Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian logistics hubs kill eight as Kyiv faces internal political turmoil
President Zelenskyy confirms targeted warehouses supplied components for drone production, while domestic protests erupt following the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Ukrainian drone attacks on logistics warehouses in western Russia have killed at least eight people and wounded dozens, marking the highest casualty toll in Kyiv’s strikes on Russian soil in three years, according to regional governors. The coordinated strikes targeted facilities operated by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, with additional damage reported at an oil depot in the Moscow region.
Tambov Governor Evgeniy Pervyshov confirmed that an attack on a Wildberries logistics centre in Kotovsk killed seven night-shift employees and injured 25 others, including one person in critical condition. Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that a separate strike on a warehouse in Elektrostal, in the western Moscow region, resulted in one fatality and 37 injuries. A third incident involved a drone attack that sparked a fire at an oil depot in Noginsk, wounding two people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the targeted warehouses were significant logistics facilities used to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment. In a broader statement, Zelenskyy also confirmed that Ukraine’s medium-range strikes had hit targets in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, part of a campaign to undermine Moscow’s capacity to sustain its military operations.
The attacks coincide with significant political turbulence within Ukraine following the abrupt dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Wednesday. Fedorov, who had overseen the rapid expansion of Ukraine’s drone industry and the development of AI-driven systems, was removed from office just six months after his appointment. His dismissal has triggered protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, highlighting internal tensions as the country continues its defence efforts.
In a reciprocal strike, a Russian attack on Odesa’s port infrastructure killed one person and wounded three, according to Odesa Governor Oleh Kipper. The assault also damaged facilities and targeted a vessel flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. The exchange of strikes underscores the intensifying conflict as both sides target critical infrastructure and supply chains.
