Ukraine strikes Wildberries warehouses, accusing Russia's top online retailer of supplying military gear

Ukraine has made Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, a recurring target of its long-range strike campaign. The company says its facilities are civilian, but Kyiv argues they form part of Russia’s wartime logistics network.

Recent Attacks

Since 18 July, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly struck Wildberries warehouses across Russia. The latest attack occurred on Wednesday, when drones hit a major sorting centre in the Ryazan region, setting ablaze thousands of parcels ready for shipment.

Military Justification

Kyiv states the strikes serve a military purpose, claiming the company’s logistics network helps supply Russian forces with equipment, including drone components and other battlefield gear.

A review of products available on the platform shows Wildberries has become part of a wider ecosystem through which Russian soldiers obtain equipment. The marketplace sells:

• Bulletproof vests
• Helmets
• Tactical boots
• Camouflage gear
• Night-vision devices
• Field equipment such as portable gas stoves

It also offers ready-made “frontline” kits, with some products displaying the letter “Z” – the symbol adopted by Russian forces after the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have repeatedly complained about the quality of state-issued equipment.

Economic Impact

“Wildberries is a logistics platform that sits at the heart of Russia’s consumer economy,” Philipp Lausberg, a senior policy analyst at the European Policy Centre (EPC), told Euractiv.

Processing around half of Russia’s online retail orders, it has become “critical economic infrastructure,” making it a strategic target.

According to Lausberg, Ukraine is trying to “kill two birds with one stone”: disrupting supplies reaching the frontline while forcing Russia to divert money, management attention, and state resources to protect one of the country’s key logistical arteries.

The strikes also align with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s stated goal of bringing the costs of the war closer to ordinary Russians.

Company Background

Founded in 2004 by Tatyana Kim, Wildberries has grown into Russia’s biggest online marketplace, connecting thousands of sellers with millions of consumers. Kim, currently Russia’s richest woman, has developed close ties with the Kremlin.

Ripple Effects on Private Sector

The attacks are already affecting Russia’s private sector. Sellers have reported losing entire inventories stored in destroyed warehouses.

Russian influencer and cosmetics entrepreneur Marina Gorshkova recently went viral appealing for tax breaks and warning that many small businesses face collapse.

“If we close tomorrow, our taxes will stop coming into the treasury. The same thing will happen with other sellers who are in exactly the same situation right now. And you need to understand that new entrepreneurs won’t just spring up like mushrooms. We very much ask you, please, pay attention to us,” Gorshkova said in a video.

Differing Views

Kyiv’s strategy has not convinced all of the Russian opposition, including political activist Andrei Pivovarov, who argued that unlike attacks on oil refineries, logistics networks can adapt quickly, limiting the long-term military impact of the strikes.

Kremlin Response

The Kremlin is now discussing whether to provide financial support for Wildberries and its merchants. According to Russian media, the company is looking for warehouse space in Kazakhstan to reduce its exposure to future Ukrainian strikes. However, moving its warehouse thousands of kilometres away may result in unsustainable delivery costs.