Ukraine Strikes Russian Wildberries Warehouses with Drone Attacks Causing Deaths and Fires

Ukraine launched a deadly drone attack on warehouses of Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, resulting in multiple casualties and significant damage. The governor of Tambov region, Yevgeny Pribyshev, reported that 28 drones were intercepted, preventing a larger disaster. However, seven workers on the night shift were killed at a burning oil warehouse, with one more dying later in hospital. Additionally, 25 people were injured in the city of Kotovsk, about 475 kilometers southeast of Moscow.

Moscow region governor Andrey Vorobyov confirmed another drone strike on a Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, east of Moscow, injuring 24 people. In Noginsk, also in Moscow region, drone debris caused a fire at an oil storage facility, injuring two and prompting precautionary evacuation of a nearby maternity hospital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv targeted an oil facility and two logistics centers used by Russia to supply components for missile and navigation equipment production.

Wildberries, founded in 2004 by Tatiana Kim, is Russia's largest e-commerce platform, initially selling clothing but now offering a wide range of products. The site reportedly receives 30 million daily visitors and processes 10 million orders per day, generating billions in annual revenue. Kim, with an estimated net worth of $7.9 billion, is Russia's richest woman and an unusual figure in the Russian elite, which is typically dominated by oligarchs.

In June 2024, Wildberries announced plans to merge with advertising company Russ to create a new digital commerce platform. This move, supported by President Vladimir Putin, aims to build a Russian e-commerce giant to compete with Amazon and Alibaba. Wildberries has been considered closely aligned with the Kremlin prior to these attacks.

Tatiana Kim expressed condolences to the families of the victims, calling the night a terrible one for Russia and the company. The attacks highlight escalating tensions and the increasing use of drone warfare in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.