The CEO of Russia’s largest e-commerce platform has stated that the company has suffered significant financial losses due to drone attacks carried out by Ukraine. The CEO is requesting compensation from the government led by Vladimir Putin.
Recent attacks by Ukraine on the expansive warehouses of Wildberries, often likened to Russia’s version of Amazon, have resulted in dramatic scenes of smoke billowing from fires at the facilities.
Within a short span, Ukraine has targeted more than a dozen depots belonging to the retailer as part of their aerial offensive to disrupt Russia’s military efforts and impose repercussions on the economy following the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Addressing the situation, Tatiana Kim, the founder and CEO of Wildberries, released a video statement asserting that the company should not be held accountable for the losses incurred, citing the attacks by Ukraine as a case of “force majeure.”
In alignment with the stance of the Russian government, Kim described the assaults on Wildberries as “terrorist acts” that have resulted in losses amounting to billions of dollars.
Kim advised sellers who suffered financial setbacks due to the attacks to await assistance from the Russian authorities in the form of a comprehensive support package.
The initial strikes by Ukrainian drones targeted Wildberries sites in Elektrostal, near Moscow, and in the Tambov region on July 18, followed by subsequent attacks in various regions of Russia, including Crimea. These incidents resulted in casualties and injuries.
While not explicitly naming Wildberries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that the targeted facilities were involved in supplying equipment to the Russian military.
Contrary to Ukraine’s claims, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the allegations and accused Ukraine of attacking civilian targets, despite Russia’s own actions targeting Ukrainian logistics and retail facilities.
A review of the Wildberries website revealed that the products sold could have dual civilian and military applications, including items like body armor, helmets, radios, and electronics labeled for military use. Some products were even designated as “tested in the SVO” or “SVO fighters’ choice,” referring to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
Kim emphasized that similar goods were available on other online platforms, condemning the attacks as lacking logic or rationale and intended to instill fear and uncertainty among the Russian populace.
To date, there have been 16 attacks on Wildberries facilities, including recent strikes in various regions of Russia. One warehouse suffered a fire in the Penza region, resulting in injuries and evacuations, while another warehouse in the Udmurtia region was targeted but all employees evacuated safely.
Subsequent attacks occurred at a logistics facility in Volgograd and a depot in Zelenodolsk, near Kazan in the Tatarstan region,