(KOLPINO, SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA) – A warehouse complex covering 82,000 square metres caught fire on 23rd August 2026 in the Izhora industrial zone in Kolpino, Saint Petersburg, according to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry.
The fire was assigned the fourth level of complexity, the highest category used by Russian emergency services.
The blaze initially covered 22,000 square metres before expanding to 82,000 square metres within a few hours, the ministry reported. Information regarding possible casualties is being clarified.
The burning building measures 680 by 120 metres. Eyewitnesses reported thick black smoke, with the smell of burning detectable several kilometres from the site.
Rescuers and Emergencies Ministry aircraft are working at the scene. The cause of the fire is currently being established.
An eyewitness who provided video footage from the scene stated that authorities had not announced a drone or missile threat alert in Saint Petersburg. According to the eyewitness, there were no sounds of drones or air defence systems operating near the site of the fire.
A logistics centre previously operated at this address, where goods were received and stored. The causes of the large scale fire have not yet been officially established.
The Izhorskaya industrial zone in Kolpino houses enterprises involved in heavy engineering, metallurgy, metalworking and the production of equipment for the energy and nuclear sectors, according to analysts cited by Osint.
The fire follows confirmation from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence that Ukrainian forces have begun systematically striking logistics hubs belonging to the Russian company Ozon.
“The Defence Forces have opened the account of destroyed logistics hubs belonging to the Russian company Ozon. Systematic strikes on storage centres for dual-use goods are complicating the enemy’s logistics and negatively affecting the economy of the Russian Federation as a whole. After Ukrainian units struck the 15 largest logistics hubs of Wildberries, it was Ozon’s turn. Our long-range sanctions are working—spectacularly and effectively,” the ministry stated.
Ukraine’s Defence Forces, using long-range FP-1 drones manufactured by the Ukrainian company Fire Point, previously struck the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery and an Ozon logistics hub in the Samara region overnight.
Fire Point stated that the refinery struck is one of the largest oil refineries in the region, with a capacity of approximately 8.3 million tonnes of oil per year. The facility is part of Rosneft’s structure and produces petrol, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products.
The Ozon logistics hub struck in Chapayevsk is one of the company’s largest fulfilment centres in the Volga region. Its total area, once all phases are launched, is approximately 135,000 square metres, with a capacity exceeding 40 million items. The hub processes more than 215,000 orders daily.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Defence Forces disabled most of the large logistics centres of the Russian marketplace Wildberries. One of the latest targets was the company’s logistics hub in the Koledino industrial park, which was Wildberries’ largest warehouse by area at 250,000 square metres.
According to analysts, Wildberries’ direct losses alone, after losing approximately 20 percent of its warehouse capacity within a few weeks, could exceed 100 billion roubles (US$1.24 billion, £970 million), and in the worst case scenario reach 200 billion roubles (US$2.45 billion, £1.92 billion).
Additionally, due to the exodus of sellers, many of whom lost their businesses and goods worth hundreds of billions of roubles, Wildberries’ turnover has already declined by a quarter.
The Bell reports that Wildberries’ overall need for funds could reach 1.3 trillion roubles (US$16.36 billion, £12.8 billion). The company will have to increase its debt by at least that amount. The marketplace has requested assistance from the state, but it is not yet clear how much financing will be provided, as the federal budget deficit has already reached 5.7 trillion roubles, one and a half times the full year target.
Fire Point Chief Executive Officer Iryna Terekh said that Ukraine is capable of exerting a real impact on the enemy, while Russians understand only the language of force.
Footage of the Saint Petersburg fire was shared by the Astra Telegram channel, based on video provided by eyewitnesses.
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