An enormous in a single day drone assault on Russia’s Moscow area set hearth to a big warehouse belonging to Wildberries, the nation’s greatest on-line retailer. The blaze despatched a big plume of smoke into the sky over the Koledino space, with dramatic visuals exhibiting flames spreading throughout the ability.
The assault came about within the early hours of August 16, with Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov describing it as one of many largest drone assaults on the area in latest reminiscence. It killed a minimum of six individuals throughout Russia, in response to the Related Press.
Wildberries Warehouse Catches Hearth
The Wildberries facility in Koledino, round 45 km south of Moscow, was among the many websites affected. Video footage confirmed thick smoke rising from the warehouse, whereas flames might be seen burning throughout components of the complicated. A second logistics facility in Domodedovo, close to one in every of Moscow’s main airports, was additionally broken, in response to Reuters.
In a publish on Telegram, Wildberries stated a hearth broke out at its logistics facility following the assault. It additional added that the staff had been evacuated beforehand in accordance with security procedures. “Logistics operations have been rerouted; the acceptance of deliveries and the dispatch of orders are being dealt with at different services,” it stated.
Visuals Present Huge Hearth
The visuals from the location shared on social media present large flames spreading alongside the warehouse space as thick black smoke rises excessive above the encircling panorama.
???? The most important Wildberries logistics hub in all of Russia has been lastly destroyed.
Koledino, Moscow.Wildberries seems to have made a aware selection to not empty this warehouse regardless of figuring out Ukraine will destroy it like all others.
Count on $1.5+ billion in damages. pic.twitter.com/SISsou9uU2— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) August 16, 2026
????❗️BREAKING: An enormous hearth has engulfed the complete Wildberries logistics hub in Koledino, Moscow Oblast, following tonight’s drone assault.
The 250,000 m² complicated was one
of Wildberries’ two largest warehouses. The opposite, in Elektrostal, was destroyed in a strike in July,… pic.twitter.com/Tt5So1seLa— Particular Kherson Cat ???????????? (@bayraktar_1love) August 16, 2026
Extra footage of one in every of Wildberries’ largest warehouses burning in Koledino, Moscow area – 250,000 sq. meters. https://t.co/OSyAw4Z3eY pic.twitter.com/4WVEhPkwQc
— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) August 16, 2026
NEW: Huge drone assault sparks raging hearth at Russia’s largest Wildberries warehouse in Moscow area pic.twitter.com/E2u0SvnEuv
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 16, 2026
Russia Says A whole bunch Of Drones Intercepted
The assault was a part of a a lot wider in a single day drone assault. In keeping with a report within the Associated Press, Russia’s Defence Ministry stated its forces had downed 822 Ukrainian drones throughout the nation. In the meantime, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated greater than 600 drones had been heading in the direction of the capital.
Andrei stated air-defence and electronic-warfare techniques had “shot down or neutralized 187 UAVs” throughout a number of districts, together with Domodedovo and Podolsk.
Why Wildberries Warehouses Are Being Focused
Wildberries, usually described as “Russia’s Amazon,” has more and more turn into a goal in Ukraine’s drone marketing campaign. Ukrainian authorities have accused the corporate’s logistics services of getting used to maneuver military-related gear, together with drone elements and different gear. Russia has denied the allegations, reported the BBC.
Wildberries is Russia’s largest on-line retailer, connecting sellers with clients whereas dealing with storage, funds and deliveries. The corporate was based in 2004 and is led by entrepreneur Tatyana Kim. The most recent strike comes after a number of Wildberries logistics websites had been focused in latest weeks, including to rising disruption for one in every of Russia’s greatest e-commerce networks.