Ukrainian Airstrikes Target Russian E-Commerce Hub Wildberries Once More

Constantvpn.com – Ukrainian aerial drones have struck the storage facilities of Russia’s premier online shopping platform for the second time in recent days. According to regional authorities, the overnight assaults on logistics centers resulted in one fatality and fourteen additional injuries. The targeted warehouses belong to Wildberries, which operates across two southwestern Russian territories: the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions. Emergency personnel quickly evacuated workers from both sites following the explosions.

Strategic Importance of the Targets

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine emphasized that these particular facilities play a crucial role in supporting Moscow’s military operations. He noted that the warehouses were actively involved in supplying drone components, navigation systems, and various other equipment to the Russian armed forces. This marks the fourth major incident involving the retailer’s facilities in central Russia, where an earlier attack claimed eight lives according to Russian reports.

Often compared to Amazon due to its market dominance, Wildberries currently employs approximately 48,000 workers throughout Russia. Remarkably, just hours after the latest Ukrainian offensive, screenshots from the company’s official website revealed that body armor and other military supplies remained available for purchase by consumers.

Human Toll and Official Statements

Tatyana Kim, the founder of Wildberries and Russia’s wealthiest businesswoman, addressed the situation on Telegram earlier on Wednesday. She described the evacuation of workers from the logistics centers in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk. Her message conveyed deep emotion regarding the impact on everyday citizens and company staff.

“There are no words to describe all the feelings and emotions caused by the attacks on ordinary people, on our employees, on us, who are simply doing our jobs,” she wrote. “But these situations demonstrate the most important thing: we must continue to do what we do for the benefit of people.”

Regional governors provided detailed casualty figures. Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of Krasnodar, reported that ten individuals sustained injuries at a warehouse complex, with three patients in serious condition. He subsequently confirmed that a young woman succumbed to her wounds while receiving treatment at a local hospital. Meanwhile, Vladimir Vladimirov, governor of Stavropol, stated that five people were hurt at a facility on the outskirts of Nevinnomyssk.

Verification and Economic Impact

BBC Verify analysts examined video footage and confirmed that fires broke out at both locations. Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, characterized Wildberries as an essential element within Russian supply chains. He explained that Russian volunteers utilize the platform to acquire military equipment alongside civilian goods.

“The primary rationale for striking Wildberries’ warehouses is to disrupt Russian logistics and the supply of dual-use goods, critical electronics, sanctioned goods and the like to the Russian army and Russian arms manufacturers,” Kuzan told the BBC. “The collateral damage from such strikes could also have a serious impact on the Russian economy, as well as a psychological effect on Russian society and, likely, on continued support for the war.”

These Ukrainian operations have significantly affected small and medium-sized enterprises across Russia. Hundreds of sellers have expressed frustration as their livelihoods depend heavily on online marketplace platforms. Unlike Amazon’s retail model, Wildberries and its competitor Ozon function primarily as intermediaries, linking independent vendors with customers while managing storage, delivery, and payment processing.

Trader Elena, speaking to BBC Russian under pseudonym, revealed she lost clothing inventory during the attacks—her sole source of income. She warned that additional strikes might force her out of business entirely. Another seller shared a viral social media post detailing her losses. As a mother of a disabled child who built her enterprise independently, she reported losing one million roubles (approximately £9,500 or $12,730). “I’m out of strength,” she wrote. “We’re already getting screwed over from every direction as it is.”

Additional reporting contributed by Paul Brown, BBC Verify, Vitaly Shevchenko, and BBC Russian.