Ukrainian forces have conducted extensive drone campaigns against Wildberries, Russia’s dominant e-commerce platform, striking at least 12 warehouses and logistical facilities since mid-July. The attacks have resulted in 13 employee deaths and dozens of injuries, with strikes occurring in cities including Yekaterinburg and Voronezh, located thousands of kilometers from active combat zones.
Wildberries operates approximately 40 major warehouses and nearly 200 smaller facilities across Russia, commanding a significant share of the country’s retail economy. The company generated $79 billion in turnover during 2025, representing approximately 3 percent of Russia’s GDP and nearly half of all online retail sales. Tens of thousands of smaller retailers depend on the company’s logistics infrastructure, and its pickup centers have become social gathering points, particularly in rural areas.
Ukrainian officials classify the warehouses as legitimate military targets, claiming Wildberries supplies the Russian military with dual-use items including drone components, navigation equipment, and protective gear. The company and Russian government deny involvement in military supply chains. Ukrainian advisor Mykhailo Podolyaka characterized the strikes as aimed at disrupting civilian complacency regarding the war’s impact on everyday life.
Researchers and analysts express skepticism about the strikes’ military effectiveness, noting that alternative retailers and websites can fulfill similar supply functions, albeit with delays and higher costs. The Kremlin has labeled the campaign as terrorism and responded with retaliatory attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Russia cannot seek International Criminal Court intervention because it has not ratified the court’s statute.
The strikes have created significant economic consequences for businesses dependent on Wildberries’ infrastructure. The company does not insure damages from drone or missile attacks, leaving vendors and employees facing substantial losses. Financial pressure on Wildberries may intensify given its reliance on credit from Kremlin-controlled banks, while Russian authorities have proposed only limited tax breaks and subsidies as response measures.
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