Ukraine Strikes Four Wildberries Warehouses in Russia; Moscow Denies Military Claims
Ukrainian drone attacks over the past week have hit four major distribution centers belonging to Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, resulting in nine deaths and multiple injuries. The facilities targeted were located in Elektrostal (Moscow region), the Tambov region, the Krasnodar region, and the Stavropol region.
Background
Wildberries is Russia's dominant e-commerce platform, accounting for 52% of all online orders in the country. Founded in 2004 by Tatyana Kim, the company operates over 200 facilities totaling more than 5.2 million square meters. The marketplace sells a broad range of consumer goods, including clothes, electronics, and household items.
Claims and Responses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the targeted facilities supplied gear and technical components to the Russian military. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied this claim, accusing Ukraine of deliberately striking civilian targets.
Impact
The attacks caused significant damage, with fires taking up to three days to extinguish at some sites. The estimated loss of goods could be as high as $3 billion, affecting between 500,000 and 800,000 sellers.
In the wake of the strikes, Wildberries changed its seller policy to exempt liability for stock damaged by "force majeure," including drone attacks. However, the company later began issuing payments to small sellers.
Analysts suggest that the strikes are designed to undermine public morale and increase domestic scrutiny of the war in Russia.