(KOTOVSK, TAMBOV REGION) – A large fire engulfed a Wildberries logistics hub in Kotovsk, Tambov Region, following an overnight Ukrainian drone strike, according to the local governor. Unverified social media footage showed a massive blaze at the facility, located approximately 500 kilometres southeast of Moscow, after the attack.
The Kyiv Independent reported that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles also struck targets in Russian occupied Luhansk, where a large explosion and fire were observed. The Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported power outages in occupied Crimea amid a series of attacks by Ukrainian drone forces.
Over the past month, Kyiv has launched numerous attacks on Wildberries, stating that the retailer offered dual use and military equipment. Ukrainian forces have also targeted the company’s smaller e-commerce rival, Ozon.
Russia, in turn, struck the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine.
The overnight strikes followed the departure of CIA Director John Ratcliffe from Moscow, where he spent approximately nine hours. The visit, confirmed by the Kremlin without further details, was the first by a CIA director since November 2021. The Wall Street Journal cited analysts suggesting the meeting may have aimed to warn Russia against provocations towards NATO or mobilisation.
Meanwhile, Sweden is urging the European Union to reconsider using frozen Russian assets worth approximately 200 billion euros (£171 billion, $216 billion) to support Ukraine’s war effort. Sweden’s foreign minister told Euractiv that bilateral support for Ukraine is falling while EU countries increasingly rely on a 90 billion euro (£77 billion, $97 billion) loan package. Around 200 billion euros in Russian sovereign assets remain frozen in Europe, mostly at the Belgium based Euroclear.
Belgium has repeatedly warned it cannot bear the legal and financial risks alone if Russia successfully challenges their use. With Ukraine warning of a 23.5 billion euro (£20 billion, $25 billion) funding gap, Sweden says all options should be reconsidered. The issue is likely to return to the agenda at the foreign ministers’ meeting in Wicklow, Ireland, on 1st September.
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