Coverage Comparison
Ukrainian drones struck a warehouse operated by Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, near Saint Petersburg early Friday, igniting a fire that sent a plume of grey smoke over the city. The attack is part of a series of long-range Ukrainian strikes targeting logistics, energy and industrial facilities across Russia, as reported by Africa News and France 24.
Footage from Saint Petersburg shows a vast plume of grey smoke rising above the warehouse as firefighters battled the blaze, according to Africa News. Emergency crews were deployed after the strike, which officials said hit civilian infrastructure. Three people were injured in the attack, both outlets reported.
Russia's air defences intercepted 33 Ukrainian drones over the region overnight, said Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, as cited by Africa News. Flights at Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg were briefly halted before resuming later in the morning.
Key Claims
Wildberries confirmed that two of its warehouses in Saint Petersburg had suspended operations following the attack, though the company released few further details, according to Africa News. Russian officials and Wildberries said this was the third overnight attack on the retailer's warehouses within a week.
France 24 reported that Ukraine has carried out attacks on five Wildberries warehouses since July 18. The outlet also noted that Wildberries and Ozon, another major Russian e-commerce platform, together sell goods and services worth the equivalent of 8.5 percent of Russia's GDP, underscoring the economic significance of the targeted facilities.
According to France 24, the attack occurred more than 800 kilometres from the Ukrainian borderched city's eastern edge. An eyewitness account described grey smoke rising into the morning sky over high-rise buildings in the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Wildberries facilities were used to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment, according to France 24. Russian officials reject this characterization, insisting that the strikes target civilian infrastructure and disrupt businesses and residents.
The exchange of long-range attacks has continued to intensify, with Ukraine describing its operations as "long-range sanctions" aimed at logistics hubs that it says play a role in supplying dual-use goods, electronics and components to Russia's defence industry. Moscow rejects this framing.
Perspectives
Ukraine's position: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Wildberries warehouses were used to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment, framing the strikes as legitimate "long-range sanctions" against infrastructure supporting Russia's defence industry.
Russia's position: Russian officials and Wildberries say the strikes target civilian infrastructure and disrupt businesses and residents, rejecting allegations that the company handles military supplies. Moscow describes the attacks as strikes on civilian targets.