Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, has temporarily suspended operations at another warehouse after an overnight Ukrainian drone attack damaged the facility in the Voronezh region.
The incident marks the latest strike affecting Russia’s logistics infrastructure as Ukraine expands its long-range drone campaign against targets it says contribute to Moscow’s war effort.
Fourth Wildberries Warehouse Hit
The latest incident is reportedly the fourth attack on a Wildberries warehouse in recent days.
Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev said a drone attack damaged the roof of a warehouse in the region. He also reported that a three-year-old child was killed in the wider attack.
Gusev did not officially identify the damaged warehouse as a Wildberries facility.
The company later confirmed through its Telegram channel that operations at its Voronezh warehouse had been suspended.
Wildberries asked customers and business partners for patience while the damage was assessed. The company said operations would resume once authorities determined that the facility was safe.
Attacks Put Pressure on Wildberries Logistics Network
The repeated strikes are placing additional pressure on Wildberries’ extensive distribution network.
An open-source analysis published by Russian newspaper Kommersant estimated that recent attacks had affected around 10% of Wildberries’ logistics capacity.
The affected facilities reportedly represent approximately 552,000 square metres of warehouse space.
Wildberries has not publicly confirmed those figures. However, Russian officials have acknowledged that the attacks have caused financial losses for the company and businesses that rely on its marketplace.
Online Retail Plays Major Role in Russian Economy
Wildberries and its main competitor, Ozon, have become major components of Russia’s consumer economy.
The two online marketplaces handle a significant volume of consumer commerce and provide income and employment for millions of people.
Their importance has increased as online shopping has expanded across Russia.
Consequently, disruption to major distribution centres could affect retailers, suppliers and consumers well beyond the locations directly hit by drone attacks.
Ukraine Expands Attacks on Russian Logistics
Ukraine has increasingly targeted logistics facilities, warehouses, transport infrastructure and energy sites deep inside Russia.
Kyiv argues that some of these facilities contribute directly or indirectly to Russia’s military capabilities.
Moscow rejects that justification in the case of Wildberries, describing the company as a civilian retailer with no role in military logistics.
The latest attack therefore highlights a broader development in the war: commercial infrastructure and supply networks are increasingly being drawn into the conflict, with disruptions potentially affecting both military-related activity and Russia’s civilian economy.
