Ukraine's Liutyi drones burn a Wildberries hub in the Urals, 1,700 km out
The Aug. 7 strike extended a three-week campaign that has disabled more than 20% of Russia's largest online retailer's warehouse capacity and prompted Moscow to weigh financial support.
The Aug. 7 strike extended a three-week campaign that has disabled more than 20% of Russia's largest online retailer's warehouse capacity and prompted Moscow to weigh financial support.
Ukrainian Liutyi long-range strike drones hit a Wildberries logistics complex in Yekaterinburg early Aug. 7 after flying more than 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles), United24 Media reported. Militarnyi identified the facility from photographs and videos published after the attack.
Acting Sverdlovsk Gov. Denis Pasler said air defenses shot down eight drones over the region. Three crashed onto the facility's roof.
A fire broke out after the attack, the RWB joint company that runs Wildberries logistics stated. Workers evacuated before the strike. Firefighters contained the blaze, and most inventory escaped damage. RWB temporarily restricted inbound deliveries and redirected shipments to other hubs.
About 800 people left the facility, Russian presidential envoy Artyom Zhoga said. No injuries were reported. Authorities temporarily restricted flights at Yekaterinburg's Koltsovo Airport, with operations resuming by morning, per Kyiv Post.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces intercepted 203 Ukrainian drones across Russia and annexed Crimea between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Ukraine has not officially claimed the Yekaterinburg strike. Footage published by Ukrainian monitoring channels has not been independently verified, Kyiv Post noted.
The raid extended a campaign against Wildberries that began in mid-July. Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters shows at least 1.18 million square meters of storage space damaged or destroyed, more than 20% of the company's total capacity, according to The Moscow Times.
More than 20 Wildberries warehouses have been struck during the campaign, Russian outlet Agentstvo counted. An Aug. 4 strike in Tula forced the eighth of the company's 15 largest hubs offline. Seven other major sites in Elektrostal, Vladimir, Krasnodar, Nevinnomyssk, Samara, Leningrad and Penza had not resumed operations.
United24 Media put direct damage at 100 billion rubles ($1.2 billion). Kyiv accuses Wildberries of supplying Russia's military with drone parts and other equipment, and cites its financial ties to state-controlled lender VTB. Wildberries denies involvement in military logistics.
The campaign is pushing the cost of long-range strikes into Russia's consumer distribution network. Moscow is weighing state-backed loans, tax breaks and subsidies for Wildberries and affected sellers, Kyiv Post reported, making government support the next measure of how much disruption the network can absorb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Liutyi drone?
The Liutyi (AN-196) is a Ukrainian-built fixed-wing long-range strike drone. In the Yekaterinburg attack it covered more than 1,700 kilometers to reach the target, per United24 Media, which called the range a marker of how far Ukraine's deep-strike reach now extends.
Why is Ukraine striking a retailer's warehouses?
Kyiv accuses Wildberries of supplying the Russian military with drone parts and other equipment, and points to the company's financial ties to state-controlled lender VTB, per Kyiv Post. Wildberries denies any involvement in military logistics.
How much damage has the campaign done?
Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters shows at least 1.18 million square meters of Wildberries storage space damaged or destroyed since mid-July, more than 20% of total capacity, according to The Moscow Times. United24 Media put direct damage at 100 billion rubles ($1.2 billion).
Was anyone hurt in the Yekaterinburg strike?
No injuries were reported. Russian presidential envoy Artyom Zhoga said about 800 people were evacuated from the facility, and RWB said the evacuation happened before the strike.
How many Wildberries hubs are offline?
Russian outlet Agentstvo counted more than 20 warehouses struck since mid-July. An Aug. 4 strike in Tula took the eighth of the company's 15 largest hubs offline, and seven other major sites had not resumed operations, per Kyiv Post.
Has Ukraine claimed the attack?
No. Ukraine has not officially claimed the Yekaterinburg strike, and Kyiv Post noted that footage published by Ukrainian monitoring channels has not been independently verified.
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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.