged in the city of Saratov, which hosts a major oil refinery.

Separately, a drone attacked a Wildberries warehouse in the Samara region, approximately 800 km (500 miles) from the nearest Ukrainian-held territory. Samara's governor, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, confirmed the strike and stated that information on potential casualties was still being clarified.

Escalating Pressure on Russia's Economy

The targeting of Wildberries, often described as Russia's equivalent to Amazon, is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to disrupt the Russian economy and logistics. The company is a critical component of Russia's consumer market, and according to the source, Ukrainian forces have attacked about a dozen of its sites since July 18.

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These strikes aim to undermine Moscow's ability to sustain its war effort by inflicting economic costs and disrupting daily commerce. The attacks on Engels and Saratov also align with this strategy, as both cities contain key military and energy assets that have been targeted previously.

Military Claims and Context

Russia's Defence Ministry claimed its forces had downed 635 Ukrainian drones during the overnight attacks. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on the strikes.

The repeated, long-range attacks demonstrate Ukraine's growing capability to strike deep within Russian territory, forcing Moscow to deploy air defenses to protect strategic and economic assets far from the conflict zone.