Ukrainian drones strike Ozon warehouses and industrial sites in overnight barrage

Ukrainian drones struck warehouses belonging to Russia's second-largest online retailer, Ozon, as well as industrial infrastructure in the republic of Bashkortostan, in an overnight barrage that Moscow claimed to have partially intercepted. The attacks, which targeted facilities deep inside Russian territory, underscore Kyiv's growing capacity to strike strategic economic and logistical targets far from the front lines.

Ozon confirmed that its logistics centre in the regional capital of Ufa was "temporarily closed" for inspections after drones caused what the company described as "minor damage" to the building. Incoming seller shipments, it said, were being rerouted to other facilities. Another Ozon location in the neighbouring Orenburg region was evacuated following emergency alerts but later resumed operations after it appeared to have escaped direct hits. The retailer, a linchpin of Russia's e-commerce sector, did not provide further details on the extent of the damage or the expected duration of the closure.

There were also unconfirmed reports of an explosion at the Bashkir Soda Company in the city of Sterlitamak, following a suspected drone strike. Authorities have not commented on the reported attack, which, if confirmed, would represent a significant blow to Russia's chemical industry. Sterlitamak lies approximately 120 kilometres south of Ufa and some 1,200 kilometres east of the border with Ukraine, highlighting the remarkable reach of Ukraine's drone campaign.

In the southwestern Belgorod region, local authorities said one person was killed in a separate cross-border Ukrainian attack, adding to the mounting civilian toll of Russia's unprovoked invasion. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed to have intercepted 267 Ukrainian drones across Russia and occupied Crimea between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, though it did not specify how many had evaded its air defences. The ministry also reported that Russian forces had launched attacks on Ukrainian steelworks in the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, logistics centres in and around Kyiv, and three Ukrainian ports—a reminder that Moscow continues its brutal campaign against Ukraine's civilian and industrial infrastructure.

The latest strikes come as Ukraine pursues a strategy of striking deep into Russian territory, targeting facilities that support Moscow's war effort and its domestic economy. While Kyiv has not officially commented on the attacks on Ozon or the Bashkir Soda Company, the pattern of such operations reflects a deliberate effort to disrupt Russian logistics and impose costs on the Kremlin's war machine. The World House, which maintains a dedicated page outlining its support for Ukraine at worldhouse.uk/support, continues to document Ukraine's resistance against Russian aggression and the mounting consequences for the aggressor state.