Ukrainian Drone Strikes Damage Wildberries Warehouses Across Russia
Since 18 July, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly struck logistics centres of Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, setting fire to more than a dozen sites. By 31 July the fire at a Volgograd warehouse marked the 18th attack in two weeks, and ten of the 26 largest warehouses – about 38 % of the company’s major storage capacity – have been damaged. The attacks have injured at least five people and killed nine, while also hitting a Lukoil‑Volgograd oil refinery simultaneously with a Wildberries depot.
Ukrainian officials say the warehouses are used to store or transport military goods for the Russian army, a claim echoed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Wildberries’ founder and CEO Tatyana Kim called the attacks “acts of terrorism” and said the company is rerouting deliveries through other sites and providing assistance to affected sellers. Ukrainian weapons‑industry executive Denys Shtilerman warned the goal is to trigger a collapse of the Russian banking system because Wildberries owes billions to VTB.
The company confirmed the hits, is restructuring its logistics network, and is working with Russian authorities to mitigate the impact on vendors across the country.
Entities: Andrei Botscharov · Denys Shtilerman · Lukoil · Tatyana Kim · Ukraine · VTB Bank · Volgograd · Volodymyr Zelensky · Volodymyr Zelenskyy · Wildberries
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ten of Wildberries' 26 largest warehouses, representing about 38 % of the total area of those facilities, have been damaged. (Ten of the 26 largest warehouses have been damaged)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Wildberries confirmed the hits and said it is rerouting deliveries through other sites. (Wildberries confirmed the hits and said it is rerouting deliveries through other sites)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Governor Andrei Botscharov reported five people injured in the attacks. (Governor Andrei Botscharov reported five people injured)
- [● 4 SOURCES] An oil refinery in Volgograd (Lukoil-Volgograd) was hit simultaneously with a Wildberries warehouse. (An oil refinery in Volgograd (Lukoil-Volgograd) was hit simultaneously with a Wildberries warehouse)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Denys Shtilerman said the goal of the attacks is to cause a collapse of the Russian banking system because Wildberries owes billions to VTB. (Denys Shtilerman said the goal of the attacks is to cause a collapse of the Russian banking system because Wildberries)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Ukrainian officials say Wildberries supplies military goods to Russian forces, prompting the attacks. (Ukrainian officials say Wildberries supplies military goods to Russian forces)
- [● 5 SOURCES] A fire at a Wildberries warehouse in Volgograd on 31 July was the 18th attack in two weeks. (A fire at a Wildberries warehouse in Volgograd on 31 July was the 18th attack in two weeks)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Ukrainian drones have attacked Wildberries logistics centres across Russia since 18 July, targeting at least a dozen sites. (Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian online retailer Wildberries have intensified since 18 July, with more than a dozen of)