Ukraine Drones Hit Three More Wildberries Warehouses in Russia

MOSCOW: Russian e-commerce company Wildberries said on Friday that three more of its warehouses were hit in overnight Ukrainian drone attacks, marking another round of strikes in what Kyiv says is an effort to weaken Russia's logistics network and economy.

The latest attacks targeted Wildberries facilities in St Petersburg, the surrounding Leningrad region, and Simferopol, the largest city in Russian-controlled Crimea, according to company founder Tatyana Kim, Russia's wealthiest woman.

Video recorded by Reuters from St Petersburg and nearby areas showed two large columns of thick smoke rising into the sky following the attacks.

Kim said some parts of the warehouses and stored goods were saved despite the damage. "We managed to save some of the premises and goods. I would like to thank our staff, our heroes – a swift evacuation was carried out at all warehouses," Kim said in a statement. "According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties."

She added that the company's immediate priority is to reorganise its logistics operations. "All of our efforts are now focused on redistributing goods across our warehouses to ensure more efficient stock turnover and the economic stability of our partners," she said.

The attacks came only days after the European Union imposed sanctions on Wildberries' banking arm over its financial contribution to the Russian budget.

Wildberries plays a major role in Russia's consumer economy and is often compared to Amazon. The repeated attacks appear to be part of Ukraine's wider campaign to increase pressure on Russia by disrupting economic and logistics infrastructure that supports daily commercial activity.

Fourth Attack Since Last Weekend

The latest strikes are the fourth attack on Wildberries facilities since last weekend. They could result in significant losses for businesses that sell products through the platform and may also affect customers purchasing clothing, household appliances, medicines, cosmetics and other everyday goods.

Read More: Russian Bomb Attack Kills Three in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has described the targeted warehouses as logistics centres used to supply Russian forces with drone components and other equipment.

The Kremlin has denied that Wildberries is involved in military supply operations. Kim has also accused Ukraine of attacking ordinary employees who are simply carrying out their work.

Since July 18, eight Wildberries warehouses have come under attack. According to the company, these facilities represent more than 10% of its total logistics capacity. The first attack on July 18 killed eight workers.

Kim said Wildberries is continuing to operate around the clock to maintain the quality of its services despite the repeated attacks.

Customer Deliveries Continue Despite Disruptions

Orders placed by Reuters reporters through Wildberries since the weekend showed mixed results. Two orders were delivered fully or almost completely on schedule, while two others were still being processed.

Under normal conditions, Wildberries is capable of handling more than 20 million orders every day.

Together with smaller competitors and leading rival Ozon, Wildberries accounts for goods and services worth the equivalent of 8.5% of Russia's gross domestic product (GDP). The companies collectively employ 4 million people, representing more than 5% of Russia's workforce.

Russia has also carried out strikes targeting Ukraine's logistics hubs, along with its energy infrastructure and power grid during the ongoing conflict.