Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Strikes on Russian Logistics Centers; 9 Dead, Over 60 Injured

Russian authorities announced that a Ukrainian drone attack on logistics centers on the outskirts of Moscow and other regions has left 9 people dead and over 60 injured.

On the night of July 17 (local time), Ukraine launched drone strikes on logistics centers in Elektrostal, located 50 km east of Moscow, and in Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, approximately 360 km from the Ukrainian border.

Both logistics centers belonged to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer.

Yevgeny Pervyshov, Governor of Tambov Oblast, stated that 7 night-shift workers were killed and 25 were injured at the Kotovsk logistics center. Meanwhile, Andrei Vorobyov, Governor of Moscow Oblast, reported that a total of 37 people were injured within his region, with one of them dying while receiving treatment at a hospital.

Governor Vorobyov also reported that drone debris struck a kindergarten building, causing a fire.

Local authorities also stated that 1 person was killed and 1 was injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Belgorod Oblast.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted photos and videos of smoke and flames rising from the sites on his social media, writing, "We have struck two important logistics facilities."

He claimed that Russia had been using these facilities to supply components for sanctioned drones and navigation equipment.

President Zelenskyy further explained that an oil facility was also targeted, stating that these attacks were in response to Russian airstrikes that have targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, cities, and local communities.

In a statement on July 18 (local time), the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also announced that they had attacked the Noginsk fuel storage facility, which supplies fuel to the Russian military. They also reported striking 13 vessels, including two oil tankers used to transport oil, fuel, and military supplies in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, as well as two floating cranes, one tugboat, and a patrol ship.

They added that they also attacked the Bila River railway bridge near Savyuvka in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, citing its use for Russian military supply logistics.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that it had attacked a container ship unloading ammunition at a port in Ukraine's Odesa Oblast, as well as a bulk carrier transporting Ukrainian military cargo.

The ministry also announced that it had shot down 774 Ukrainian drones across various Russian regions over the past 24 hours.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.