Wildberries Faces Attacks Amid Ukraine's Economic Strategy Against Russia

Wildberries, a major Russian e-commerce platform, has suffered multiple attacks from Ukraine, targeting its warehouses and disrupting logistics. This strategy aims to impact the Russian economy and civilian life amid the ongoing conflict. Tatyana Kim, the company's founder, reported no casualties but highlighted the significant risks to businesses relying on Wildberries. As the situation unfolds, the implications for the Russian consumer market and the broader economy remain critical, with Wildberries playing a vital role in the nation's GDP and employment.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 24, 2026, 19:12 IST

Wildberries Under Siege

Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Russia and often compared to Amazon, reported on Friday that three of its warehouses were targeted by Ukrainian forces overnight. This incident is part of a broader initiative by Kyiv aimed at undermining Russia's economic infrastructure and logistics. Footage from the scene in St. Petersburg captured large clouds of smoke billowing into the air.

Tatyana Kim, the founder of Wildberries and the wealthiest woman in Russia, confirmed that the attacks struck facilities in St. Petersburg, the Leningrad region, and Simferopol, located in Crimea. She expressed gratitude towards her staff for their quick evacuation efforts, stating, "We managed to save some of the premises and goods. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties." Kim emphasized that the company is now focused on redistributing inventory to maintain operational efficiency and support their partners' economic stability.

Wildberries plays a crucial role in the Russian consumer market, and the recent attacks seem to be part of Ukraine's strategy to make the war's impact felt by the Russian populace, which has been ongoing for over four years.

Impact on Sellers

The recent strikes mark the fourth assault on Wildberries' facilities since the previous weekend, posing significant risks for businesses that rely on the platform and potentially disrupting services for customers purchasing various products, including clothing and electronics. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has labeled these targets as logistics centers supplying Russian military operations. However, the Kremlin has refuted claims that Wildberries is involved in military logistics. Kim has criticized Ukraine for targeting civilians engaged in their work.

Since July 18, eight Wildberries warehouses, which represent over 10% of the company's logistics capacity, have been attacked, with the first incident resulting in the deaths of eight employees. Kim noted that the company is working tirelessly to uphold service quality. Despite the challenges, two orders placed by reporters were fulfilled on time, while two others were still being processed. Under normal circumstances, Wildberries can manage over 20 million orders daily. Alongside smaller competitors, Wildberries and its main rival Ozon account for approximately 8.5% of Russia's GDP and employ around 4 million individuals, making up more than 5% of the national workforce.

In retaliation, Russia has also targeted Ukraine's logistics and energy infrastructure.