Ukraine strikes Wildberries rival, oil refinery, and airbase in overnight attacks

Ukraine's military launched attacks across on Russia and the occupied territories on Aug. 22, setting fire to an Ozon logistics center and the Novokuibyshevskyi oil refinery in Samara Oblast, and damaging planes at the Saky airbase in Crimea.

Ozon, Russia's second-largest online marketplace, said the drone attack caused a fire at its warehouse and prompted the evacuation of more than 500 employees within minutes. Several people were injured, the company said.

This was the first time Ukraine attacked Ozon's warehouses, although Kyiv has repeatedly struck logistics centers operated by Wildberries, Russia's largest online marketplace. Ukrainian officials said the company sells goods to the Russian military.

The Defense Ministry confirmed the strike on Ozon in a post the following day.

"Ukrainian defense forces have struck the first blow against logistics hubs belonging to the Russian company Ozon," the ministry said.

"Systematic strikes on storage centers for dual-use goods are making it more difficult for the enemy to operate and are negatively impacting the overall economy of Russia. After Ukrainian units targeted 15 of the largest logistics hubs belonging to Wildberries, it was Ozon's turn."

That same night, Ukraine also hit the Novokuibyshevskyi refinery in Samara Oblast, which produces fuel and lubricants used by the Russian military, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

While the damage is still being assessed, it is one of the largest refineries in Russia, capable of producing 8.8 million metric tons of oil per year. Photos and videos posted by local residents on social media appeared to show thick black smoke rising from the facility following the strike.

In Crimea, Ukrainian forces destroyed one Su-24M aircraft and four piece of airfield equipment at the Saky airbase, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Ukraine also destroyed relay stations in Bryansk Oblast, western Russia, which are used to control drones.

The Ozon facility and refinery lie roughly 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the front lines in Ukraine.

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil infrastructure as part of its campaign to disrupt Moscow's fuel supply. Strikes on refineries have forced some facilities to reduce or halt production, contributing to Russia's fuel shortages.

The latest strikes came a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces had attacked Russia's Perm oil refinery overnight on Aug. 21. The facility is located roughly 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from Ukraine.