Ukrainian drone strike targets Russian facility of online retail giant

A devastating drone strike launched by Ukraine hit a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, near Saint Petersburg early on Friday, sparking a massive fire that engulfed the area and sent plumes of grey smoke billowing over the city, as confirmed by local officials and an on-site reporter.

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The attack marked a significant escalation in Kyiv's campaign of long-range drone strikes targeting Russian energy, military, and logistics sites, with Saint Petersburg being the latest focal point in recent weeks.

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As the fire raged on, an AFP reporter witnessed the smoke rising above the city's high-rise buildings, a stark reminder of the conflict's reach, with the city located over 800 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

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Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of the surrounding Leningrad region, reported that the warehouse was engulfed in flames following the strike, while also confirming that three people were wounded in the incident.

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This attack on Wildberries' warehouse was the third such incident in the past week, with another logistics hub outside Moscow being hit last weekend, resulting in the deaths of eight night-shift workers and the destruction of the facility.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously alleged that the targeted facilities were involved in supplying sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment, prompting Kyiv to label its campaign as "long-range sanctions" in retaliation for Russia's relentless drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

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The ongoing campaign has led to nationwide fuel shortages in Russia and, according to Kyiv, has significantly dented the country's financial war chest, further straining the already tense situation.

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Flights at Saint Petersburg's Pulkovo airport were suspended during the attack, with operations resuming around 06:00, albeit with around 50 departures disrupted, as the city struggled to come to terms with the aftermath of the strike.

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Wildberries announced that two of its warehouses in the city had temporarily halted operations, although no further details were provided, as the company assessed the damage and impact of the attack.

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Leningrad Governor Drozdenko stated that 59 Ukrainian drones had been shot down, in a rare acknowledgment of the incident's details, with Russian officials typically only disclosing the number of intercepted drones or attributing fires to falling debris.

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The escalation of long-range strikes by both Russia and Ukraine has been a notable development in recent months, with Moscow's forces increasingly firing ballistic missiles at Kyiv, resulting in dozens of deaths and widespread destruction.

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US President Donald Trump appeared to express support for Ukraine's counter-attacks on Russia, describing the strikes as "an escalation that can lead to an end", in a significant statement that reflected the complex and evolving nature of the conflict.

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Meanwhile, Washington's efforts to mediate a peace deal between the warring sides have largely stalled, with the US embroiled in its own conflict with Iran, further complicating the already fraught situation.

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Moscow has refused to compromise on its demands that Ukraine permanently cede control of certain territories and renounce Western military support, with the Kremlin stating that the Ukrainian strikes have only strengthened its resolve to prosecute the war and potentially seize more land in the country's east and south.

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The United Nations has reported a surge in civilian deaths in 2026, with June being the deadliest month since mid-2022, as the conflict continues to exact a devastating toll on the population.

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Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale offensive in February 2022, although the exact toll remains unclear, as neither side regularly discloses the extent of their losses.

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In a significant development, Zelensky has replaced both his defence minister and commander-in-chief in the past week, amid divisions within the military hierarchy over a reform drive aimed at modernizing the army.