July 24, 2026 Two columns of smoke rising above the skies of St. Petersburg early July 24, 2026. Telegram Ukrainian drones struck warehouses belonging to online retailer Wildberries for the third time in less than a week, co-founder Tatyana Kim confirmed Friday morning, with the latest wave targeting a major logistics center in St. Petersburg. Kim, Russia's wealthiest woman, said Wildberries facilities in St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region, as well as in annexed Crimea, were hit overnight. Fires broke out at several locations, though Kim said "parts" of the warehouses were saved. While Kim said none of the company's employees were injured, Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko wrote in a post on Telegram earlier in the morning that at least three people were hurt during the attack in his region. Images and videos shared on social media showed huge plumes of smoke rising over St. Petersburg early Friday. The Moscow Times was able to verify that the smoke was coming from the Wildberries logistics hub in the Shushary district, located roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of the city center. In an earlier statement, Wildberries said that operations at two of its logistics sites in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region had been halted. It also said that staff at its warehouse in Crimea had been evacuated. Before Friday, five Wildberries warehouses, accounting for around 10% of the company's logistics capacity, had been attacked since last weekend, according to the newspaper Kommersant. Ukraine did not immediately claim responsibility for Friday's strikes. However, following earlier attacks, Ukrainian officials accused the company of helping supply the Russian military with parts for drones and other equipment. Together with smaller rivals, Wildberries and top competitor Ozon sell goods and services worth the equivalent of 8.5% of Russia's gross domestic product and employ 4 million people, or more than 5% of the country's workforce. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: St. Petersburg , Wildberries , Leningrad region , Drones , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Leningrad Region Port, Oil Terminal Hit in Major Ukrainian Drone Attack Governor Alexander Drozdenko said drones had struck the port of Vysotsk, which handles oil, grain, coal and liquefied natural gas. 2 Min read Fire Reported After Ukrainian Strike on Ust-Luga Port The northwestern port suffered damage this week when it was targeted by drones in an attack claimed by Ukraine's military. 2 Min read Ukraine Hits Ust-Luga Oil Terminal in Largest Overnight Drone Attack of the Year Authorities said firefighters were battling a blaze at the Baltic Sea port, which can handle around 700,000 barrels of oil exports per day. 2 Min read Drone Attack Halts Flights at St. Petersburg Airport Russian air defenses destroyed a record four drones over the Leningrad region overnight, the region's governor said. 1 Min read
Kiev rejects Alaska peace plan largely because it is emboldened by US assistance — Lavrov
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