Day 1645: 10 explosions at a huge Wildberries warehouse. Zelenski decorates Musk. The Kremlin explains why the CIA chief came to Moscow. A Briton died fighting for Russia

On the 1645th day of the war, Russia was the target of a massive drone attack. The air defense destroyed 426 Ukrainian drones in 15 regions overnight, as well as above Crimea.

Multiple explosions took place in western Russia, where a major Lukoil refinery was hit.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces resumed attacks on Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, after targeting competitor Ozon for several days. Ten explosions occurred at a giant Wildberries warehouse, followed by a strong fire that spread over an area of more than 100,000 square meters.

On the other side, Russia continued aerial attacks on populated areas in Ukraine. A woman and a little girl were killed in a drone attack in the city of Chernihiv this morning. Russian forces also hit the center of Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region, damaging at least 12 blocks. Two people were injured.

Over 160 Russian drones targeted Ukrainian territory overnight, with most being destroyed in the north, south, and east of the country.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin explains why the CIA director visited Moscow on Tuesday, stating that he did not meet with Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree awarding a significant distinction to Elon Musk.

And from the front comes unexpected news: a British man was killed in June in eastern Ukraine while fighting on the Russian side, likely becoming the first citizen of the United Kingdom to die after joining Russian armed forces.

Ukraine's Strikes

• Attack on a Lukoil Refinery - Ukraine launched a drone attack overnight on a Lukoil refinery in Kstovo, western Russia. Locals reported hearing multiple explosions followed by a large fire in the industrial area. Online images show a thick smoke cloud rising from the refinery area. The Lukoil refinery in Kstovo is one of the largest in Russia, with a processing capacity of around 17 million tons of oil per year.

• Ten Explosions at a Giant Wildberries Warehouse - A drone attack targeted a giant Wildberries warehouse in Kotovsk, in the Tambov region, last night. Locals reported at least ten explosions followed by a fire at the logistics center where products sold through the country's largest online commerce platform are stored and sorted. The fire affected almost the entire warehouse area, spreading over more than 100,000 square meters. One employee was injured, and the staff was evacuated, announced Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov. The complex covers about 108,000 square meters, can accommodate up to 54 million products, and began operations in 2025, as reported by Kiev Post.

• Drone Invasion in Russia - Russian air defense forces destroyed 426 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to RIA Novosti, citing the Ministry of Defense. The interceptions took place in 15 regions: Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Kaluga, Tula, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Tambov, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd, Rostov, Moscow, Krasnodar, and above Crimea, as reported.

Russia's Attacks

• Girl Killed by Drone - A woman and a four-year-old girl were killed this morning in a drone attack in the city of Chernihiv. A house was damaged, and a fire broke out. Initial reports indicate that three people were inside at the time of the attack, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.

• Two Injured in Sloviansk - Russian forces struck the center of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region this morning, damaging at least 12 residential blocks. Two people were injured. "Today, at 04:20, the enemy launched an aerial attack on our city. Explosions were heard in the central area of the city. Most likely, guided aerial bombs were used," announced Vadym Lyakh, the head of the military administration, as cited by Ukrainska Pravda.

• Air Defense Assessment - Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 162 drones overnight. The air defense destroyed and neutralized 134 drones in the north, south, and east of the country through jamming. Strikes were recorded in 18 locations, announced the Ukrainian Air Forces.

Other Relevant Information

• Drone Detonated on Olimp Beach - A piece of a drone landed on the beach in Olimp resort. The drone fragment contained explosives and was detonated. Residents in the area received a Ro-Alert message, and tourist access to the area was restricted. Details HERE.

• Kremlin Reveals Why the CIA Director Came to Russia - Moscow acknowledges that CIA Director John Ratcliffe was in Moscow on Tuesday but asserts that he did not meet with Putin. The CIA director's visit was related to contacts between Russian and American intelligence services, stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to the Russian state news agency TASS.

• Elon Musk Decorated by Zelensky - The Ukrainian President issued a decree awarding the Order of Liberty to American billionaire Elon Musk. Musk was honored for remarkable personal contributions to protecting human life and freedom, as well as developing relations between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States, as stated in the document cited by Ukrainska Pravda. The Atlantic publication, citing collaborators of Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, previously reported that Musk refused to allow Ukraine to use the Starlink satellite Internet to launch strikes on Russian territory, believing it was time for Ukraine to conclude a peace agreement with Russia.

• British Citizen Dies Fighting for Russia - A 33-year-old British man was killed in June in eastern Ukraine while fighting on the Russian side, likely becoming the first citizen of the United Kingdom to die after joining Russian armed forces, as reported by British media. In a video posted on YouTube in early April, Bradley Townsend described himself as "an ordinary working-class young man" from northern England. He had recently left Yorkshire for Russia and was preparing to sign a contract to fight alongside Russian forces. He died on June 10 in the Donetsk region, according to multiple media sources. LBC reported that the British man had no military experience and was killed by a drone. The British Foreign Office stated that it was aware of information regarding a British citizen's death in Ukraine and was in contact with his family.

• Preparations for a New Major Prisoner Exchange - Russia and Ukraine are working on preparing a new significant exchange of prisoners of war, with the lists of individuals to be released being finalized, announced Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova to TASS today. The last major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine took place on August 19, with each side releasing 103 individuals. Among those who returned home were Ukrainian military personnel from the Armed Forces, Border Guard Service, and National Guard, said Volodymyr Zelensky.

• Bulgaria Says "No" - Bulgaria supports the efforts of states willing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine but excludes direct participation in a potential international force deployed in the country. Bulgaria announced back in July that it would not participate in the "Coalition of Willing," with Prime Minister Rumen Radev stating that the country's place is not in this format. However, Sofia supports the right of other states to contribute to supporting Ukraine according to their own capacities and decisions, according to Novinite.

• Ukraine Tests the World's First Drone "Aircraft Carrier" - Magura MV11, a 7-meter-long Ukrainian vessel, is a mothership with a carrying capacity of 2.2 tons designed to launch other drones. The maritime robotic vessel, already renowned for its ability to destroy warships, becomes the world's first drone "aircraft carrier." Details HERE.

• Masked nationalization in Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree granting the government the power to temporarily take control of the "critical infrastructure" across the country, in case private company owners fail to protect it against increasingly intense Ukrainian attacks. Details HERE.