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Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Online Retailer Wildberries for Second Time
Ukrainian drones hit Russian online marketplace Wildberries once again, marking the second major incident this week. The overnight assault on logistics facilities in southwestern Russia resulted in one death and fourteen injuries. Workers at warehouses in Krasnodar and Stavropol regions were evacuated as fires erupted across multiple buildings. Video footage reviewed by BBC Verify confirmed the extent of damage at both locations.
What Happened During the Attacks
Tatyana Kim, founder of the e-commerce giant and Russia’s wealthiest individual, confirmed that all personnel were safely removed from the centers in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk. She shared her reaction on social media, emphasizing how the strikes impacted everyday people and hardworking staff members.
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.
Regional officials provided detailed casualty reports. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev noted ten wounded at a warehouse complex, with three patients in critical condition. He later confirmed that a young woman died from her injuries at a hospital. Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov reported five people injured at a facility on the outskirts of Nevinnomyssk.
Military and Economic Significance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the strategic value of these facilities, explaining they were “involved in providing the Russian army with drone components, navigation equipment and other gear.”
This represents the second significant strike on Wildberries within seven days. Four days prior, Ukrainian forces attacked warehouses in central Russia, killing eight people according to Russian reports. The company, often likened to Amazon, currently employs around 48,000 workers across the country.
Serhii Kuzan, who leads the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, described Wildberries as vital to Russian supply networks. He pointed out that Russian volunteers use the platform to acquire military supplies.
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 added that these operations might create substantial economic pressure on Russia while potentially shifting public opinion about the war.
Effects on Local Merchants
Different from Amazon’s direct sales approach, Wildberries and rival Ozon operate mainly as middlemen, connecting independent sellers with customers throughout Russia while handling storage, delivery, and payment systems.
The recent attacks have hurt hundreds of merchants whose livelihoods depend on these digital platforms. One vendor, known as Trader Elena, told BBC Russian she lost clothing stock during the raids—her only income source.
If there are more strikes, I probably won’t manage. It’s terrifying to keep loading my goods into what feels like a furnace.
Another seller posted a widely shared message about her losses. As a mother supporting a disabled child, she had built her business independently. She said she lost one million roubles (£9,500; $12,730) and felt overwhelmed by growing pressures from various sides.
Interestingly, just hours after the latest attacks, BBC researchers found that military equipment—including body armor and drone parts—was still available for purchase on Wildberries’ website. A screenshot taken during this time showed a wide range of protective gear offered to shoppers.
Additional reporting by Paul Brown, BBC Verify, Vitaly Shevchenko, and BBC Russian
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