Ukrainian drone attacks have set fire to industrial sites in Russia’s Ryazan region, forcing the country’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, to evacuate warehouse facilities as Kyiv widens its campaign against Moscow’s wartime economy.
The strikes mark an intensifying effort by Ukraine to disrupt the logistics networks that sustain both civilian commerce and military supply chains deep inside Russian territory. Wildberries confirmed it had cleared staff from affected warehouses in Ryazan following the assault.
The attacks form part of a broader pattern of long-range operations aimed at pressuring the Russian economy far from the front lines. Earlier this month, similar operations damaged the retailer’s facilities in a series of coordinated strikes.
Wildberries has emerged as a significant target because of its central role in Russia’s e-commerce sector, which has expanded rapidly as Western brands withdrew and domestic platforms filled the gap. The company operates an extensive network of distribution centres across the country.
The strikes come as Ukraine seeks new avenues to raise the costs of the conflict for Moscow, complementing earlier drone campaigns that targeted refineries, fuel depots and other infrastructure. Analysts suggest the shift toward commercial logistics reflects an attempt to expose vulnerabilities in Russia’s domestic supply networks.
Ukraine’s drone programme has grown steadily over the course of the war, with strikes reaching increasingly distant regions. The earlier assaults on the same retail network underscored Kyiv’s willingness to focus on economic rather than purely military targets.
Russian authorities have not disclosed the full extent of the damage, and the number of drones involved in the latest wave remains unclear. Fires at the industrial sites were reported to have prompted emergency responses in the affected areas.
The developments unfold against a backdrop of continued diplomatic uncertainty over the trajectory of the war, with international attention focused on whether renewed negotiations might alter the course of the conflict.
The targeting of high-profile commercial assets is likely to further strain Russia’s economy, which has adapted to sanctions but remains sensitive to disruptions in domestic distribution. Both sides continue to expand their use of unmanned systems as the war moves into a prolonged phase.