Drone Strike Sparks Fire at Ozon Warehouse in Adygea

A drone attack on a major e-commerce distribution center in southern Russia's Adygea Republic sparked a fire overnight on November 4, disrupting deliveries and forcing the evacuation of more than 1,500 employees. Ozon confirmed the incident at its facility in Adygeysk, while regional authorities reported additional damage to residential infrastructure.

Ozon said emergency procedures were immediately activated after the drone struck the logistics facility. The company confirmed that all employees were evacuated and no injuries had been reported.

"Our logistics center in the Adygea Republic was attacked by a drone. We immediately evacuated all employees, and so far, no one has been injured. A fire broke out, and emergency services are currently on the scene," Ozon said in its statement.

The company subsequently removed affected products from its online listings, canceled orders that could no longer be fulfilled and redirected incoming shipments to other warehouses in the region.

The distribution center, located in Adygeysk, opened in late 2023 and serves as one of Ozon's principal logistics facilities for southern Russia. According to The Moscow Times, the warehouse employs more than 1,500 people.

A video shared on social media appeared to show the facility engulfed in flames, with part of its roof collapsed. The footage's authenticity was not independently established in the available reports.

Regional head Murat Kumpilov also confirmed the attack on Wednesday. He reported that falling drone debris damaged a residential gas pipeline in another village, although the incident caused no reported injuries.

The strike adds to a series of attacks affecting distribution facilities operated by Ozon and its main competitor, Wildberries, since the summer. Both companies occupy significant positions in Russia's retail economy.

The Kyiv Independent reported that the broader business ecosystems surrounding Ozon and Wildberries account for approximately 8.5% of Russia's gross domestic product.

The attacks form part of Ukraine's broader campaign against targets deep inside Russian territory and occupied areas, aimed at weakening Moscow's capacity to sustain its war. Previous incidents have also affected facilities associated with Russia's military-industrial sector.

On October 27, explosions and fires were reported in the Russian city of Lipetsk following an attack attributed to Ukrainian forces by the Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova Plus.

Later that night, the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, also caught fire following a reported drone attack. The facility had been targeted repeatedly in previous months.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted 709 Ukrainian drones across Russian territory and annexed Crimea during the period described in its statement, spanning Tuesday night through Friday morning. The ministry's interception figures were not independently verified in the available reports.