Ukrainian drone strikes on two major Russian online marketplace logistics centers have forced hundreds of workers to evacuate and prompted Moscow to recall its ambassador to the United Kingdom. The strikes, targeting facilities of Ozon and Wildberries, are part of an escalating campaign by Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged is causing economic damage.
One drone attack on the morning of July 23 struck an Ozon logistics hub in Orenburg, a city approximately 800 miles from Ukraine, leading to the evacuation of over 300 workers. This followed a similar strike on an Ozon logistics center in Chapayevsk, Samara region, which was reportedly still ablaze 24 hours later. In response to the use of British drones by Ukraine to hit targets deep within Russian territory, Russia has pulled its ambassador to Britain, Andrey Kelin, out of his post. Kelin departed on July 21 after a seven-year tenure, and no replacement has been named, effectively downgrading diplomatic relations between the two countries.
A spokesperson for the Russian embassy stated that Kelin had made considerable efforts to preserve contacts and communication channels, and that his departure was made in the hope that a more constructive dialogue could be restored if the UK reconsidered its policies. This diplomatic move occurs amidst heightened tensions, with the Russian embassy in London now headed by a chargé d'affaires, a lower-ranking diplomat.
President Putin has claimed that these strikes, including those on e-commerce facilities which he accused Ukraine of targeting along with logistics hubs, are effective in helping Russian soldiers on the front lines. He asserted that the stated goal of these Ukrainian actions is to destroy sectors of the Russian economy, undermine national unity, and bring Russia to collapse. In an unusual admission, Putin acknowledged that the strikes on oil refineries and logistics hubs are causing economic damage and losses to Russia.
Other Incidents and Accusations
Beyond the targeted strikes on logistics centers, other significant incidents have occurred. A large fire engulfed a warehouse in Kolpino, St. Petersburg, an area reportedly the size of a dozen football pitches, with no initial drone alert or warning, raising suspicions of sabotage. This comes after a period of intense aerial attacks, including a Russian drone strike on a shopping complex in Kryvyi Rih that killed 16 civilians and wounded 130. Another Russian drone attack on a private house in Kharkiv region injured eight civilians, including an elderly woman. Russia also claimed to have intercepted 328 Ukrainian drones.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has indicated that Russia may be planning to mobilize an additional 300,000 troops after parliamentary elections in September, potentially for an offensive to capture the rest of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region in 2027. Putin, meanwhile, has dismissed Ukrainian peace proposals as "exotic" and stated that Russia is ready for dialogue but only based on current realities on the ground.
