Ukraine-Krieg: Russischer Onlinehändler offenbar erneut schwer getroffen

Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted the logistics network of Ozon, one of Russia's largest online retailers, over three consecutive nights, forcing the company to halt operations at multiple sites. The campaign focused on hubs in the Krasnodar, Dagestan, and Stavropol regions, according to reports from n-tv.de and t-online.de.

Ozon confirmed that a major fire broke out at a logistics center in the southern city of Krasnodar, leading to a total cessation of operations. Further attacks targeted a warehouse in Tschapajewsk and a center in Machatschkala, Dagestan, where the company reported several injuries, though it stated their lives were not in danger. To mitigate further risk, Ozon evacuated sites in Adygeysk and Newinnomyssk, according to N Tv.

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These strikes on e-commerce infrastructure coincide with attacks on energy facilities. In the Orenburg region, Governor Jewgeni Solntsew announced the implementation of fuel rationing following a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil refinery in Orsk. Residents now face restrictions on gasoline sales, including a ban on filling canisters and a purchase system based on whether a vehicle's license plate is even or odd, according to Nzz.

The industrial campaign has resulted in civilian casualties. In Krasnodar, Governor Weniamin Kondratjew reported that two children were killed and seven others injured when drone debris fell on a private childcare facility. Additionally, strikes in the port city of Noworossiisk killed an eight-year-old child and injured 24 people, while damaging 21 residential buildings, according to nzz.ch and n-tv.de.

EU Council President António Costa stated that the conflict is exhausting Russia's resources and that unprecedented EU sanctions are showing effect. To maintain pressure, the EU is implementing a 90 billion euro loan agreed upon in December to fund drone procurement and strengthen Ukrainian air defenses. Over the last four and a half years of conflict, Costa noted that more than 220 billion euro has been mobilized, according to T Online.

Ukraine is simultaneously moving to localize the production of high-end weaponry. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the UK government is permitting the arms company MBDA to share classified information regarding British components of the Scalp cruise missile, known in the UK as Storm Shadow. This intelligence transfer is intended to allow Ukraine and France to establish domestic production lines for the missiles, which have a range exceeding 250 kilometers, according to t-online.de and n-tv.de.

However, Ukraine remains vulnerable in its airspace. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that without additional Patriot missiles—the only effective defense against Russian ballistic missiles—Ukraine faces a winter in which the Russians will unerbittlich zuschlagen, bombardieren - auch mit ballistischen Raketen - und viele Menschen töten werden (strike relentlessly, bomb - also with ballistic missiles - and kill many people). President Wolodymyr Selenskyj has stated that current Patriot stocks are exhausted, according to t-online.de.

While Ukraine reports territorial gains, the conflict continues to involve high-intensity strikes on transit and maritime targets:

• Transport: A Russian drone struck a train with 593 passengers traveling from Schytomyr to Odessa, setting the locomotive on fire, according to faz.net.
• Territorial: President Selenskyj claims Ukraine has reclaimed 745 square kilometers and approximately 26 settlements in the Dnipropetrowsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions since January, according to nzz.ch.
• Naval: Following the seizure of "shadow fleet" ships, Vladimir Putin threatened spiegelbildlichen Massnahmen (mirror measures). Dmitry Medvedev added that Russia has the right to attack any merchant ship in Russian or neutral waters if there is sufficient suspicion that it transports cargo in the interest of the opponent, according to nzz.ch.

Despite this support, President Selenskyj, citing intelligence and Russian documents, claims Moscow is preparing a large-scale mobilization for the autumn following September parliamentary elections, potentially drafting several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year.

The immediate strategic question now rests on whether the EU will deliver a new sanctions package specifically designed to hinder the production of ballistic missiles in Russia, which Selenskyj claims still rely on Western components.

In other developments, President Selenskyj has denied any Ukrainian role in the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, stating the country is cooperating with investigations. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported shooting down 328 Ukrainian drones, though it provided no details on actual hits, according to Faz.