Ukraine strikes $12.6bn Wildberries, widening Russian war risk
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s largest online retailer highlight the escalating vulnerability of commercial logistics networks to the widening conflict.
Ukrainian drones destroyed key logistics hubs operated by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, killing eight workers and injuring 62 others. The overnight strikes targeted facilities in Tambov and Elektrostal, marking one of the deadliest long-range attacks on Russian commercial infrastructure since the 2022 invasion.
Wildberries is the flagship of the newly merged RWB Group, which Forbes Russia valued at roughly $12.6 billion this year. Chief executive Tatyana Kim called it a “terrible night” for both the country and the company, as massive fires engulfed the logistics centres.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation, stating the sites were “major logistics facilities” used to supply sanctioned components for Russian drone production and navigation equipment. The attacks underscore Kyiv’s strategic shift toward crippling the commercial supply chains that sustain Moscow’s military.
The strikes on civilian e-commerce infrastructure signal that no major Russian commercial enterprise is immune from the conflict. By hitting vast distribution networks, Ukraine is forcing companies to factor severe physical security risks into their operational continuity planning.
The same wave of drones also hit an oil depot in the Moscow region, exacerbating existing pressures on Russian energy infrastructure. Governor Andrei Vorobyov noted the oil facility strike had the “most serious consequences” among the regional incidents. Russian air defences intercepted 28 drones approaching Tambov and destroyed 48 in the Moscow region, illustrating the massive scale of the coordinated assault.
Ukraine has systematically targeted Russian energy and logistics, arguing these sectors finance and sustain the war effort. Earlier this month, Kyiv claimed 43 per cent of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been disabled by previous strikes. While unverified, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks had contributed to domestic fuel shortages.
The escalation comes amid sustained Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, with Zelensky noting that 14 people were killed in Russian strikes overnight. For market participants, the targeting of a $12.6 billion corporate entity demonstrates that the frontline is now firmly embedded within Russia's domestic supply chain.
