Russia’s largest online retailer is claiming significant financial losses due to drone attacks by Ukraine and is demanding compensation from the Russian government.
Recent attacks by Ukraine on Russian warehouses, including those of Wildberries, have resulted in dramatic scenes of fires and billowing smoke, reminiscent of the well-known Amazon company.
Within a short period, over a dozen depots of the retailer have been targeted by Ukrainian forces as part of their aerial campaign to disrupt Russia’s war efforts and impact its economy in response to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tatiana Kim, the founder and CEO of Wildberries, released a video statement asserting that the company cannot be held legally accountable for the losses incurred, citing the attacks by Ukraine as force majeure events. She emphasized that the strikes have led to losses amounting to billions and called them terrorist acts.
Kim urged sellers affected by the attacks to await assistance from the Russian government in the form of a comprehensive support package.
Ukraine’s drone strikes initially targeted Wildberries sites near Moscow and in the Tambov region, with subsequent attacks occurring across various regions in Russia, including Crimea, resulting in casualties and injuries.
Although not directly naming Wildberries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implied that the targeted facilities were involved in supplying military equipment to Russia.
In response, the Kremlin dismissed the accusations, labeling the strikes as attacks on civilian targets while pointing out Russia’s own operations against Ukrainian logistics and retail sites.
A review of the Wildberries website revealed products that could potentially serve both civilian and military purposes, such as body armor and electronics labeled for military use, suggesting a dual-use scenario.
Kim argued that similar goods were available from other online sellers and criticized the attacks as lacking rationale, aiming to instill fear and panic among the Russian population.
So far, 16 Wildberries facilities have been targeted, with recent strikes reported in various regions, resulting in injuries and evacuations.
The attacks have continued, with a depot in the Penza region catching fire, while another in Sarapul was targeted by a drone, fortunately without harm to workers.
Further incidents included a logistics facility in Volgograd being hit and a depot in Zelenodolsk set ablaze, highlighting the ongoing turmoil faced by Wildberries due to the attacks.
