Seven killed in Ukrainian drone strike on Russian logistics hub
A Ukrainian drone attack killed seven workers at a major Russian logistics centre, underscoring the escalating threat to civilian commercial infrastructure as the EU backs Kyiv's drone production.
Seven night-shift employees were killed and 24 wounded when Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries logistics centre in Kotovsk, a town in the Tambov region. "Seven night-shift employees were killed when enemy UAVs hit a Wildberries logistics centre," Governor Evgeny Pervyshov said.
"According to preliminary information, 24 people were wounded" in the attack. The Russian retail giant confirmed that its complexes in Kotovsk and Elektrostal, near Moscow, were hit. "The fire that broke out at the facility in Tambov region has been contained," Wildberries said, while firefighters continue to work at the Elektrostal site.
The overnight attack was part of a massive barrage targeting commercial infrastructure. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that more than 370 drones were launched toward the capital region. "Most were neutralised by air defence forces at distant approaches. 64 enemy UAVs were destroyed on approach to Moscow," Sobyanin wrote on the state-backed MAX platform.
For Russian retailers like Wildberries, such strikes represent a direct threat to civilian supply chains. Companies are increasingly forced to secure sprawling logistics networks located far from the traditional front lines.
A shifting defence landscape
Kyiv has consistently framed its strikes on Russian territory as "fair retribution" for Moscow's more than four-year barrages against Ukraine. However, the sheer volume of drones deployed in this latest wave signals a maturing industrial capability.
This capacity aligns closely with recent European strategic moves to bolster Kyiv's arsenal. The European Union recently sealed an agreement with Ukraine specifically to scale up its drone manufacturing sector, ensuring a steady flow of long-range strike tools.
These deep strikes into Russian logistics hubs arrive as US-led diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have stalled. Washington has shifted its focus to its conflict with Iran, leaving European nations to navigate the economic consequences of a prolonged war.
For European businesses and investors, the expansion of the drone war into central Russian commercial facilities is a clear signal. Supply chain volatility tied to the conflict will persist as both sides escalate their aerial campaigns.
