War

Ukrainian forces attacked logistics centers belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Ozon for the third consecutive night, as several sites, including in occupied Crimea, were also hit, monitoring channels reported Aug. 24.Three Ozon-operated logistics centers came under attack overnight on Aug. 24.A facility belonging to Russian home goods retailer Kuchenland in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar was set ablaze amid the Ukrainian attack, according to independent Russian Telegram channel Astra.Two children were killed, with seven other children and another two adults injured in a childcare center as a result of fallen drone debris, Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.Additionally, debris from drones fell on residential buildings and apartment buildings under construction. The impact of the drones caused a fire in warehouse facilities," he added.Krasnodar, located near Russia's Black Sea coast, is situated about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from southeastern Ukraine near occupied Berdiansk and 365 kilometers (225 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory near Orikhiv.Meanwhile, near the village of Enem in the nearby Adygea Republic, a logistics center belonging to Russian online retail giant Ozon was attacked, Exile Plus reported.Another Ozon logistics hub in the city of Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol Krai, was set ablaze after being struck by Ukrainian forces, according to Telegram channel Exilenova Plus.Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed Ukrainian drones attacked the city of Nevinnomyssk's industrial area, without saying what sites were targeted."Our air defense forces are repelling an attack by enemy drones targeting the industrial zone of Nevinnomyssk. Some drones have been shot down," he said.A third Ozon facility was engulfed in flames after being hit in the town of Tyube in the Dagestan Republic, according to Exilenova Plus.In occupied Crimea, a fire broke out at the site of a radar tracking unit following a total of four strikes, pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported.The details could not be immediately verified.
The attacks come as Ukraine celebrates its Independence Day on Aug. 24, marking 35 years since Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union.Strikes on Ozon logistics hubs in recent days follow a weeks-long campaign of attacks on Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries.Ozon logistics centers were struck in Russia's Samara Oblast on Aug. 22, and in the city of Orenburg overnight on Aug. 23.
On Aug. 16, Ukrainian forces struck cities across Russia's Moscow Oblast in a major overnight drone attack on Aug. 16, damaging a warehouse belonging to major Russian online retailer Wildberries, Moscow Oblast Governor Andrey Vorobyov claimed.Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed the attack on the Wildberries warehouse, noting that it is the company's largest such facility, at 250,000 square meters.