Ukraine war briefing: War on Wildberries burns two more warehouses

What Happened

On Wednesday, Ukraine struck two additional warehouses of the Russian online retailer Wildberries, according to the company's co-founder and head Tatyana Kim. One warehouse was in Krasnodar and another in Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the targets as logistics hubs involved in supplying the Russian military with drone components and other equipment. The Krasnodar regional governor reported one young woman killed and three hospitalized from the attack on the warehouse there. The strikes mark a new phase in Ukraine's deep strike campaign inside Russia, paralleling Russia's targeting of Ukrainian logistics and energy infrastructure. Separately, Mykhailo Drapatyi, newly appointed as Ukraine's top military commander, stated he was tasked by Zelenskyy with intensifying counteroffensive actions and planning new operations behind Russian lines. The appointment comes amid political turmoil following the removal of Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi, with a protest planned outside Zelenskyy's office on Friday. In other developments, a Russian attack damaged an energy facility in Chernihiv, leaving over 100,000 without power; EU forces boarded a tanker suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet; Russia claimed strikes on port infrastructure in Odesa and Chornomorsk; the EU sought to overcome Greece's objection to a new sanctions round; and Zelenskyy spoke with US envoys Witkoff and Kushner, and met with the US ambassador to NATO to discuss Patriot production licenses.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The strikes on Wildberries warehouses signal a significant expansion of Ukraine's deep strike campaign, targeting what Kyiv identifies as dual-use commercial hubs supplying the Russian military. This escalation coincides with a leadership overhaul in Ukraine's military command, with Drapatyi's appointment widely seen as a shift toward a more offensive posture. The political instability in Kyiv, including the planned protest, could affect domestic support and military cohesion. Additionally, broader diplomatic and economic pressure continues via EU sanctions and US engagement, while the energy infrastructure damage in Chernihiv underscores the sustained reciprocal attacks on civilian services.

Watch For

Monitor the planned demonstration outside Zelenskyy's office on Friday, which could signal deepening political rifts. Track whether additional deep strikes on Russian logistics hubs materialize under Drapatyi's new mandate. Watch for the EU's ability to finalize a sanctions round and resolve the oil price cap extension beyond the temporary compromise. Also, observe the progress of repairs to the Chernihiv energy facility and any further diplomatic developments following Zelenskyy's call with Witkoff and Kushner, and his request for accelerated Patriot production licensing.