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Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, lost 7 percent of its warehouse capacity after Ukrainian drone strikes hit five logistics facilities this month, according to company founder Tatjana Kim and regional reporting. The attacks on sites in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tambov, Krasnodar, and the annexed Crimea resulted in nine deaths and over twenty injuries, escalating the economic toll on Russian e-commerce amid ongoing international conflict.
The Rise of Russia’s Retail Giant Wildberries
Wildberries started in 2004 inside a cramped Moscow apartment. Tatjana Kim, then a 28-year-old English teacher on maternity leave, launched the online store alongside her then-husband, IT specialist Vladislav Bakaltsjoek. According to an interview with Russian Forbes, they chose the un-Russian name simply because it sounded unusual. Despite early skepticism from neighbors who doubted people would buy clothes online, package volume quickly surged in their living room.
Over two decades, Wildberries grew into Russia’s top online marketplace, comparable to Amazon in the United States and Bol in the Netherlands. Valued at nearly 7 miljard euro, the platform now handles twintig miljoen orders every day. The company sells roughly seven billion items annually across a vast network of at least 200 warehouses spanning Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, according to published business statistics.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit Five Major Warehouses
The recent drone campaign targeted five specific logistics hubs across western Russia and Crimea, destroying 7 percent of the company’s total storage capacity, according to verified operational data. Nine people died and more than twenty sustained injuries during the strikes. Writing on Telegram, Kim described the incident as “indescribable pain” and pledged financial compensation for affected families and merchants.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the retail strikes serve as retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including repeated strikes on Ukraine’s largest private postal operator, Nova Poshta. Furthermore, Zelensky alleged that Wildberries facilities housed military goods, such as drone components and navigation equipment under sanctions. Wildberries has denied the allegation, while the Kremlin condemned the strike as a terrorist act, according to official statements.
Did you know?
Before the drone strikes, Wildberries updated its terms of service to state that the company cannot be held liable for property damage caused by military actions and drones, according to corporate filings reviewed two days prior to the attack.
Economic Fallout for Small Russian Merchants
Tens of thousands of small entrepreneurs rely on Wildberries, Ozon, and Yandex to sell car parts, clothing, and household goods. Western sanctions, the departure of payment networks like Visa, Mastercard, and SWIFT, and soaring interest rates have already pressured the Russian private sector. Radio Svoboda reported that the share of loss-making companies in Russia reached nearly 30 percent in 2025, marking the highest rate since the coronavirus pandemic.
A weeping St. Petersburg entrepreneur captured the local sentiment in a widely shared Telegram video, asking when the hardship would end after losing her husband and watching her inventory burn in the targeted warehouse. Meanwhile, military analysts note that the strikes form part of a broader campaign. Israeli-based military analyst David Gendelman told Radio Svoboda that the strategy shifts systematically from oil refineries to storage facilities, aiming to disrupt the domestic infrastructure supporting the war effort.
Internal Corporate Turmoil and Leadership Shifts
Beyond the physical destruction, Kim navigated a high-profile corporate dispute in 2024. Her planned merger with the Russian advertising firm Russ Group triggered a family feud when her husband opposed the deal and enlisted the support of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, according to local news reports. Following a deadly shooting at the Wildberries headquarters, Kim filed for divorce, and Bakaltsjoek was detained.
With the Kremlin’s approval, the merger proceeded, cementing Kim’s influence. Her longstanding ties to the state include a board position with the All-Russian People’s Front, a coalition led by Vladimir Putin. That political alignment prompted the European Union to add Wildberries Bank to its 21st sanctions package last week, according to the source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the damage to Wildberries facilities?
Ukrainian drone strikes hit five logistics centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tambov, Krasnodar, and Crimea this month, destroying 7 percent of the company’s storage capacity, according to regional reporting and company statements.
How many people were affected by the warehouse strikes?
Nine people died, and more than twenty individuals sustained injuries during the drone attacks on the distribution hubs, according to verified casualty reports.
Does Wildberries sell military equipment?
Ukrainian officials alleged that the retailer supplied dual-use items and drone components to the Russian military. Wildberries has denied these claims, though third-party reporting noted that outdoor and military-adjacent categories were previously listed on the platform before being removed.
What is Tatjana Kim’s background?
Tatjana Kim is an entrepreneur who co-founded Wildberries in 2004 as an English teacher on maternity leave. She has since grown the platform into Russia’s largest online retailer.
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