Ukrainian Drones Torch Wildberries Warehouse Near Moscow, Kill Elderly Man

Ukrainian drones struck a major Wildberries warehouse in the Moscow region overnight on August 16, 2026, triggering a massive fire and claiming the life of an 83-year-old man in Podolsk while injuring several others. Video footage from the scene in Koledino, about 45 kilometers south of Moscow, shows intense orange flames and a towering plume of thick black smoke rising high into the sky, captured from multiple angles including reflections over nearby water. Russian officials also reported damage at additional sites, including one near Domodedovo airport. The attack formed part of a large-scale drone operation that Moscow claimed saw hundreds of Ukrainian drones intercepted across the country that night.

Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, has faced repeated Ukrainian strikes in recent weeks as Kyiv targets what it describes as economic infrastructure supporting the Russian war effort. Ukrainian sources have accused the company of handling military-related supplies, though Wildberries has denied any such role. The overnight assault on the large logistics complex in Koledino produced one of the most visually dramatic fires of the recent campaign, underscoring Ukraine’s growing ability to project power deep into Russian territory with relatively low-cost drones. Russian air defenses claimed to have downed 822 Ukrainian drones nationwide during the same period.

This strike highlights the expanding reach of Ukrainian long-range drone operations and the mounting pressure on Russian logistics and economic targets far from the front lines. As the conflict continues, such attacks demonstrate how modern asymmetric warfare can disrupt supply chains and raise costs for the aggressor even hundreds of kilometers from the battlefield. Strong support for partners defending their sovereignty against larger neighbors remains essential in an era when inexpensive drones can deliver strategic effects far beyond traditional combat zones.