Ukrainian Drone Operations Inside Russia
During the night leading into August 26, Ukrainian drones struck two separate targets on Russian soil: the Wildberries logistics hub located in Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, and an oil refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. The Tambov regional governor confirmed the attack on the Wildberries warehouse complex, which had opened in 2025 with capacity to hold as many as 54 million product items. Long-range Ukrainian drone operations against targets deep inside Russia have become a regular feature of the conflict in 2025.
The first reports of a blaze at the site surfaced just after 1 a.m., and local residents said they heard at least ten explosions in Kotovsk. The impacted facility covers roughly 108,000 square meters. This marks the second time Wildberries has been hit; the previous incident occurred on July 18, when a fire forced a temporary suspension of operations and claimed the lives of seven employees.
Strike on the Kstovo Oil Refinery
Closer to dawn, drones reached the LUKOIL-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery in Kstovo, the fourth-largest oil processing plant in Russia and the country's second-biggest gasoline producer. Its maximum designed throughput is approximately 17 million metric tons of crude oil per year.
- Before these attacks, the plant was producing roughly 5 million tons of gasoline;
- more than 5 million tons of diesel fuel;
- 2 million tons of fuel oil;
- and about 500,000 tons of bitumen, with over 50 petroleum product lines.
The refinery had already halted operations due to equipment damage from prior strikes, including one on July 2. Footage from Kstovo shows multiple burning zones and thick black smoke.
This time, the Wildberries fire covered a considerably larger area than in the July attack. Both strikes highlight the ongoing conflict and its effect on critical infrastructure inside Russia.
These attacks point to an escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war and demonstrate the growing role of unmanned aerial vehicles in hitting strategically important targets.
The economic consequences for Russia could be substantial, as strikes on logistics and refining capacity may disrupt the flow of consumer goods and petroleum products, undermining both the retail market and the country's energy security.
These recent drone strikes are part of a broader pattern of escalating attacks targeting critical infrastructure within Russia. Notably, similar operations have previously targeted facilities like the Gazprom plant, underscoring the ongoing strategic emphasis on disrupting supply chains. For more details on the implications of these strikes, visit the article about the attacks in Bashkortostan.