Ukraine Went Back for the Wildberries Hub It Hit in July. This Time It Burned Down.
Ukraine's FP-1 drones finished a Tambov warehouse they first struck in July, turning repair for Russian owners from a one-time expense into a recurring cost.
The FP-1 attack finished a warehouse that survived the first strike, turning repair from a one-time expense into a recurring cost.
Ukrainian drones destroyed a Wildberries logistics hub in Kotovsk, in Russia's Tambov region, overnight into Aug. 26. The fire covered more than 100,000 square meters and completely destroyed the center, Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said on Telegram.
It was Ukraine's second strike on that warehouse in just over a month. The July 18 attack killed seven people and injured 25, Russian authorities stated. That strike opened Ukraine's air campaign against Wildberries, which Kyiv accuses of helping supply the Russian military. The Aug. 26 strike finished it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was destroyed in the Aug. 26 strike?
A Wildberries logistics hub in Kotovsk, Tambov region. Tambov Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said on Telegram the fire covered more than 100,000 square meters and completely destroyed the center. The complex opened in 2025, covers roughly 108,000 square meters and was designed to hold up to 54 million items.
Why does it matter that this was a second strike?
The same warehouse was hit on July 18, in the attack that opened Ukraine's air campaign against Wildberries. That strike killed seven people and injured 25, per Russian authorities. The August strike destroyed what the first one left standing, which turns rebuilding into a repeat cost rather than a single repair.
What else was hit that night?
FP-1 drones struck the NORSI refinery at Kstovo in the Nizhny Novgorod region, manufacturer Fire Point announced on Telegram. Ukraine's General Staff confirmed the strike, and Special Operations Forces said its Deep Strike units carried it out with the Unmanned Systems Forces.
How significant is the NORSI refinery?
It processes about 17 million metric tons of crude a year. It is Lukoil's largest refinery, Russia's fourth-largest by refining capacity and its second-largest gasoline producer.
How large was the overall attack?
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed 426 drones were downed across 16 regions, including Crimea, between 8 p.m. Aug. 25 and 7 a.m. Aug. 26. That figure is a Russian claim and has not been independently verified.
What is the wider damage to Russian refining?
Ukrainian drones have attacked Russian industrial sites more than 70 times since the start of 2026, disabling dozens, The Moscow Times found. Five refineries have halted operations since early August, among them Saratov and Volgograd.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.