Ukraine has escalated its military actions against Russia by targeting the warehouses of Wildberries, the country’s largest online retailer, approximately a dozen times since mid-July. These strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals and have significantly disrupted the company’s storage capabilities.
Kyiv contends that Wildberries, often dubbed “Russia’s Amazon,” is implicated in supporting the Russian military by storing drone components and other military supplies. The Ukrainian authorities have articulated that the retail giant’s facilities serve as logistical centers for equipping Russian forces.
The first attacks occurred on July 18, impacting a warehouse near Moscow and another in the Tambov region situated south of the capital. Since then, attacks have been reported on numerous other warehouses across central and western regions of Russia, spanning from Krasnodar in the south to Sarapul, over 1,200 kilometers from active conflict zones. The strikes have led to substantial fires and casualties, further intensifying the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made statements depicting these warehouses as crucial logistics hubs supplying the Russian army with essential military equipment, including drone parts. In response, Wildberries and the Kremlin have both dismissed these allegations.
In the wake of the attacks, Wildberries appears to have modified its online presence, notably removing certain references related to Ukraine war paraphernalia from its website.
As the largest online retailer in Russia, Wildberries is reported to account for about 10% of the nation’s total retail turnover. The company boasts an extensive network of tens of thousands of pickup points nationwide, offering a wide array of products. Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, accusations have emerged claiming that Wildberries aids in circumventing Western sanctions by rerouting branded imports through third countries.
The company claims to handle more than 20 million transactions daily, playing a vital role in the Russian economy—especially for small and medium businesses trying to adapt to various economic challenges, such as internet restrictions and tax increases imposed by the Kremlin. Denys Shtilerman, a Ukrainian defense expert, noted that the strikes are partly designed to harm the Russian economy and potentially instigate a financial crisis.
Despite the ongoing attacks, Wildberries has not disclosed specific damage estimates; however, reports suggest that a single week of strikes last month may have inflicted over $1.5 billion in damages. Overall, estimates suggest that the company may have lost up to 10% of its storage capacity. Wildberries has reportedly allocated around $500,000 in compensation for the families of affected employees and has attempted to reimburse some small businesses, although many continue to report financial losses.
Some sellers have expressed frustration over terms imposed by Wildberries, with claims that they are required to waive their rights to compensation in case of drone strikes on warehouses. Viktoria Terekhova, a founder of a children’s clothing brand, shared her emotional distress over losing nearly all her stock, expressing concerns over financial recovery.
The Kremlin has acknowledged that state intervention may be necessary to assist Wildberries but has yet to finalize any aid package. CEO Tatiana Kim, who founded the company in her apartment in 2004 and is now recognized as Russia’s wealthiest woman, has indicated that measures are being taken to enhance security and reroute goods. In a recent statement, she accused Kyiv of targeting “ordinary people.”
To bolster its image amid the turmoil, Wildberries has initiated a prominent advertising campaign emphasizing support for local entrepreneurs with the message: “Support entrepreneurs with an order.”
