Attack on the Wildberries logistics hub
On the morning of August 7, Lyuty drones struck the Wildberries logistics center in Yekaterinburg. The aircraft covered over 1,700 kilometers to reach the company's largest warehouse in Sverdlovsk Oblast, a facility spanning 158,500 square meters. Wildberries confirmed that a fire broke out at the site and that an evacuation was carried out. This attack underscores how drone strikes are increasingly reaching deep into Russian territory.
Sverdlovsk Oblast Governor Denis Pasler reported that a drone alert was declared across the region. He said Russian air defense intercepted eight drones, while three others hit the target. Firefighting units were dispatched to the scene after the attack triggered a blaze.
“Fire crews are working at the company's logistics facility in Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast, because the attack caused a fire. The facility was evacuated in advance. Incoming shipments have been temporarily suspended and redirected to other sites — Wildberries,” said Denis Pasler.
This incident marks the second strike near the Wildberries warehouse in Yekaterinburg within two weeks. On July 25, a drone hit a parking area next to the same warehouse, also sparking a fire. Additionally, overnight on August 5, an attack targeted one of Wildberries' main distribution centers in Tula Oblast, which served Tula, Kaluga, Oryol, Bryansk, Kursk, Lipetsk, Ryazan, and nearby regions.
The logistics hub and its role
The Yekaterinburg logistics hub provides goods to:
- Sverdlovsk Oblast
- Chelyabinsk Oblast
- Tyumen Oblast
- Kurgan Oblast
- Perm Krai
- Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug
- Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Wildberries warehouses in Krasnodar and Stavropol krais, St. Petersburg, occupied Simferopol, Penza Oblast, and Perm Oblast have also been hit previously.
The recent attacks on Wildberries logistics facilities point to a growing security challenge in the region, one that is likely to disrupt supply chains. With continuing strikes and drone alerts, companies may face serious difficulties maintaining stable operations and timely deliveries. This underlines how essential logistics hubs have become to supplying a significant portion of Russia.
This recent drone attack on the logistics center in Yekaterinburg follows a series of similar incidents targeting Wildberries facilities. Just days prior, an eighth facility in the Tula region was struck, raising concerns about the vulnerability of key distribution hubs across the country.