Aug 2 - Overnight Ukrainian drone operations struck multiple targets along the Volga river, regional Russian officials said, killing at least two people and damaging infrastructure. Among the sites hit was a warehouse used by Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, according to officials in the Samara region.
Samara regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said a Wildberries warehouse was struck by Kyiv's drones. He noted the facility is located about 800 km (500 miles) from what he described as Ukraine's most advanced military positions inside territory Kyiv holds. Fedorishchev added that details on any casualties from the strike were still being clarified.
Separately, Governor Roman Busargin of the Saratov region reported that a strike on a residential building in the city of Engels resulted in two fatalities. He said civil infrastructure sustained damage both in Engels and in the nearby city of Saratov.
Russia's Defence Ministry provided an overnight tally, saying it had downed 635 Ukrainian drones during the night. Officials did not provide immediate additional public comment beyond those statements.
The incidents are part of a series of deeper strikes by Ukrainian forces inside Russia, which Kyiv has carried out against economic and energy-related targets as it aims to degrade Moscow's capacity to prosecute its military campaign. Officials said Ukrainian forces have attacked about a dozen Wildberries sites since July 18 in efforts to disrupt the company's operations.
Wildberries plays a central role in Russia's consumer economy and has been described by officials as a pivotal logistics and retail operator, often compared to large international e-commerce platforms. The company has been targeted repeatedly since mid-July as part of the broader campaign to affect supply chains and commercial infrastructure.
Regional officials highlighted the broader context of repeated attacks on both Saratov city and Engels. Saratov hosts a major oil refinery while Engels is home to a military airbase; both locations have experienced Ukrainian strikes in recent years, according to the statements released by local authorities.
There was no immediate public comment from Ukrainian authorities on the strikes reported overnight. Authorities on the Russian side continued to update casualty and damage assessments as information was clarified.
Contextual notes: The reporting from regional officials cited above indicates continued targeting of economic, energy, and logistical nodes, with confirmation of intercepted drones from the Russian Defence Ministry and local accounts of civilian infrastructure damage and fatalities.