Ukrainian drones ignite Crimea and strike deep inside Russia

A wave of Ukrainian drone strikes has set Russian military-linked targets ablaze in Crimea and deep inside Russia, exposing the growing reach of Kyiv’s long-range campaign against Moscow’s war machine.

The most dramatic scenes unfolded overnight at the Hvardiiske airfield, where huge fires erupted after a series of powerful explosions rocked the Russian-controlled military base.

Residents reported hearing blasts for more than an hour during the early hours of August 7, with fires visible from several kilometres away and flames illuminating the surrounding area.

Footage circulating online showed a huge blaze raging at the facility, with reports suggesting a fuel and lubricants depot had been struck.

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The chaos did not end there.

Explosions were also reported near Feodosia, where Ukrainian forces are believed to have targeted a concentration of Russian military equipment. Initial claims that an oil depot had been hit were later dismissed, but the incident added to a growing night of attacks across the occupied peninsula.

Further blasts were reported near Malorichenske, close to a major electrical substation, raising fears that Ukraine’s campaign is increasingly targeting critical infrastructure supporting Russian military operations.

“I see nothing…”

This is what Putin’s so-called “land bridge” to Crimea looks like today.

Russia’s one major strategic territorial gain since 2022 is increasingly under threat and the corridor Moscow fought so hard to establish is becoming harder to protect, supply and… pic.twitter.com/hIQ3JTbZyx

— Shaun Pinner (@ShaunPinnerUA) August 7, 2026

The Hvardiiske airfield is a particularly significant target. Russian forces have used the base to launch Shahed-style attack drones against Ukrainian cities, making it a key node in Moscow’s aerial assault network.

But Kyiv’s strikes were not limited to Crimea.

Thousands of kilometres away from the battlefield, a Ukrainian drone attack hit a Wildberries logistics warehouse in Yekaterinburg — around 2,000 kilometres from the front line.

The strike caused a major fire and forced the evacuation of around 800 workers, according to Russian officials. The regional governor confirmed that drones had targeted the area, while flights at nearby Koltsovo Airport were temporarily restricted.

Wildberries said the blaze had been contained but that deliveries had been redirected while operations were disrupted.

Ukraine has increasingly focused on Russian logistics networks and companies accused of supporting the war economy. Kyiv has previously targeted Wildberries facilities, claiming the retailer distributes dual-use goods that can contribute to Russian military production.

Temporarily occupied Yalta.

Tourist season is in full swing.

Ukrainian drones are making it unforgettable.

🇺🇦 Crimea is Ukraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/vS1mDnWZZ0

— UAVoyager🇺🇦 (@CrimeanVoyager) August 7, 2026

The attacks form part of a wider Ukrainian strategy: instead of only confronting Russian forces at the front, Kyiv is attempting to strike the infrastructure, fuel supplies and industrial networks that allow Moscow to sustain its invasion.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its air defences destroyed more than 200 Ukrainian drones overnight.

But the fires burning in Crimea and deep inside Russia tell a different story — one in which the battlefield is expanding far beyond Ukraine’s borders.

For Moscow, the message is increasingly difficult to ignore: the war it launched is no longer confined to the front line.