Ukraine has carried out devastating attacks on Russia’s major online retail hub, inflicting injuries and causing significant damage to key logistical facilities.
The recent strikes, directed at warehouses in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk owned by the online retail giant Wildberries, are estimated to result in over £1 billion in losses. Reports indicate that fifteen individuals have been wounded in these latest assaults, as confirmed by the company’s founder and regional governors.
These offensives occurred shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky yielded to public pressure and dismissed his Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, appointing Maj-Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi to take over the role.
The attacks represent another setback for Vladimir Putin’s already struggling economy, intensifying calls for the Kremlin to engage in peace negotiations.
Over the weekend, two additional Wildberries facilities, including those in Elektrostal near Moscow and the Tambov region, were targeted, resulting in £1.5 billion in damages. The Elektrostal center was left severely damaged.
Ukraine has accused the Kremlin-affiliated retail giant of supplying resources to support Putin’s military operations. Wildberries is owned by Tatyana Kim, a prominent Putin supporter and Russia’s wealthiest woman with a fortune of £6.1 billion.
In response to the attacks, Kim expressed her dismay on Telegram, emphasizing the impact on employees and ordinary individuals merely carrying out their duties. She highlighted the importance of continuing their work for the benefit of the public.
The strikes caused ten injuries, with three individuals in critical condition in Krasnodar, according to Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. In addition, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov reported five injuries at a warehouse complex on the outskirts of Nevinnomyssk via Telegram.
Efforts to combat the extensive fires in Krasnodar involved deploying a firefighting helicopter to the scene. Plumes of thick black smoke billowed from the two warehouse complexes, which are approximately 148 miles apart and serve as the fourth and sixth largest Wildberries facilities in Russia.
Anxious suppliers to the retail giant expressed concerns about potential financial ruin, while a resident in Nevinnomyssk urged Putin to end the war promptly.
Furthermore, an oil depot in Armavir, Krasnodar region, was set ablaze following an attack by at least 16 Ukrainian drones, resulting in one fatality. This strategic move aimed to exacerbate oil shortages in Russia, where long queues for petrol and diesel are commonplace, further straining the country’s economy.
Occupied Crimea experienced power outages due to Ukrainian strikes on power plants in the Black Sea peninsula, coinciding with Ukraine’s escalating dominance in the conflict with Russia and the leadership change that saw Zelensky replace the key General driving the recent successes.
Reflecting on his tenure, the outgoing Syrskyi, known as ‘The Butcher’ for his aggressive frontline defense tactics, emphasized the significant territorial gains made against Russian forces. He hinted at undisclosed operations that history would eventually reveal.
In contrast, the incoming Drapatyi advocates for Ukraine’s defense through the utilization of advanced drones and missiles developed during the ongoing war.
Zelensky, responding to public demands, faces mounting pressure to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister. Fedorov, a 35-year-old who was dismissed last week, had openly advocated for the replacement of the Russian-born Syrskyi.
Meanwhile, Russia retaliated by targeting a Nova Poshta logistics center and the port in Odesa overnight. These strikes on Russia’s primary online retail platform were seen as reprisals for previous Russian assaults on numerous Nova Poshta facilities. Additionally, a Russian attack in the Kyiv region resulted in injuries to five individuals, including three children.
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