In the early hours of August 22, Ukrainian drones attacked an Ozon logistics complex in Chapayevsk, Samara region, marking the first such strike on the marketplace's warehouse to result in a fire. The attack was confirmed by regional governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev and the company's press service.
Ozon said a fire broke out at the warehouse after a drone strike. All systems operated normally, and more than 500 employees were evacuated within minutes. There are casualties, though their number was not specified. Warehouse operations have been suspended indefinitely, products have been removed from the online storefront, and orders have been canceled.
Video footage published by eyewitnesses showed large plumes of smoke rising over the complex. The outlet Astra identified the site as Ozon's distribution center in the Chapayevsk industrial park. The company had previously called this facility its largest logistics hub in the Volga region.
Governor Fedorishchev also reported damage to "one of the enterprises." Based on eyewitness footage, Astra determined that a fire broke out at the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, owned by Rosneft. Authorities have not officially specified which enterprise was affected.
Until now, no Ukrainian attacks on Ozon warehouses resulting in fires had been reported. Previously, Ukrainian drones struck logistics centers of Wildberries, Russia's largest marketplace.