Ukraine's Drone Campaign Shifts Focus to Ozon After Wildberries Strikes

Key points

• A drone strike hit a high-rise apartment building in Yekaterinburg, injuring four people, as Ukraine targeted a Wildberries logistics hub. Wildberries reported no damage to its facility but evacuated staff.
• In Belgorod, strikes ignited fires at a thermal power plant and Ozon warehouses, halting delivery services in the region. Ozon reported casualties and suspended operations.
• Ozon shares fell nearly 30% on the Moscow Exchange after six facilities were targeted in three days, including sites in Dagestan, Krasnodar, and Samara.
• Ukraine's Defense Ministry stated that after hitting 15 Wildberries hubs, the campaign now targets Ozon to disrupt dual-use goods logistics and impact Russia's economy.
• The combined revenue of Wildberries, Ozon, and Yandex Market equals over 5% of Russia's GDP, making them significant economic targets for Kyiv.

Background

This escalation follows a series of massive drone assaults since August 2026. Previous strikes included a 1,700 km attack on a Wildberries hub in Yekaterinburg, described as the farthest yet, and a massive assault on Moscow involving over 600 drones. These actions have caused significant damage to Russian logistics infrastructure, with analysts noting potential economic losses and strain on banks due to disrupted e-commerce operations.

How outlets are covering it

The Moscow Times emphasizes the civilian impact in Yekaterinburg, noting injuries and fires in residential areas, while highlighting Wildberries' claim that its facility was undamaged. Ukrainian Pravda focuses on the immediate operational halt in Belgorod, citing fires at a power plant and Ozon warehouses, with local officials confirming casualties. CNBC frames the event as a strategic economic shift, noting the 30% drop in Ozon shares and the pivot from Wildberries to Ozon to pressure Russia's wartime economy. While all sources confirm the strikes, they differ in emphasis: The Moscow Times highlights civilian casualties, Ukrainian Pravda details local infrastructure damage, and CNBC analyzes the broader financial and strategic implications.

Why it matters

The shift in targeting from Wildberries to Ozon signals a broader strategy to disrupt Russia's e-commerce and logistics networks, which are critical for both civilian supply and military components. The financial impact, evidenced by Ozon's stock plunge, suggests that Ukraine is successfully inflicting economic pain on Russia, potentially straining its wartime economy and forcing a reassessment of defense strategies against cross-border drone attacks.

What to watch

Russia may retaliate against Ukrainian economic sectors, as pledged by President Putin. Ukraine is likely to continue targeting logistics hubs to disrupt supply chains. The financial sector in Russia may face increased pressure as e-commerce giants struggle to recover from repeated strikes, potentially leading to state support or restructuring of these companies.