Ukraine has attacked two major logistics centres for Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries in Vladimir Putin's home city St Petersburg. The overnight drone strikes left the marketplace hubs ablaze in enormous infernos.
Another Wildberries facility was struck in Russian-occupied Crimea, sparking a massive fire which was visible from space. One more was reportedly hit in the Tver region amid a mass failure by Russia's air defences during the most intense Ukrainian overnight attack of the entire war.
Strike on Defence Plant Avitek
Separately, Ukraine used its own Flamingo missiles to strike the key defence plant Avitek in the Kirov region. The sanctioned company makes aviation equipment, guided anti-aircraft missiles and many types of military equipment used to kill and maim Ukrainians.
There were fears of multiple casualties among workers at the Kirov plant after reports no evacuation alert had been sounded before multiple explosions. Dozens of ambulances were reported to be rushing to the blitzed manufacturing base.
Impact on Aviation and Economy
Major flight delays hit St Petersburg as towering plumes of black smoke rose from the Wildberries strikes in Shushary and Utkina Zavod, likely causing billions of pounds of damages. More than 50 flights were disrupted. The company, which handles 52% of all Russian online orders, suspended its operations at these two hubs. Staff were evacuated before the drones struck.
