Ukraine marks independence with audacious drone blitz on Russia’s ‘Amazon’

Ukraine marked its Independence Day by targeting Vladimir Putin’s online shopping hubs.

Three Ozon marketplace logistics centres were engulfed by flames following the overnight strikes.

The attacks unfolded on the day UK prime minister Andy Burnham was making his first trip as leader to Kyiv.

Ozon is often referred to as the ‘Amazon of Russia’ and supports Moscow’s military, Ukraine says.

Huge plumes of smoke were seen pouring from three targets – near Emen in Adygea, Makhachkala, and in Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol, region.

The warehouses cover an estimated 3,270,000sq ft – the equivalent of around 42 football pitches.

It’s the third day Ukraine has been targeting Ozon sites.

A warehouse of Russian homeware giant Kuchenland was also hit in Krasnodar.

Russian missiles and drones set the Epicentr hypermarket ablaze in Odesa.

Earlier, Nato was forced to scramble two F-16 fighter jets in Romania after a suspected Russian drone crossed airspace.

The incidents are a stark reminder the war is very much unfolding during Mr Burnham’s visit.

He joined French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Council chief António Costa in Kyiv as world leaders gathered to mark Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day.

The leaders were holding talks with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and holding a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.

Mr Burnham announced the UK would help produce long-range Scalp missiles by sharing blueprints with Kyiv.

He said: ‘Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve.We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.’