As Ukraine's military campaign intensifies, Kyiv has launched a new series of strikes against Russia's civilian logistics networks, leaving thousands of small businesses and individual entrepreneurs in the country reeling. In a shift from targeting strategic infrastructure to hitting at the heart of everyday life for Russians, Ukrainian drones have attacked warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest e-commerce platform, akin to Amazon.
Over the past week, at least nine such facilities across Russia have been struck, stretching from St Petersburg in the north to southern Russia. These attacks have not only caused significant economic damage but also resulted in reported fatalities and a trail of devastation that threatens to disrupt the fragile sense of normalcy for many urban Russians.
The scale of destruction is substantial: targeted sites span around 552,000 square metres, approximately one-tenth of Wildberries' total warehouse capacity. Moscow-based research firm Data Insight estimates losses in destroyed merchandise alone at a staggering 170 billion roubles (approximately £1.65 billion). Crucially, these losses fall predominantly on the independent merchants who stored their stock in these facilities, rather than on Wildberries itself.
Entrepreneurs like Tatyana Mikhailova, who lost 4,000 fur coats in a single blaze outside Moscow, and Maria, a maker of postcards, have taken to social media to express their despair. They highlight the devastating impact on small businesses run by individuals relying heavily on online sales.
The situation is further complicated by Wildberries' decision to amend its terms and conditions just 11 days before the strikes. The company has exempted itself from liability for goods destroyed in 'force majeure' events, including drone attacks, leaving many sellers feeling abandoned. While founder Tatyana Kim has announced some compensation for affected sellers, payouts have been described as woefully inadequate – in one instance, Anton Bryanski received just 19,000 roubles (£185) for goods valued at 4.6 million roubles (£44,800).
This strategic pivot by Ukraine appears designed to erode the sense of normalcy that has largely shielded many urban Russians from the direct consequences of the ongoing conflict. With its focus on targeting civilian logistics networks, Kyiv aims to disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens, further straining Russia's economy and testing President Putin's ability to maintain a semblance of stability.