Russian military forces delivered a double strike on the distribution center of the "Aurora" supermarket chain. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement by the chain's co-founder Taras Panasenko, after the first hit the enemy re-attacked the facility at the very moment when rescue services were already working on site. As a result, the warehouse premises were destroyed, and the fire and rescue vehicles of the State Emergency Service (SES) that had arrived to deal with the aftermath of the first impact were also damaged.
Double strike: attack during rescue operations
According to Taras Panasenko, the key feature of this attack was its sequence. "After the first hit, the enemy delivered repeated strikes to inflict maximum casualties while emergency services were on site," the chain's co-founder emphasized. Thus, the enemy deliberately targeted emergency service personnel who were already at the facility clearing debris and containing the aftermath of the first strike. Such tactics, aimed at maximizing casualties among rescuers and civilians, are being recorded more and more often in the course of ongoing attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Scale of destruction and damaged equipment
As a result of the enemy strike, the warehouse premises of the distribution center were destroyed. In addition, fire and rescue vehicles of the State Emergency Service that had arrived at the facility to deal with the aftermath of the first impact sustained serious damage. In photographs published by Taras Panasenko on social media, extensive damage to the building is visible: burned-out openings, disabled outdoor air-conditioning units, piles of debris, and smoke rising from the destroyed structures. On site, SES units in protective gear are working.
Adherence to safety protocols prevented casualties
Despite the double nature of the strike and the direct hit on the facility, where both staff and arriving rescuers were present, no deaths or injuries were recorded. The "Aurora" company emphasizes that this was possible thanks to strict adherence to safety protocols during both strikes: staff took cover in a timely manner, and rescue services acted in accordance with established regulations. According to the company, the chain's stores continue to operate as usual.
Context: series of attacks on the chain's infrastructure and Donetsk region
The attack on the distribution center was not the first strike on "Aurora" chain facilities in recent days. On August 20, Russian military forces delivered massive strikes on Donetsk region, shelling, among others, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. As a result of the shelling, ten people were injured, and one of the enemy drones hit an "Aurora" store in Slavyansk directly, causing a fire. Thus, within days the chain's infrastructure was subjected to a series of attacks — from a retail store in a combat zone to a key logistics hub. The re-attack on a facility where emergency services were already working indicates a deliberate enemy tactic aimed at maximizing losses among rescuers and staff.
