1 week ago
Ukrainian Drones Kill Civilians, Hit Ozon Warehouse, Industrial Sites
Ukraine launched many drone attacks on places in Russia overnight.
Russian officials said the attacks killed civilians, but reports gave different totals.
A warehouse connected to Ozon, a large Russian online store, was hit in the Samara region.
Ozon said people were injured and its logistics center stopped working.
Ukraine’s military said an oil refinery in the same region was hit and caught fire.
In Yeysk, officials said two children and other adults were killed or wounded.
More deaths and injuries were reported in Belgorod, Bryansk and Luhansk.
Russia said its forces shot down 457 Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine has said attacks on oil and logistics facilities are intended to weaken Russia’s ability to continue the war.
Russian officials reported different death tolls, with one account saying at least eight civilians were killed and another saying at least six.
A strike hit Ozon’s logistics center in Chapayevsk, Samara region, injuring people and halting operations.
Samara officials reported damage to industrial facilities, while Ukraine’s military said the Novokuibyshevsk refinery was hit and caught fire.
In Yeysk, Krasnodar region, Russian officials said two children and an adult were killed, while another adult was wounded.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said it downed 457 Ukrainian drones, while casualties were also reported in Belgorod, Bryansk and Luhansk.
- Who
- Ukrainian forces were reported to have carried out the drone strikes; Russian regional officials, Ozon and Russia’s Defence Ministry reported their effects.
- What
- An overnight wave of drone strikes caused civilian deaths and injuries and hit Ozon’s warehouse and industrial facilities.
- Where
- The reported strikes affected Russia’s Samara, Krasnodar, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, as well as Luhansk.
- When
- Overnight before reports published on Aug. 22.
- Why
- Ukraine has described strikes on oil, logistics and other economic infrastructure as an effort to undermine Russia’s ability to wage war; the reports also place the attacks amid escalating air strikes by both sides.
Ukraine’s account
Russian officials’ account
Targets in Samara
Ukraine’s account
Ukraine’s military said it struck the Novokuibyshevsk refinery and caused a fire.
Russian officials’ account
The Samara governor said industrial facilities were damaged but did not identify the facility; Ozon said its Chapayevsk logistics center was hit.
Purpose of the attacks
Ukraine’s account
Ukraine has characterized strikes on Ozon, Wildberries, oil facilities and logistics infrastructure as part of a campaign against economic infrastructure supporting Russia’s war effort.
Russian officials’ account
Russian officials focused on reported civilian deaths, injuries and damage caused by the strikes.
Scale and casualties
Ukraine’s account
The reports describe Ukrainian attacks on multiple Russian regions but do not provide a Ukrainian casualty assessment.
Russian officials’ account
Russia’s Defence Ministry said 457 drones were downed, while regional officials reported deaths and injuries; published reports gave different overall death tolls of six and eight.
Key facts
- Reported death toll
- One report said at least eight civilians were killed; a Reuters report said at least six, reflecting differing reported totals.
- Ozon facility
- Ozon said its logistics center in Chapayevsk, Samara region, was hit, causing injuries and a work stoppage.
- Samara industrial site
- Ukraine’s military said the Novokuibyshevsk refinery was struck and set on fire; the Samara governor referred only to industrial facilities and did not name the target.
- Yeysk casualties
- Russian officials reported that two children and adults were killed or wounded in the Sea of Azov port town of Yeysk; the reports differ on the exact adult casualty count.
- Other reported casualties
- Belgorod officials reported two deaths and 13 injuries; Bryansk officials reported four injuries; Luhansk officials reported two deaths and nine injuries.
- Russian interception claim
- Russia’s Defence Ministry said it downed 457 Ukrainian drones overnight.
- Ozon context
- The reports described this as the first reported strike on Ozon after weeks of attacks on its larger rival Wildberries.
Sources
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