Ukrainian Drone Attacks Kill Seven Warehouse Workers in Russia

By Reuters July 18, 2026 Smoke rises from the Elektrostal Wildberries depot in which 24 people were injured. Social Media Waves of Ukrainian drone attacks killed seven warehouse workers and injured dozens more, while another attack sparked a fire at an oil depot in the wider capital region, regional governors said on Saturday. Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said 25 people were injured after Ukrainian drones slammed into a warehouse owned by Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, in the city of Kotovsk in the Tambov region, roughly 475 kilometres (295 miles) southeast of Moscow. "Seven people working the night shift died on the spot," Pervyshov wrote on Telegram, adding that 28 drones were also shot down on approach. "If they had achieved their goal, the number of civilian casualties could have been much higher," he said. In a separate incident, the governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said 24 people were injured following a drone attack on another Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, a city east of Moscow. Wildberries co-founder and CEO, Tatiana Kim, said it had been a "terrible night" for Russia and for the company, offering her condolences to the victims' families. In the city of Noginsk, also in the Moscow region, falling drone debris caused a fire to break out at an oil depot, Vorobyov said. He did not specify the damage to the facility, but said two people were injured in Noginsk and a nearby maternity hospital had been evacuated. Read more about: Drones , Wildberries 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 Feature Russian Low-Cost Drones Are Changing the Face of Its War in Ukraine Along the M-14 highway, systematic Russian FPV strikes are putting Kherson’s only reliable connection with the rest of Ukraine under threat. 5 Min read Ukrainian Rocket Attack on Belgorod Kills 2 After Drone Strikes Knock Out Power Russia’s Defense Ministry said more than 250 Ukrainian drones were downed across the country and annexed Crimea overnight. 2 Min read Feature 'A Bit Unusual': Russia's Sochi Resort Grapples With Ukrainian Drones Disruptions to daily life have become more frequent in this summer escape on the Black Sea as Ukraine ups its long-range drone strikes on Russia. 3 Min read Russia Unveils New 'Killer Drones' The new weaponry is reportedly capable of intercepting and dismantling enemy drones.