Ukrainian drone strike sparks fire at Saint Petersburg warehouse

A Ukrainian drone strike on the night of Thursday, 24 July, ignited a large fire at a Wildberries warehouse located on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg. Thick black smoke billowed over the city and, according to Russian authorities, temporarily grounded aircraft at Pulkovo Airport, prompting a temporary suspension of flights.

The warehouse, one of the largest distribution centers for the Russian e‑commerce giant Wildberries, suffered extensive damage to its storage racks and electrical systems. Fire‑fighting units were dispatched within minutes, and the blaze was brought under control by early afternoon. Airport authorities issued a brief advisory to reroute air traffic, but no aircraft were grounded for extended periods and no casualties were reported.

Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the drone strike and the extent of the damage. Russian security services have confirmed that the incident was deliberate, and authorities are reviewing security protocols for commercial facilities in the region.