Fighting between Russia and Ukraine continued Friday, with deaths reported across several Ukrainian regions while Ukrainian drones reached targets deep inside Russia. Both countries are also going after infrastructure tied to energy, transportation and business as the attacks spread well beyond areas of ground fighting.
Dnipropetrovsk was among the Ukrainian regions hit hardest. Governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported two deaths and six injuries Friday after attacks reached five districts. According to Hanzha, Russian forces carried out at least 50 strikes using several types of weapons. The violence followed attacks Thursday that left five people dead in the same region.
Kherson and Kharkiv also faced deadly attacks. A 77-year-old woman died in Kherson after a drone hit the vehicle she was traveling in, while other strikes injured dozens of people, including eight riding a bus. In Kharkiv, local officials reported two deaths after cluster weapons were used. At least 18 others were injured as attacks were reported across 21 communities in the region.
Another person was reported dead in Donetsk, where regional governor Vadym Filashkin said dozens of attacks had taken place since Thursday. Residents are still being moved away from dangerous areas. During one 24-hour period, more than 800 people were evacuated, and 91 of them were children.
At the same time, Ukrainian drones have been reaching locations far inside Russian territory. One of Friday’s targets was a Wildberries distribution center in Yekaterinburg, located more than 2,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Three drones struck the roof, according to a regional official. Around 800 workers were evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
Wildberries has faced repeated attacks since July 18. At least 20 locations connected to the online retailer have been targeted, leaving 13 people dead and causing fires and damage to merchandise and warehouse space. Ukraine accuses the retailer of helping Russia’s military campaign, something both the company and Russian officials reject.
The disruption is also being felt by people running smaller businesses connected to Wildberries. Moscow pickup-point operator Vasily Klimov said his location used to receive roughly 400 packages each day, but that number has fallen to about 150. His sales have dropped by around half in a month, and he is now trying to sell the business because it is losing money.
He is far from the only owner looking for a way out. More than 3,100 franchised pickup locations were advertised for sale across Russia by Wednesday. Wildberries says it has responded with measures including delayed payments and discounts. The company has also started making voluntary compensation payments to more than 97,000 sellers whose products were lost.
Energy sites are being hit as well. Ukraine says a 40-day series of strikes has reached 14 Russian refineries along with oil storage and loading facilities. Four airfields and 14 aircraft were also hit, according to Ukraine.
Russian attacks have targeted Ukraine’s energy operations too. Naftogaz reported damage at seven oil and natural gas production sites in eastern Ukraine during attacks leading into Friday. Russia’s Defence Ministry also said its forces attacked fuel storage at the Pivdennyi port and two Black Sea cargo ships it claimed were serving Ukrainian military needs.
Large numbers of drones were still moving across both countries overnight. Moscow reported intercepting 203 Ukrainian drones between late Thursday and early Friday, while Ukraine said Russia sent 147 long-range attack drones toward Ukrainian territory during that period.
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