Throughout July, Russia attacked logistics terminals, warehouses, retail outlets and post offices in several regions of Ukraine. On 31 July, the «Nova Poshta» sorting hub in Poltava and a logistics terminal in Samara were destroyed, whilst nine people were injured following an attack on a post office in the Vinnytsia region.
Briefly about the main points
- On 31 July, a hub in Poltava, a terminal in Samara and a branch in the Vinnytsia region were attacked.
- The attack on a warehouse in Zaporizhzhia on 25 July claimed the lives of three logistics drivers.
- Facilities belonging to «Nova Poshta», Rozetka, «Epicentre» and MOYO were targeted.
- The timeline covers the storage, sorting, transport and dispatch of consignments.
- The State Emergency Service urges people to seek shelter immediately upon hearing the air-raid siren.
Chronology of attacks in July
On 30 July, Russian forces struck a large logistics terminal in Dnipro. The following day, 31 July, facilities in three regions came under attack: the «Nova Poshta» sorting hub in Poltava, a large terminal in Samara near Dnipro, and a post office in the Vinnytsia region.
On 26 July, the «’ hypermarket was completely destroyed by jet-powered drones«Epicentre» in Kryvyi Rih. A week earlier, a similar facility had burnt down in Sumy. On 25 July, three logistics drivers were killed when a drone struck a warehouse in Zaporizhzhia.
Previous incidents include a missile strike on 19 July on the outskirts of Kharkiv, where a «Nova Poshta» terminal was completely destroyed and three people were killed. On 7 July, UAVs destroyed the company’s sorting terminal in Kryvyi Rih; on 5 July, its terminal in Chernihiv was attacked; and on 2 July, a logistics complex in the Obolon district of Kyiv was destroyed, and retailer’s warehouse MOYO electronics.
In June, another large «Nova Poshta» terminal and a Rozetka hub in the Kyiv region came under attack. During today’s attack, Russian forces also attempted to strike the Rozetka hub in the Brovary district.
A risk to the entire supply chain
The list of attacks includes various stages of the supply chain: large warehouses, sorting centres, terminals, retail outlets and branches. This sequence creates a risk of simultaneous disruptions to the storage, sorting, transport and delivery of goods to customers.
In April, the Ministry of Defence reported the first confirmed downing of a Shahed-type jet-powered attack UAV by a private air defence unit in the Kharkiv region: it was travelling at over 400 km/h. The former Minister of Defence Mikhail Fedorov He then stated that Russia is scaling up its use of such drones, which are faster and more difficult to intercept.
Against the backdrop of the impact of Russian strikes on the energy sector on business operations – as already documented by the UN – the shutdown and destruction of logistics hubs may further affect the delivery and availability of goods. This is an editorial conclusion drawn from the nature of the attacks and the vulnerability of the civilian economy.
What to do during an air-raid alert
Speed jet-powered UAVs This means that the decision to move to a safe place should be made immediately after the alarm sounds, without waiting for the sound of explosions or visual signs of an attack. The State Emergency Service recommends proceeding immediately to the nearest available shelter, monitoring official announcements and remaining there until the all-clear is given.
People in shopping centres, warehouses, post offices and near large logistics facilities should leave these areas immediately when an air-raid alert is sounded and head for a shelter. The State Emergency Service also warns against observing air defence operations and against publishing photos and videos of the aftermath of strikes.
