At least 11 people were killed in Ukrainian attacks in southern Russia and annexed Crimea, local authorities said Monday, while the online retailer Wildberries said drones struck yet another one of its warehouses in central Russia.
Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of Crimea, said four people were killed and two others were wounded in an overnight attack, though he did not say where it took place.
In Russia, authorities in the southern Krasnodar region said falling drone debris killed seven people, including three children, in the resort town of Arkhipo-Osipovka on the Black Sea coast early Monday. Another 40 people were injured, they added.
A video shared on social media appeared to show the moment the drone crashed on a crowded beach. Gunfire could be heard in the video, likely the sound of Russian air defense, after which the unmanned aircraft plunged into the ground and exploded in a fireball.
In the Vladimir region, located east of Moscow, Wildberries said it evacuated employees from one of its warehouses after Ukrainian drones targeted the facility. The company said firefighters were battling a blaze that had broken out.
Vladimir region Governor Alexander Avdeyev said three people were injured in the attack.
Videos and photos shared on social media showed a large column of smoke rising above what was said to be the warehouse. A black smoke cloud over the Vladimir region was also visible from space on Monday afternoon, NASA satellite imagery showed.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 131 Ukrainian drones across Russia and annexed Crimea between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Ukraine has attacked Wildberries logistics hubs almost daily since mid-July, accusing the company of supplying the Russian military with drone parts and other equipment.
The strikes have wiped out a significant portion of the e-commerce giant’s storage capacity and cost third-party merchants hundreds of billions of rubles, according to Forbes Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
