Ukrainian drones have struck two more logistics centres operated by Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries. This latest incident is among several cases where Ukrainian drones strike Wildberries warehouses, leaving at least 15 people injured. Such Ukrainian drones strike Wildberries warehouses with increasing frequency.
According to BBC, the overnight attacks targeted warehouses in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk in Russia’s south-west. This forced workers to evacuate as large fires spread through the facilities.
The latest strikes came four days after Ukrainian attacks hit other Wildberries warehouses in Tambov and Elektrostal. These attacks where Ukrainian drones strike Wildberries warehouses reportedly killed eight people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the facilities targeted in Krasnodar and the Stavropol region were involved in supplying the Russian military with drone components. They also supplied navigation equipment and other materials.
Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim confirmed that workers were evacuated from the affected logistics centres.
“There are no words to describe all the feelings and emotions caused by the attacks on ordinary people, on our employees, on us, who are simply doing our jobs,” Kim wrote on Telegram.
“But these situations demonstrate the most important thing: we must continue to do what we do for the benefit of people.”
15 injured in warehouse attacks
Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said five people were injured at the warehouse complex outside Nevinnomyssk.
He added that the victims received outpatient treatment.
In Krasnodar, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said 10 people were injured, with three reportedly in serious condition.
Footage analysed by BBC Verify showed large fires at both locations. Thick clouds of smoke were seen rising from the warehouse buildings.
Reports of the attacks emerged shortly after midnight GMT. At that time, Russian state news agency TASS reported that air-defence systems had been activated in Nevinnomyssk.
Videos filmed by residents later showed flames engulfing parts of the logistics centres. Ukrainian drones strike Wildberries warehouses in video footage that has been widely shared online.
Kondratyev described the incident as a “massive attack”. He added that falling drone debris also struck the premises of a company in Armavir and killed an employee.
The Armavir city administration said an oil depot was hit and caught fire.
Drone fragments also reportedly damaged two apartment buildings in Krasnodar and two houses in the village of Dinskaya. Although these buildings were damaged, no injuries were recorded.
Ukraine targets oil facilities, Russian ships
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces also struck an oil depot, a tanker and four cargo ships linked to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov. In addition, Ukrainian forces struck targets in the Black Sea.
Russia has used the shadow fleet to transport oil. This allowed them to avoid sanctions introduced following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The overnight operation marked the second time Wildberries facilities had been targeted within a week. As a result, Ukrainian drones strike Wildberries warehouses and impact Russian logistics.
Satellite images of warehouses struck over the weekend showed extensive damage. This included three buildings that were completely destroyed in Elektrostal near Moscow.
Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, said Wildberries’ online platform had reportedly been used by Russian volunteers to purchase military equipment.
“The primary rationale for striking Wildberries’ warehouses is to disrupt Russian logistics and the supply of dual-use goods, critical electronics, sanctioned goods and the like to the Russian army and Russian arms manufacturers,” Kuzan told BBC.
He added that the attacks could also affect Russia’s economy and public support for the war.
Sellers count losses after strikes
Wildberries operates primarily as an online marketplace connecting independent sellers with customers across Russia.
The company stores products, processes payments and handles deliveries on behalf of traders.
The recent strikes have affected hundreds of sellers whose goods were stored in the damaged warehouses.
One trader, identified by the BBC under the false name Elena, said she lost clothing that represented her only source of income.
“If there are more strikes, I probably won’t manage,” she said.
“It’s terrifying to keep loading my goods into what feels like a furnace.”
The full financial impact of the attacks on Wildberries and its independent sellers has not yet been established.
