Ukrainian strikes hit Wildberries warehouses, killing workers and destroying stock

Ukrainian drone strikes struck multiple Wildberries logistics hubs in Russia, officials and the company reported, killing at least eight workers and destroying large volumes of goods over several days. Kyiv said the facilities were used to supply components for drone production and navigation equipment, while Wildberries reported significant casualties and damage to stock.

Initial attacks hit warehouses in Elektrostal, east of Moscow, and Kotovsk in the Tambov region; seven night-shift workers died in Kotovsk and one was fatally wounded in Elektrostal, with dozens injured and goods estimated at around £750m destroyed. Subsequent strikes targeted Wildberries hubs in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol region, and the company’s owner Tatiana Kim said further casualties were reported.

Ukraine characterized the operations as strikes on “major logistics facilities” supplying sanctioned components and navigation equipment for drones. The Kremlin denied that online marketplaces were being used to supply the army, while pro-war bloggers and some listings indicate that military-related items are available on platforms.

Wildberries and rival Ozon operate primarily as marketplaces, storing and delivering goods for independent sellers. That structure has left many small and medium-sized vendors bearing the losses from the warehouse fires; traders told reporters they lost large portions of seasonal stock and faced contractual limits on liability after a recent clause added drone attacks to force majeure events.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The reported strikes targeted logistics hubs used by major Russian online marketplaces, with official Ukrainian statements linking the sites to supplies for drone production and navigation. Multiple warehouses were hit across different regions, confirmed fatalities and injuries were reported, and substantial quantities of goods were destroyed. Wildberries’ marketplace model shifts financial losses onto independent sellers, some of whom reported significant uninsured stock losses and contractual exclusions related to drone attacks.

Officials and company statements supplied casualty figures, geographical locations of the affected hubs, and an estimated value of destroyed goods; independent verification of stored military-related supplies at the targeted warehouses was not provided in the source text.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Multiple Wildberries logistics hubs in Russia were struck by Ukrainian drones, including Elektrostal, Kotovsk, Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk.
• At least eight workers were reported killed and dozens injured; large volumes of goods were destroyed with an estimated value of about £750m.
• Ukraine said the strikes targeted facilities supplying components for drone production and navigation; Wildberries sellers reported major uninsured stock losses and contractual force majeure clauses covering drone attacks.