Ukrainian drones strike Ozon logistics hubs across southern Russia
Ukrainian drones struck Ozon logistics facilities across southern Russia on 24 August, starting fires, injuring several people and forcing warehouse evacuations.
Ukraine: From Soviet Independence to a War of Attrition
Russia's war on Ukraine, situated in three decades of post-Soviet history — independence (1991), Crimea (2014), Donbas, the February 2022 full-scale invasion, the current war of attrition, and the live debate over Western support and peace terms.
The strikes broaden Ukraine's long-range campaign from energy and military-industrial targets to major commercial supply networks. Damage to large distribution hubs can interrupt deliveries, impose losses on independent sellers and expose the vulnerability of economic infrastructure deep inside Russia.
Updated 24 August 2026, 14:49 CEST — Ukrainian drones struck logistics facilities across early Monday, starting fires, injuring several people and forcing staff to evacuate, according to Ozon and regional authorities. The Russian online retailer suspended operations at affected sites while emergency crews responded.
said a fire started at its centre in Dagestan at about 05:00 local time. Several people received medical attention, but their injuries were not life-threatening, the company told Euronews. At in the Krasnodar region, another fire followed the attack; employees left the site and no casualties were reported there.
Russian regional authorities also reported drone threats around facilities in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk. Ozon said workers were evacuated and those buildings and their contents remained undamaged. Russian state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that affected warehouses temporarily stopped accepting deliveries and that orders unavailable from alternative sites would be cancelled.
The raids extend a campaign that reached over the weekend. The Associated Press reported that a Ukrainian drone damaged an Ozon logistics centre in 's on Saturday. 's Defence Ministry subsequently said its forces were shifting attention to Ozon after striking 15 major hubs operated by rival Russian webshop . Kyiv says the retailers' warehouses hold dual-use products and support military supply chains. Belgium Pulse cannot independently establish what goods were stored at the sites hit on Monday.
describes the warehouses as civilian infrastructure. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Saturday that such attacks caused economic losses but said they would not change the course of the war, according to AP. shares fell sharply in Moscow trading on Monday, Euronews reported, showing how attacks on distribution networks can disrupt sellers, workers and consumers far beyond the damaged buildings.
There is no reported direct impact on Belgium. The connection is chiefly European: Belgium participates in the EU response to 's invasion and hosts institutions coordinating support for and sanctions against Moscow. The immediate story, however, concerns the widening reach of Ukraine's long-range drone campaign inside Russia.
Investigators and emergency services are assessing the damage. The next test is how quickly redirects orders, whether further facilities suspend work and whether Kyiv or Moscow releases verifiable evidence about the warehouses' alleged military role.
Impact
Regional — Ozon employees, sellers and customers across southern Russia face delivery disruption as the company reroutes shipments and suspends operations at affected facilities.
Local — In Makhachkala, a fire at an Ozon logistics facility injured several people, although the company said their lives were not in danger. Enem also recorded a fire at an Ozon site. Employees were evacuated from affected or threatened warehouses elsewhere in southern Russia. Local sellers and customers may face cancelled, delayed or rerouted deliveries while damaged facilities remain unavailable and Ozon shifts orders through other parts of its distribution network.
International — The attacks form part of the cross-border Russia-Ukraine war and demonstrate Ukraine’s ability to reach economic infrastructure inside Russia. For EU policymakers and Brussels-based analysts, the incidents are relevant to assessments of drone warfare, civilian-infrastructure protection and the distinction between commercial and military supply chains. Ukraine’s dual-use justification remains unverified for the specific warehouses, leaving the status of the targets and the proportionality of the strikes open to further factual and legal scrutiny.
What it means for you
No direct disruption or cost for consumers in Belgium has been reported, so most Belgium Pulse readers need take no immediate action. People who buy from Ozon or manage orders involving southern Russia should check delivery status after the 24 August attacks and expect possible rerouting, suspension or cancellation. Belgian businesses with sellers or counterparties using Ozon’s affected network should confirm whether goods were stored at the Makhachkala or Enem facilities before relying on scheduled delivery dates or inventory availability.
Opposing perspectives
- Ukrainian Defence Ministry
Kyiv says Russian e-commerce logistics networks store dual-use goods and form part of supply chains supporting Moscow's military. On that account, the attacks seek to impair Russia's capacity to sustain the war rather than target retail activity for its own sake.
- Russian government and Ozon
Russian officials classify the warehouses as civilian infrastructure and emphasise the danger to employees, nearby residents and ordinary commerce. Ozon's public statements focus on evacuations, injuries, damaged stock and disruption to customers and independent sellers.
Who, where and what
Key people, places and terms in this story
Country whose drones were reported to have carried out the strikes.
Country where the affected Ozon logistics facilities are located.
Armed conflict within which the Ukrainian long-range drone attacks occurred.
Southern Russian city where an Ozon facility caught fire and several people were injured.
Locality in southern Russia where Ozon reported a fire at a logistics facility.
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Country whose drones were reported to have carried out the strikes.
Country where the affected Ozon logistics facilities are located.
Southern Russian city where an Ozon facility caught fire and several people were injured.
Locality in southern Russia where Ozon reported a fire at a logistics facility.
Russian region where an Ozon logistics centre was struck before the 24 August raids.
Wider region containing the Ozon facilities affected or threatened on 24 August.
Armed conflict within which the Ukrainian long-range drone attacks occurred.
Russian online marketplace whose logistics facilities were struck or evacuated.
Major Russian online marketplace identified as an Ozon competitor and comparable logistics network.
Sources & evidence
- View sourceDe MorgenPrimaryprimary· demorgen.be· 24 August 2026Retrieved 24 August 2026· 39 days ago· Dated
- View sourceEuronewscorroborating· euronews.com· 24 August 2026Retrieved 24 August 2026· 39 days ago· Dated
- View sourceAssociated Presscorroborating· apnews.com· 22 August 2026Retrieved 24 August 2026· 41 days ago· Dated
- View sourceRossiyskaya Gazetaprimary· rg.ru· 24 August 2026Retrieved 24 August 2026· 39 days ago· Dated
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This briefing was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by a Belgium Impulse editor before publication. methodology.