The Moscow region faced a significant drone attack from Ukraine, resulting in explosions at a warehouse complex known as “Russia’s Amazon” and an oil depot. The explosions led to massive smoke plumes that could be seen from miles away.
The Wildberries base in Elektrostal, located 36 miles east of the Kremlin, was struck, causing a massive fire and emitting noxious black smoke into the sky. The fire was so intense that it was visible over 30 miles away, with reports of smog reaching parts of Moscow.
Another drone attack targeted a crucial oil hub depot in Noginsk, east of the capital, resulting in flames that led to the evacuation of a nearby maternity hospital.
In a separate incident, a second drone strike on the Wildberries complex in Russia’s Tambov region resulted in the deaths of seven individuals and injuries to over two dozen others.
Witnesses described the scene as apocalyptic, with one Muscovite likening it to a scene from a doomsday movie. Tatyana Kim, the owner of the Ukrainian-sanctioned Wildberries and Russia’s wealthiest woman, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic events and pledged support to the affected families.
Governor Andrey Vorobyov reported that 48 drones were intercepted over the region, with significant damage occurring in the Bogorodsky urban district, where a drone crash triggered a fire at the Noginsk oil depot.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that more than 370 Ukrainian drones were launched towards Moscow Oblast overnight, prompting precautionary evacuations of nearby facilities, including a maternity hospital.
Footage shared by eyewitnesses showed the intense flames and explosions at the Noginsk oil depot, which has 24 storage tanks with a total capacity of 11,500 cubic meters.
Emergency response teams, including ambulance crews and disaster medicine units, were swiftly deployed to the Moscow area to manage the aftermath of the attacks. The oil depot targeted is a vital fuel storage and logistics center for the Moscow region, serving as a hub for traders and fuel companies.
Wildberries, the largest online retailer in Russia, utilizes a network of warehouses and fulfillment centers nationwide to process and distribute orders efficiently.