Ukraine drone attack sparks fire at Russian e-commerce giant's warehouse near Saint Petersburg

At least three people were wounded after a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at a warehouse belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries near Saint Petersburg early Friday, regional officials said. Kyiv has struck five Wildberries warehouses since July 18, killing eight night-shift workers in a warehouse outside Moscow on Saturday and wounding dozens more.

By: FRANCE 24 This picture taken on July 24, 2026 in Saint Petersburg shows smoke rising into the sky over residential buildings. Ukrainian drones hit a warehouse for a Russian e-commerce giant near Saint Petersburg early on July 24, triggering a fire that sent smoke pouring over the historic city.

© Ukrainian drones hit a warehouse for a Russian e-commerce giant near Saint Petersburg early Friday, triggering a fire that sent smoke pouring over the historic city, local officials said. Kyiv has targeted Saint Petersburg as it steps up long-range drone strikes on Russian energy, military and logistics sites in recent weeks. An reporter saw grey smoke rising into the morning sky over high-rise buildings in the city, which is more than 800 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

The local governor reported that a warehouse for Wildberries – Russia 's largest online retailer often referred to as "Russia's Amazon" – was on fire after the strike. "Three people were wounded, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the surrounding Leningrad region said on social media. Remains of the Wildberries warehouse that was burned down by a recent Ukrainian drone attack in the city of Elektrostal in the Moscow region, Russia July 23, 2026. © Ukraine has carried out attacks on five Wildberries warehouses since July 18, accounting for about 10 percent of the company's logistics ‌capacity.

One of the company's logistics hubs outside Moscow was hit last weekend, killing eight night-shift workers and burning the facility to the ground. Together with smaller rivals, Wildberries and top competitor Ozon sell goods and services ⁠worth the equivalent of 8.5 percent of Russia's gross domestic product and ⁠employ ​4 million people, or more than 5 percent of the country's workforce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged after the first attack that the facilities were used to "supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment".

Russia denied that ​the company, which is at the centre of the country's consumer economy, handles any military supplies. Kyiv calls its campaign "long-range sanctions ", saying the attacks are justified retribution for Russia's nightly drone and missile barrages of its cities. Ukraine strikes on oil refineries and other energy infrastructure has triggered nationwide fuel shortages and, Kyiv says, dented Russia's financial war chest. Saint Petersburg's Pulkovo airport suspended flights during the attack, resuming operations around 6am (0300 GMT), with around 50 departures disrupted."