Ukraine has escalated its drone campaign against Wildberries, Russia's largest online marketplace, striking another warehouse in the Vladimir region on Monday. This was the third attack on the company's logistics network in two weeks, part of a broader effort to cripple what Kyiv describes as a vital supply chain for Russian military drone components.
Local residents posted videos and photos on social media showing thick black smoke rising from the facility, with drones reportedly spotted overhead just before the strike. Wildberries' press service confirmed the fire on Telegram, initially reporting no casualties, but Vladimir region governor Alexander Avdeyev later said two people were injured.
Since 18 July, Ukraine has significantly intensified attacks on Wildberries, a company often compared to Amazon. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the targeted warehouses were involved in providing Russian forces with drone components, navigation equipment, and other military gear. The platform itself lists a range of military items, including drone parts and body armour.
Why Wildberries matters to Russia's war effort
Founded in 2004, Wildberries has become a cornerstone of Russia's wartime economy. With an annual turnover estimated at €70–75 billion—just over 2% of Russia's GDP—the company is a major employer, directly hiring around 50,000 staff, with seasonal peaks pushing its logistics workforce above 100,000.
The company and its founder, Tatiana Kim, Russia's wealthiest woman, have been under international sanctions since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Poland, when imposing sanctions in 2022, described Wildberries as "the largest taxpayer in the Russian Federation." In July, the EU sanctioned the company's banking arm for its financial contributions to Russia's state budget.
Kim said last Friday that her business is not legally obliged to compensate users for losses caused by Ukrainian attacks. Yet Wildberries likely expects some form of compensation from Moscow, given its systemic importance.
Will Russia bail out its e-commerce giant?
For Russia, Wildberries is simply too big to fail. According to media reports, the government is exploring ways to support the company and the sellers who rely on its platform. State-controlled lender VTB is expected to play a central role in organising state backing, potentially through loans, subsidies, or tax breaks.
Russian entrepreneurs who use Wildberries have taken to social media to voice frustration, saying they are bearing huge losses with little help from the platform. Sellers warn that thousands of small businesses risk closure and tax revenue will evaporate unless they receive meaningful relief. They stress that tax breaks and loan holidays matter more than the token compensation offered so far.
The attacks come amid broader Ukrainian efforts to pressure Russia's economy. In recent weeks, Ukraine has also targeted other logistics hubs and energy infrastructure, while European allies have tightened sanctions on Russian entities. The Italian navy's boarding of a Russian shadow fleet tanker near Pantelleria underscores the ongoing international scrutiny of Moscow's wartime logistics.
As the drone campaign continues, the resilience of Wildberries—and Russia's broader e-commerce sector—will be tested. The company's fate is not just a business story; it is a barometer of how effectively Ukraine can disrupt Russia's domestic economy and, by extension, its war machine.
