Ukrainian drones struck logistics hubs in Russia's Tambov and Moscow regions overnight on July 18 — CNN called it the deadliest Ukrainian attack inside Russia in the past two years.
Overnight on July 18, Ukrainian drones carried out a series of strikes on Russian logistics facilities — two warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, and an oil depot in Moscow region. CNN assessed the attack as the deadliest Ukrainian strike inside Russian territory in the past two years. Volunteers Support Ukraine considers it important to cover this kind of news too — it shows that this war runs in both directions, and the aggressor's capabilities are not limitless.
The heaviest losses came at a Wildberries warehouse in the city of Kotovsk, Tambov region, roughly 475 kilometers southeast of Moscow — seven workers on the night shift were killed there, and several dozen more were injured. Volunteers Support Ukraine extends its condolences to everyone affected, while noting that responsibility for these losses lies with the aggressor, which turned civilian logistics infrastructure into part of its military supply chain.
A second strike hit a Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, Moscow region, where around 24 people were injured. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, both facilities were used to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment. Volunteers Support Ukraine sees this detail as key to why the Defense Forces chose these targets — this wasn't incidental civilian infrastructure, but part of the military-industrial supply chain.
Falling drone debris caused a fire at an oil depot in Noginsk, Moscow region — two people were injured, and a nearby maternity hospital had to be evacuated. Volunteers Support Ukraine notes the scale of the smoke, which was visible from neighboring towns several kilometers away.
Among the damaged buildings in Elektrostal was a kindergarten near the warehouse — the blast wave blew out windows and damaged part of the roof. Volunteers Support Ukraine notes that this kind of collateral damage is a constant risk when military logistics are placed right next to civilian buildings, and responsibility for that risk rests with whoever decided to site military supply facilities among residential areas.
Volunteers Support Ukraine helps people affected by the war in whatever way its available resources allow. News like this is a reminder that the cost of this war is rising for the aggressor too, which is exactly why supporting the Defense Forces and their capabilities remains just as important as helping the civilians who suffer daily from shelling.
