Third fire in the 'Galaktika' chain in August: massive blaze in occupied Donetsk

Massive blaze in the Kuibyshevsky district

On the evening of August 15, 2026, a massive fire broke out at the 'Galaktika' shopping center in occupied Donetsk. Witnesses posted photos on social media showing the building engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of smoke rising over the city, turning the night sky a deep red. Simultaneously, residents reported the overflight of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) over the area, suggesting a possible link between an attack and the subsequent fire.

Traces of attacks: analysis of fire history

According to the monitoring Telegram channel ASTRA, the incident in Donetsk marked the third recorded case of fires in 'Galaktika' shopping centers on occupied territories in just the current month. Analysts who studied photos of the scene confirmed that the building is located in the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk. On street panoramas, the object can still be identified by its old name, 'Amstor,' which was changed to 'Galaktika' back in 2019.

The chronology of attacks on this retail chain's facilities is as follows: on the night of August 9 to 10, a similar establishment was attacked and set ablaze in Makiivka. Just a few days prior, on August 14, according to the Russian state agency TASS, a shopping center in Yenakiieve was completely destroyed by a drone attack. In that incident, local authorities stated that two employees of the establishment were injured.

Strikes against logistics and infrastructure

In recent months, occupied Donetsk has become a regular target for strikes against critical infrastructure and military objects. In July 2026, a powerful explosion occurred at an ammunition depot in the city, followed by prolonged detonations of shells. Significant damage was also inflicted on the region's transport system: in the same month, the bridge connecting Donetsk and Mariupol was destroyed. The destruction of the crossing made direct vehicle movement impossible, forcing occupation forces to seek complex detours for logistics.

Psychological effect and panic

Regular attacks on occupied territories, including strikes on shopping centers and logistics hubs, have led to increased anxiety among the population and administration of the captured regions. As noted by RBC-Ukraine, new waves of attacks are causing panic among the occupiers. A similar situation is observed in Crimea, where panic sentiments have real grounds due to the increasing effectiveness of strikes against infrastructure.