Wildberries Warehouse in Russia’s Tambov Region Destroyed by Drone-Induced Fire

POLICY WIRE — Tambov, Russia — Ukrainian drones ignited a significant fire at a Wildberries warehouse in Russia’s Tambov region, local officials reported on Wednesday. The facility, located in Kotovsk, was completely destroyed by the blaze.

Tambov region governor Yevgeny Pervyshov confirmed the attack and the subsequent destruction of the warehouse. He attributed the incident to Ukrainian drone strikes, which he said caused a large fire at the Wildberries logistics center.

The fire engulfed an area exceeding 100,000 square meters, according to Pervyshov. This is the second time in five weeks that Ukrainian forces have targeted a major Wildberries warehouse, leading to its complete destruction.

Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, had just restarted operations at the site after a previous strike in July. The facility is situated in Tambov Oblast, approximately 420 km from the conflict zone in Ukraine.

At least three individuals lost their lives in drone attacks across Russia on Wednesday. The attacks also set fire to a Lukoil refinery and another Wildberries hub, as Ukraine claimed to have hit 16 targets across the country.

In response to the incident, Governor Pervyshov promised to enhance air defense training in the region.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)