Ukraine has launched drone attacks on two key logistics centers associated with the prominent Russian online retailer known as “Russia’s Amazon” in St. Petersburg, which is the hometown of Vladimir Putin.
The targeted overnight strikes set ablaze marketplace hubs owned by Wildberries, the largest online retailer in Russia, causing massive fires. In addition to the St. Petersburg attacks, another Wildberries facility in Russian-occupied Crimea was hit, resulting in a significant fire visible even from space.
Reports indicate that a separate Wildberries site in the Tver region was also struck during a substantial Ukrainian offensive, which overwhelmed Putin’s air defense systems. Furthermore, Ukraine utilized Flamingo missiles to target the Avitek defense plant in the Kirov region, a sanctioned company known for producing military equipment used against Ukrainians.
Concerns arose about potential casualties among workers at the Avitek plant due to the lack of evacuation warnings before the attacks. Multiple explosions were reported, prompting the dispatch of numerous ambulances to the affected manufacturing site.
The strikes on these facilities occurred following an emergency security council meeting convened by Putin to ramp up weapons production, particularly at plants like Avitek. The aftermath of the attacks led to major flight disruptions in St. Petersburg, with billowing black smoke from the Wildberries strikes causing significant damage and affecting more than 50 flights.
Wildberries, responsible for over half of all online orders in Russia, suspended operations at the targeted hubs, evacuating staff before the drone strikes. Footage captured the Wildberries hub in Crimea engulfed in flames, adding pressure to the already strained region due to an ongoing oil supply blockade.
The series of attacks on Wildberries facilities, including those in Tver, have dealt a severe blow to Russian retail and posed challenges for Putin both economically and psychologically. The situation has left thousands of small business suppliers without income, with minimal prospects for compensation.
President Zelensky accused Wildberries of supplying military equipment to Putin’s forces, implicating the company in the conflict. Ukrainian drones successfully targeted multiple Russian regions, Crimea, and surrounding seas, with the highest overnight drone takedown count recorded during this period of the conflict.
