Ukraine strikes Russian Wildberries logistics hub; Russia retaliates with over 40 missiles on Kyiv

Eight people were killed in the "serious" attack on the Wildberries logistics center. Source: Social Media via REUTERS

Eight dead, 50 injured, warehouses in flames: The Ukrainian army attacked an important logistics center near Moscow. Russia retaliated with a large-scale attack using 40 ballistic missiles.

During Ukrainian attacks on Russia over the weekend, a logistics center of the mail-order company Wildberries – the Russian equivalent of the US retailer Amazon – was hit. According to the AFP news agency, citing Russian authorities, the attack was serious: Eight people were reportedly killed in the attack on two facilities of the mail-order company.

The independent Russian news site iStories said on Telegram that an area of 359,600 square meters had burned down. In addition, more than 50 people were injured.

The Russian online retailer Wildberries only stated that over the weekend, a logistics center in Koledino near Podolsk had been evacuated for security reasons. However, operations had resumed.

Residents of Elektrostal watch the fire at the Russian retailer Wildberries. Source: AFP/TATYANA MAKEYEVA

Zelensky: Attacks Targeted "Significant Logistics Centers"

President Zelensky wrote on the online service X about attacks on two "significant logistics centers in the Moscow and Tambov regions," which are more than 500 and almost 700 kilometers from the front line. These centers were used for the delivery "of sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment."

Russia Strikes Kyiv with Ballistic Missiles

In contrast, Russia carried out one of its largest attacks with ballistic missiles on Kyiv over the weekend. The Russian army attacked Ukrainian territory with a total of more than 40 missiles of various types, most of which were aimed at the Ukrainian capital. Of 25 ballistic missiles, 17 were intercepted, the air force stated.

One person was killed, Zelensky stated, and 16 others were injured according to his information. In Odesa, a teenager was also killed and twelve people were injured. In Kharkiv, four people were killed in Russian attacks, the responsible governor stated.

Russia Attacks Ukrainian Logistics Complex

Russia denies targeting civilians. Moscow stated it had attacked military facilities and logistics centers in Kyiv as well as port infrastructure of the Ukrainian army in the Black Sea city of Odesa.

Austrian military expert and Colonel of the Austrian Armed Forces, Ulrich Reisner, described to ntv that the Russian attacks were a targeted counterattack.

Russia had targeted the Ukrainian counterpart of Wildberries: "They attacked a very important logistics complex called AMTEL. Here too, large warehouses with over 100,000 square meters were damaged or destroyed (...) We see here that both sides are escalating step by step, week by week in strategic air strikes, because it is the only level that still offers opportunities for escalation."

At the front, neither the Ukrainians nor the Russians can advance or retreat. There is largely a stalemate there, according to Reisner. However, since the Russian army still has such a large potential of missiles that it can continue beyond the winter.