Ukrainian drones have targeted several retail warehouses of Wildberries, Russia's biggest online retailer, in recent days, significantly impacting numerous small and medium-sized businesses. The strikes, including attacks on warehouses in Elektrostal east of Moscow and Kotovsk in the Tambov region about 400km from the Ukrainian border, mark a shift in Kyiv's strategy from oil depots and refineries to logistics hubs.
Kyiv stated it struck "major logistics facilities" used to "supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment," aiming to disrupt supplies to the Russian military. Unlike Western retailers like Amazon, Wildberries and Ozon primarily operate as marketplaces connecting independent sellers with buyers, handling storage, delivery, and payments.
The attacks have frustrated many Russian sellers who rely on these platforms for their income. One seller, a mother of a disabled child, shared on social media that she lost 1 million roubles (£9,500; $12,700) after her goods were destroyed in the Elektrostal warehouse fire the day after delivery. She expressed concern about her ability to survive further losses.
The outlook for working with Wildberries is described as "very murky," with the broader Russian small business sector also under strain; some 209,000 small and medium-sized companies closed in the first quarter of 2026, according to business intelligence platform Kontur.Fokus.
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