In brief
Ukrainian drones have struck multiple Wildberries warehouses, causing casualties, damaging storage facilities, and shattering small‑business owners’ livelihoods. The attacks also hit logistics hubs essential for supplying military equipment, indicating a new war front. Russian retailers are admitting no coverage for drone losses, leaving many vendors hemorrhaging inventory. Amid a surge of fuel shortages, sanctions, and high inflation, this is a huge blow to a sector that Putin claimed to protect.
The Hits
Ukrainian drones struck four Wildberries warehouses in a span of days, from Elektrostal east of Moscow to Kotovsk in the Tambov region.
The attacks caused fires, damaged hundreds of meters of storage, and destroyed a massive stockpile estimated at £750m ($1bn).
Casualties and Costs
Seven night‑shift workers were killed in Kotovsk and a seventh wounded at Elektrostal, while dozens were injured.
One small‑business owner lost over 1m roubles (about $12,700) when her warehouse caught fire.
Small‑Business Fallout
Wildberries functions as a marketplace rather than a retailer; the damage is borne by independent sellers who rely on the platform for inventory and payments.
Moscow’s small‑biz sector is already suffering from increased taxes and a shrinking tax break regime. The recent attacks add another “nail in the coffin’’ for many companies.
What’s Next?
Wildberries CEO Tatiana Kim pledged a temporary discount and waived shipping fees but declared that no compensation will be offered for the losses.
With Ukrainian drone strikes moving further south and targeting logistics and energy infrastructure, Russian businesses face mounting uncertainty.
This series of attacks shows that the war now extends to the heart of Russia’s online retail network, directly impacting everyday entrepreneurs.
