Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Two logistics warehouses operated by Russian online retailer Wildberries caught fire after overnight Ukrainian drone attacks, according to the company and Russian regional officials.
The latest strikes add to a series of attacks that have targeted Wildberries facilities across Russia. Since July 18, around a dozen company sites have reportedly been attacked as Ukraine continues efforts to disrupt the retailer's operations. Wildberries is widely regarded as Russia's largest online marketplace and is often compared with Amazon.
One Injured After Penza Warehouse Attack
Oleg Melnichenko, Governor of Russia's Penza region, said a Wildberries warehouse was struck during the overnight drone attack.
He confirmed that one person was injured and approximately 200 people were evacuated from the facility while emergency services dealt with the fire.
Sarapul Logistics Centre Also Damaged
Wildberries said another of its logistics centres, located in Sarapul in Russia's Udmurtia region, was also hit during the attacks.
The company stated that employees had been evacuated before the incident, with no early reports of casualties. It added that deliveries were immediately redirected through alternative logistics centres to minimise disruption.
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Company Rejects Reports of Perm Strike
Russian media outlets reported that a third Wildberries facility in the Perm region had also been attacked overnight.
Wildberries denied those reports, saying its sorting centre in Perm remained fully operational. Meanwhile, regional authorities confirmed that the Perm region experienced a heavy wave of Ukrainian drone activity during the night.
Supply Chain Faces Continued Pressure
Ukraine has repeatedly carried out long-range drone strikes inside Russian territory. Kyiv describes these operations as "long-range sanctions" intended to reduce Russia's ability to continue the war and increase pressure on Moscow to end the conflict, now in its fourth and a half year.
The repeated attacks on Wildberries have damaged warehouses, interrupted deliveries, and affected the retailer's nationwide distribution network.
Thousands of Marketplace Sellers Impacted
The warehouse attacks have also created problems for thousands of businesses that rely on Wildberries to sell and distribute their products.
Wildberries said it has begun compensating sellers whose goods were destroyed or damaged. Reuters previously reported that Russian authorities are considering additional support measures for the company and businesses affected by the attacks.
Leningrad Region Offers Financial Assistance
Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad region surrounding St. Petersburg, said about 1,500 sellers suffered losses after last week's attack on a Wildberries warehouse.
He announced that the regional administration will create a dedicated task force to help affected businesses. The government also plans to provide low-interest loans so sellers can quickly replace damaged inventory and resume operations.
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