In brief
Ukrainian drones have struck several Wildberries logistics hubs, killing workers and destroying goods worth millions of roubles. The attacks hit key warehouses, many 400km from the border, and have severely impacted independent sellers relying on the platform. Wildberries owner Tatiana Kim has offered discounts and waived shipping fees, but the losses threaten the stability of dozens of small businesses. The strikes are part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russian supply chains for military use. Russia’s war‑time economy is already strained by sanctions and a fuel crisis, making the Wildberries damage a significant blow to an already vulnerable sector.
Wildberries warehouses suffer drone strikes
In a series of attacks over a few days, Ukrainian drones hit several Wildberries logistics hubs across Russia. The first strikes landed in Elektrostal, east of Moscow, and Kotovsk in the Tambov region, about 400 km from the Ukrainian border.
Seven night‑shift workers were killed in Kotovsk and one was fatally wounded in Elektrostal; dozens more were injured. Roughly 750 million British pounds of goods were destroyed, and the strikes hit warehouses that supply the online platform to small and medium‑sized traders.
Wildberries, which connects independent sellers to buyers, reported that many traders now face sudden losses. One stationery vendor lost stock that would have helped parents prepare for the autumn term, while a teenage‑clothing seller suffered a 1.4‑million‑rouble hit. The company’s owner, Tatiana Kim, has offered temporary discounts and waived shipping fees, but the traders worry further strikes could wipe them out.
Ukraine’s strategy aims to disrupt logistical chains that the Russian army uses to acquire technology, according to Kyiv. The strikes also hit “major logistics facilities” used to supply drone components, according to their statement.
Despite Russian attempts to protect small business, the ongoing war, sanctions and recent fuel shortages have already forced a 9 % increase in business closures mid‑year. The Wildberries attacks add another layer of pressure to an already vulnerable sector.
