From Ukrainian mall to Russian warehouse: War moves away from the front

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Russia and Ukraine extended their war into new domains with intensified attacks targeting infrastructure far behind the front lines. Russian strikes hit railways, ports, refineries, and logistics centers, while Ukrainian drones caused civilian casualties in Russian cities and occupied territories. In Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, Russian missiles killed civilians, while Ukrainian drones struck Yeysk, Belgorod, and the occupied region of Luhansk, igniting fires for the first time at an Ozon warehouse, the second-largest online retail company in Russia after Wildberries. A refinery in Samara also caught fire. Meanwhile, rescue efforts continued in Kryvyi Rih, the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a devastating attack on its largest shopping mall earlier this week. The double strike on the Soniachna Galereya in Kryvyi Rih left 16 dead and over 130 injured, including more than 20 children. Nine people remain missing, among them two children, while 61 individuals are hospitalized, 23 in critical condition. The first wave struck during business hours, followed by a second, more insidious attack approximately 30 minutes later, when emergency responders were already on site. Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately targeting these teams. Saturday saw further escalation. Russia launched missiles and drones against multiple regions in Ukraine. One missile hit a railway facility in Darnytsia district, killing an employee. Another drone caused one death and four injuries in Kushugum, Zaporizhzhia. The Rozdilna station in Odessa suffered damage, and a border crossing with Moldova was temporarily closed. Regional reports added five deaths and 26 injuries in Kherson, Donetsk, and Sumy. Ukraine claimed to have intercepted three surface-to-air missiles, six small cruise missiles, and 182 drones. Ukrainian attacks reportedly killed at least six civilians in Russia and occupied areas, according to Russian authorities. In Yeysk, part of the Krasnodar region, two children from the same family died, and their parents were hospitalized. The target was a company within the port, though debris from downed drones sparked a fire. The city hosts both a major Azov Sea cargo port and a significant military airbase. In Belgorod, located on the Russian side near the Ukrainian border, two people died and 13 were injured. In Luhansk, which Russia has occupied since 2014, two others perished, including a 16-year-old teenager, with nine wounded. In Samara, drones hit an Ozon logistics center for the first time, following weeks of attacks on Wildberries warehouses. The Chapaevsk warehouse burned and halted operations. Ozon evacuated over 500 workers and reported several injuries. Now, all online purchases in Russia are under Ukrainian scrutiny. Ukraine’s General Staff claimed responsibility for attacking the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, located around 900 kilometers from the front line and capable of processing 8.8 million tons of crude annually. Kyiv asserts the facility produces fuel and lubricants for Russian forces. Moscow claimed to have intercepted 457 drones overnight. Since the start of the invasion, Russia has targeted cities, power grids, ports, and railways. This summer, Ukraine has pushed its drones farther to ignite refineries, attack bases, and disrupt Russia's economic rear with losses, shortages, and smoke. Kyiv frames this offensive as an effort to reduce Moscow’s capacity for war.