Overnight on July 30, drone strikes hit Taman port and two Wildberries logistics hubs across Russia

Coordinated Drone Strikes Across Three Russian Regions

According to ХВИЛЯ: These attacks, which occurred in the early hours of July 30, targeted the Taman seaport in Krasnodar Krai and two Wildberries distribution centers in Penza Oblast and Udmurtia. The port sits 270 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, the hub near Penza is 600 kilometers away, and the Sarapul facility lies 1,300 kilometers from the frontier. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 258 drones during the night.

At the Taman seaport, the strike hit the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal near the village of Volna. This terminal, part of the OTEKO transport holding, has storage capacity exceeding 1 million cubic meters and handles crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied gas, and ammonia. Fires broke out and casualties were reported. Drones had already attacked this facility in January, February, May, and June 2024.

Wildberries Logistics Hubs Damaged, Company Adapts

The Wildberries hub near Penza, covering 90,000 square meters, erupted in flames after the attack. Governor Oleg Melnichenko stated,

“An open fire is observed on the warehouse territory; firefighters are battling the blaze.”

About 200 workers were evacuated, and one person sustained injuries.

In Sarapul, Udmurtia, another Wildberries hub was struck on July 30, but no casualties occurred. Acting regional head Olga Abramova confirmed that “one of the enterprises” was targeted. Notably, Sarapul had already been attacked on July 27. During July, drones damaged or destroyed eight Wildberries distribution centers, putting over 15% of the company’s warehouse capacity offline. Consequently, Wildberries has begun seeking warehouse space in Kazakhstan.

The company has reconfigured its logistics chains, with RWB representatives noting that “receipt of supplies and shipment of orders are being carried out at other facilities.” The strikes spanned multiple regions, including Volgograd, Penza, Rostov, Tambov, Adygea, as well as over the Azov and Black Seas. These attacks on strategic infrastructure underscore the escalating conflict and the growing role of drones. Destroying hubs for Wildberries-one of Russia’s largest online retailers-could severely impact supply chains and business operations. The company’s rapid shift to alternative logistics suggests potential long-term operational changes.

The recent drone strikes have raised concerns about the growing vulnerability of logistics centers across Russia. Similar incidents have occurred, including attacks on a Wildberries warehouse and an oil refinery in Ryazan and Perm, highlighting a troubling trend in targeted assaults on key infrastructure. For more details on these coordinated attacks, you can read about the incidents in Ryazan and Perm here.