In brief
Ukrainian drones blew up four Wildberries warehouses in a coordinated strike, burning out stocks worth an estimated £750 million and killing nine workers. The attacks have slammed Russia’s small‑ and medium‑size firms, many of which rely solely on Wildberries to reach customers. While the Kremlin denies that the platforms are used for armaments, the loss of goods and the new “force majeure” clause in seller contracts have left many entrepreneurs uncertain about the future. Amid a war‑driven economy already hit by sanctions, inflation, and a rising VAT, these strikes are seen as another blow to Russia’s commercial backbone.
Ukrainian drones have attacked four of Wildberries’ warehouses in a single day, turning a sprawling online marketplace into a battlefield.
The first wave struck Elektrostal, east of Moscow, and Kotovsk in the Tambov region, 400 km from the Ukrainian border. Nine workers were killed – eight in Kotovsk and one in Elektrostal – and dozens more injured. Good stored in the warehouses, valued at about £750 million, was gutted by fire.
The attacks have spelt havoc beyond the immediate loss of stock. One stationery vendor, whose business depends on Wildberries, said she had lost everything after her shipment was burned. Another seller of teenage clothes reported a loss of 1.4 million roubles, about $12,700, and is halting new orders for weeks.
Company owner Tatiana Kim has promised that Wildberries will not abandon its sellers, offering temporary discounts and waiving shipping fees. Nevertheless, the new “force majeure” clause added in contracts only lists drone attacks as a fault of the platform, leaving sellers with no compensation for their losses.
Beyond individual businesses, the strike hits Russia’s larger war economy. The Kremlin denies that the platform sells goods for army use, but it does list items such as body armour, drone parts and other military‑related supplies. In a conflict heightened by strikes on oil refineries and fuel logistics, the loss of supply chain hubs erodes Russia’s resources and keeps it in a constant defensive posture.
Experts view the attack as the latest in a series of strikes aimed at moving the war “back home.” Small and medium‑size enterprises—declared a priority by Vladimir Putin in wartime—are now facing a cascade of economic shocks. VAT rose from 20% to 22% in January; many tax breaks were revoked, and around 209,000 SMBs closed in the first quarter of 2026, a 9% rise over 2025. These figures illustrate how Ukraine’s drones are creating punches in the heart of Russia’s economy.
